D&D (2024) Psionics: What Do You Want?

[Demetrios1453]

They were definitely aware of that. In the accompanying video, they mention that the teleport can be devastating in the right tactical environment. They don't mention bars, but they do mention pits and cliffs.

It's pretty obvious why they specified "horizontal", since teleporting foes upward could easily be abused, since a lot of fights take place outside or in caves with relatively high ceilings. Now you need to be near a cliff to cause that falling damage.

 

[Maxperson]

I'm not so much unhappy with the UA version as I think there could be some improvements.

1) I think they left a lot of psionic appropriate spells off the lists and those should be added.

2) I'd like to see more disciplines or more depth to the disciplines. I'm okay with getting fewer of them if they mean more.

3) More variety in the wild talent feats.

4) I'd like to see a way to cannibalize slots/dice to fuel each other, and/or a way to sacrifice constitution points for slots/dice.

5) I'd like to see more attack/defense modes.

6) I'd also like to see a few more unique spells for the class.

 

[Neonchameleon]

It's pretty obvious why they specified "horizontal", since teleporting foes upward could easily be abused, since a lot of fights take place outside or in caves with relatively high ceilings. Now you need to be near a cliff to cause that falling damage.

Or really any building with windows

 

[mellored]

Meanwhile this "Psion" is Yet Another Generic Full Caster with a few psychically flavoured abilities (because most of the power budget went into being a full caster).

Speaking of...

I could get behind Psion as a half caster + Augment points.

 

[Tessarael]

I much prefer Psion as a full caster. I understand why they followed the same spell progression mechanics as other spell casters, though I do find it a little frustrating that there's little difference in flavor there. I was expecting some specialties in psionic disciplines such as pyrokinesis, telekinesis, and telepathy.

 

[Maxperson]

1) The powers are strictly not as strong as spells. Baseline, they're about as powerful as cantrips, though they scale in a different way. Even with augments they deal less damage than a spell with an equal investiture of psi dice to spell levels.

2) Limited selection paths. To learn a power you need prerequisite disciplines. To learn a power with Telekinetic and Telepathic disciplines you must possess a power with either of the two disciplines. To learn a power with Empathic, Kinesthetic, and Telepathic disciplines you must possess a power (or powers) of at least two of the three listed disciplines.

3) Overall limited selection. While every power has multiple options for functions, you only learn 6 over the course of leveling (7 if you take the Chirurgeon or Thymokineticist archetype) and you start with 1 (or two if you're a member of those archetypes).

If I can do that, surely WotC can do it even better.

Don't sell yourself short. The quality of the work of yours that I've seen exceeds that of WotC. Now that might be because they have their hands tied by corporate structure and needs, but it still hasn't been fantastic. It has been hit and miss mixed together.

 

[Steampunkette]

Don't sell yourself short. The quality of the work of yours that I've seen exceeds that of WotC. Now that might be because they have their hands tied by corporate structure and needs, but it still hasn't been fantastic. It has been hit and miss mixed together.

I don't disagree with your assessment... but I'm literally just one person spinning wheels in my head on my own.

Surely a collective of people could spin wheels better. I got a lot of feedback from the 3pp community to make things better than the first draft, after all. They'd have that -and- the office worker salary.

I just don't get it. They can hire the best talent and ostensibly they do/have. So why is their output so varied in balance and quality? (Looking at you, Silvery Barbs)

 

[Flights of Fancy]

I just don't get it. They can hire the best talent and ostensibly they do/have. So why is their output so varied in balance and quality? (Looking at you, Silvery Barbs)

It is puzzling, isn't it? shrug

 

[Maxperson]

Oh, I don't doubt subclasses make a difference. They make a difference for the Fighter, too. Or the Barbarian. And provide distinctly different combat styles and goals for the Monk and Rogue, as well.

Does 5.5e have every class start subclasses at the same level, or is there variation like 5e had? I'd love it if subclass could determine spellcasting bonus, so Metmorphs would use Con, telepaths Int, etc. Psions in the past used Con, Int and Wis for their abilities and that would be a way to represent it.

 

[Maxperson]

I don't disagree with your assessment... but I'm literally just one person spinning wheels in my head on my own.

Surely a collective of people could spin wheels better. I got a lot of feedback from the 3pp community to make things better than the first draft, after all. They'd have that -and- the office worker salary.

I just don't get it. They can hire the best talent and ostensibly they do/have. So why is their output so varied in balance and quality? (Looking at you, Silvery Barbs)

One person on a unicycle can move better than a car with 4 wheels all spinning in different directions.

I don't get it, either. They have a ton of money and I agree that they could hire multiple amazing designers if they wanted.