Psions and Wilders as arcane casters?

[AbeTheGnome]

I'm thinking about using the Psion and Wilder classes as a replacement for Wizard and Sorcerer in my new campaign, only having them cast arcane spells instead of psionic powers. I would also keep the arcane spell failure from armor intact (though maybe not, for the Wilder). I would have to create Discipline-restricted spell lists, but I can use Domain Wizards from UA as a starting point.

Since I'm using the spell point variant anyway, I don't see this being a cataclysmic transition. Does anyone have any thoughts on this proposal?

 

[Bacris]

How are you handling spell scaling vs augmentation?

From my experience, the UA variant on spell points isn't exactly... great.

Out of curiosity - why not just use powers and put an arcane spin on them? Flavor is easily mutable, mechanics are a bit trickier.

 

[AbeTheGnome]

How are you handling spell scaling vs augmentation?

From my experience, the UA variant on spell points isn't exactly... great.

Out of curiosity - why not just use powers and put an arcane spin on them? Flavor is easily mutable, mechanics are a bit trickier.

I was wondering if anyone was gonna bite on this thread. As far as I can tell, there's not much difference between the UA and the XPH augmentation system. The main reason that I'm not using powers as arcane spells is the sheer number of spells vs. powers. There's a spell for every occasion, but the selection of powers is limited to just a couple of sources. Can you explain the difference between XPH augmentation and UA augmentation?

 

[Yair]

I would instead leave the psionic classes with their lists of powers, translating key spells I wish them to have into psionic powers. There is no need for example to have the psion cast the fireball spell when there is already an energy ball power already geared up for psionics. Go over the arcane spells, and convert the ones that you think will add to your campaign into psionic powers. (Keep augmenting in mind.)

I might consider replacing the Wizard with the Erudite, and changing the Psion to be based on Wisdom - in this way the Intelligence-based caster is much more similar to the wizard, and I have one "arcane" caster per mental ability score (Intelligence, Wisdom, and the Wilder remains at Charisma).

Out of curiosity - why not just use powers and put an arcane spin on them? Flavor is easily mutable, mechanics are a bit trickier.

Psionic powers are far more personal. A wizard (or sorcerer) can cast water breathing on the entire group, a psion (of similar level) just can't provide that kind of assistance. There are also some key spells missing from psionics (such as invisibility).