Psionics- Where to Start?

[Bacris]

Untapped Potential (available in print too, I believe)

It will be again in a couple weeks (and in retail distribution to hobby and gaming stores). It's currently out of stock while we work with a new printer and with a completely re-designed layout.

 

[Klaus]

I'm not going to deny that there's good stuff in Complete Psionic. There is some good stuff.

But as a book, it's worse than useless to me. Why? Because it's less than half usable. Adding it to my game would add a lot of work for me, because I'd end up doing the jobs that the QA and editing teams were supposed to do. I can't hand it to a player and say, here, take a look at this. (I'd be happy to do that with Dragon Magic, or Complete Mage, even though I'm not about to allow every option in either of those books -- the options that I consider bad are very small compared to the number of options in the whole book.)

The Lurk and Ebon Saint seemed okay, but didn't do much for me -- my campaign has had Psychic Ninjae since day 1.

Cheers, -- N

I actually don't care much for the PrClass as written, but the name "Ebon Saint" ranks high up there with "Unquenchable Flame of Life" as one of the coolest names ever.

 

[Kida]

How balanced is Psionics compared to the core classes? Is the Expanded Psionics Handbook a worthwhile addition for broadened player choices?

 

[Bacris]

Now that's a loaded question

It depends on who you ask.

My experience across 4 different campaigns has been it's just as powerful as Core, but also has items that are in need of DM adjudication... just like Core. So I would say it's balanced compared to Core.

 

[Nifft]

How balanced is Psionics compared to the core classes? Is the Expanded Psionics Handbook a worthwhile addition for broadened player choices?

If you play by the rules (specifically, that you can't use more Power Points on a single power than your manifester level), IMHO Psionics is more balanced than magic.

Arcane magic has a lot of ways to break the rules: Rods of Metamagic are my favorite example of this, but there are others.

Psionics has the same general balance issue as spellcasting -- i.e., 15 minute work day, then rest for 8 hours -- but it seems to have fewer specific balance issues.

And finally, Psionic PrCs are depressingly balanced as compared to their Arcane counterparts. You won't find many a Psionic PrC which grants full manifesting and also gives a bunch of goodies. It's actually practical to stay single-classed! How silly is that.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Voadam]

If I want to introduce Psionics to a game, what is the first book I should get?

The Psionics Handbook seems to be the starting point, but I think it is a 3.0 book.

I know the Expanded Psionics Handbook is for 3.5, but does it have all the info in it I need to run Psionics or does it require the earlier book?

And where does the Complete Psion fit into everything?

I would look over the 3.5 srd psionics section first to get a handle on the rules mechanics, specifically the power points instead of spell slots aspect and the psionic focus mechanic.

Soulknives, psionic feats, psionic monsters, and psionic races are fairly easy to introduce.

The full psionic point classes add in a variant magic system swapping in points for vancian spell slots. Each class is like a sorcerer who uses points but each spell can be boosted with pseudo metamagic augmentations, up to a level limit on points spent per action.

XPH will give you flavor to go along with these mechanics as well as illithid and gith material that WotC keeps proprietary and out of the srd.

I have done fine playing psionic characters and running a game with psionic characters using just the 3.5 srd.

 

[Gothic_Demon]

If I want to introduce Psionics to a game, what is the first book I should get?

The Psionics Handbook seems to be the starting point, but I think it is a 3.0 book.

I know the Expanded Psionics Handbook is for 3.5, but does it have all the info in it I need to run Psionics or does it require the earlier book?

And where does the Complete Psion fit into everything?

Expanded Psionics Handbook
Secrets of Sarlona
Races of Eberron

I'm running a Dreaming Dark campaign for my players right now, and these books are all you need to run the Inspired and Sarlona (except for the Eberron campaign book, obviously).

I find that if you ignore most of the feats and classes from the Complete Psionic and just use the powers you're gonna be OK. The powers work well and add some nice options (except for the poorer 'just-like-the-spell' powers that I'm not fond of).

And if you are running a Sarlonan-themed adventure, I'd recommend you also re-read the rules on possession in the Eberron campaign book, as they really do come in handy.