D&D 5E Psionics - What do you want?

[Curmudjinn]

I think psionics will draw on various casting examples, but an actual handbook should lean towards worlds where magic is rare or non-existent, and all the only powers are od the mind. It makes a lot more sense to have psionics in that train of thought.

I would like to see it used as at-will and/or per day powers, without slots or power points. Just selecting a chain of psychic abilities is cool by me, and different than other everyday casters. I would like to see few powers, not the huge magic assortment, and all unusual or changes to similar-to-magic effects.

Psychic classes could alter and expand those chains to their specific needs. I believe that would be a way to handle it differently than magic and also intriguing.

 

[Andor]

I like this idea. Though I think the Psychic Warrior could easily be a subclass of Fighter instead.

That is a very interesting thought. It is actually pretty easy to fold a new ability set into some of the existing classes by adding a subclass. It works best for Fighters and Rogues I think.

So. What do I want to see?

I think point based abilities have too much history for 5e to go anywhere else. So I think we'll get a Psion base class with a sub-class for each disipline ala the Wizard. He will be a point based caster, but I would like to see something interesting done with the psionic focus concept.

I also want a baseclass Psi-warrior. Battlemind could easily be a new fighter sub-class. I like Soul knives, but the bladepact warlock already took his lunchmoney.

I would also like to see some interesting new psionic subclass for other classes. A barbarian perhaps who gets all 'Firestarter' when raging would be pretty cool.

 

[Sadrik]

I always think of firestarters as specialists in spontaneous combustion. This is basically high single-target damage, probably targeting Fort. It would require concentration to keep at it, but on the other hand you can keep the damage on if you maintain of. Of course, that might be totally broken, I've only tested an NPC with a similar ability like this in 4e.

Even if the damage is comparable, or even higher since it's single-target, it's not stepping on the wizard's toes too much.

To me this sounds like an interesting spell. Immolation or something. Single target, fort save, then they explode in flame and those around them make DEX saves for some damage too. Would be a good one. Damage and area could be based on level. Perhaps 2nd level spell: 4d6 CON negates and then within 10' if they failed the save 2d6 for 1/2 damage.

 

[TrippyHippy]

Unless the setting specifies it, I’ve no great desire to see a sci-fi trope in a fantasy world. So, no.

 

[Steely Dan]

What do You see ass the direction psionics should go?

Yes, I think ass is the best direction, psionics should be all about the ass.

Ha, seriously, I was thinking it could work with monk ki points too, as maybe a subclass, like the previously mentioned Psychic Warrior subclass, as for an actual class, at this point I am not sure, in 1st Ed it was an add-on.

 

[Evilhalfling]

3.5 was the only edition where playing a psion was fun and balanced.


Psions had specialties - but there were enough general powers that a telepath would not be useless in a tomb.
The blasting powers came with different different conditions than arcane spells. Energy push, ray and stun - and they all scaled. They also had inventive ways of making attack powers out of non-attack disciplines Recall agony, offensive teleportation - and materializing crystal shards. There ability to heal also sets them apart from arcane casters, (other than bard) They should be possible to play as secondary healers.

The ability to pick and energy type, and each type providing a minor change in effect was a nice gimmick but probably unnecessary.

Psion warriors had a fun new mechanic and were great as a melee fighter with spike and nova powers. This design space is still open.

Soul Knives are the third leg of the tripod. they are so visually interesting that they have a space apart from all the other variations - still how do you balance innate weapons with found magic weapons? and what powers do you add on top? I'm not sure the balance has ever been done well.

Darksun was where psionics was best integrated into the setting. It really carved out a great niche for them, and provided enough seperation from arcane magic, that they were completely distict, and would have been even if they had used the exact same rules. Arcanists were either good or evil, and both were under heavy pressure to keep their identities and powers secret from the other side. While everyone had psionics, from lowly slaves to mind academy trained nobles. Later games have tried to reverse these positions. Since then warlocks have taken some of the socially forbidden magic role.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Soul Knives are the third leg of the tripod. they are so visually interesting that they have a space apart from all the other variations - still how do you balance innate weapons with found magic weapons? and what powers do you add on top? I'm not sure the balance has ever been done well.

My first thought was to let them "absorb" magic weapons, but I also had an idea from Saga Frontiers. In that settings, "vampires" can create mystic weapons that absorb abilities from enemies they defeat. Usually it's boring stuff like more hit points or more damage, but sometimes you get an interesting buff like shooting energy bolts, or the like. "Blue magic" doesn't work well in D&D as what you face isn't predictable enough, but I could certainly picture a soulknife getting abilities from fighting an opponent who had a magic weapon, until the next time that happens. The DM could control the abilities by controlling what magic items villains use.

As for Dark Sun, defiling is still "evil" (though 4e has virtually no alignment-influenced rules) but there's little pressure to use it. It's more of a social mechanic; if someone sees you defile, expect the Veiled Alliance to come after you.

 

[Nellisir]

Unless the setting specifies it, I’ve no great desire to see a sci-fi trope in a fantasy world. So, no.

I'm no great fan of psionics, but I think this is sort of a given. The question is, if the setting DOES specify psionics, what form should they take?

 

[Andor]

Unless the setting specifies it, I’ve no great desire to see a sci-fi trope in a fantasy world. So, no.

Are psionics a sci-fi trope? They use the language of science because psi was essentially an attempt to scientifically investigate folk magic. Sci-fi pounced and stole Psi as an excuse to bring back wizards while keeping the space ships.

However if you read LotR you'll notice that the bulk of the magic you seen on screen are classic psionic abilities. Telepathy, foresight, clairvoyance...
When is the last time you heard someone decry Tolkien for getting filthy science all over their precious fantasy?

Conversely Jedi powers are all Psionic type stuff. Telekinesis, foresight, astral projection, telepathy. Yet even though they use starships and laser guns they are called sorcerers and wizards to their faces, and the force is fluffed as a mystical field with an agenda rather than simply presenting the Jedi as a psionically trained order.

Gypsy lady with a crystal ball: Diviner wizard or Psion?
Warrior fighting in a loin cloth but arrows keep missing him: Eldritch Knight with mage armour or a Psi-Warrior with force armour?
A crafty witch bending men to her will: Enchanter or Telepath?

You could play a Wilder right now by taking a wild magic sorcerer and renaming his abilities. For added funs give him the Hermit background and claim that his big revelation was that all magic is just psionics. Watch him cry when no one cares. "Yes yes, I manipulate magic with my mind. Everyone knows that. Pass me that liver of newt."

 

[Goemoe]

Are psionics a sci-fi trope?

No. And you stated why.

I currently wonder if making psionic backgrounds and add some psionic feats like those which add spell magic can do the trick until official rules are released.

I would like to have a fresh and interesting psion class with subclasses and one or two psionic subclasses added to the existing one. I don't want to get a psychic Warlock or a psionic copy of either sorcerer or wizard. (to answer the op)