Random Speculation on Psionics

[Phasics]

Not that we've heard anything except that it wont be in the inital core 3 books but if what we've seen is anything to go buy then psionics should fit right in.

The one in particular I'm hanging out to see is a Psion Kineticist, hoping that the at will powers on offer will include the "control object" type powers so that just walking through the woods I can be levitating several piece of equipment, as sort of mental exercise as a fighter would benefit from carrying a heavy pack physically over time.

And although not the most effective use of his powers I did enjoy using control object for making all my standard attacks using it to propel a short spear or rock or whatever was on hand slamming it from one critter to another , and of course later on throwing the various critters around against each other.

Anyway just a random 4e speculation for the day.

Any classes not seen yet that you have your own suspicions about that will work great with the style of 4e that we've seen so far ?

 

[Phasics]

So thats a no we don't like Psioncs hehehe

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

I too think psionics could work extra well within the new framework. I also hope that they maintain the D&D psionics tradition of coming up with new spell mechanics, though. It'd be interesting to see MP (or PP, I guess) used in 4e... for example, maybe a level 1 psion has 3 encounter powers known but only 1 PP to use one of them. That could scale up in an interesting way, giving psions trickier tactical decisions than other classes at higher levels. (E.g., whereas a level 20 wizard has 5 encounter spells, a level 20 psion has 4 PP and 10 encounter spells to choose from.)

 

[LordArchaon]

Well we know that they want to differentiate psionics from magic not much on the mechanical aspect (which is mostly standardized for all classes, no matter the power source), but on the real in-game effect aspect.
They toned down arcane and divine enchantment effects with the purpose of leaving the best part of it to psionics. I guess telekinesis and some force effects are also there for psionics to feed upon.
I really don't know how they'll deal with the "crystal theme" or the "ectoplasm theme" though.

 

[Raith5]

I think Barbarian could work well. Im guessing a rageing strike could be an at will or encounter attack, with a few variations, and they could do something interesting about his defenses with little armour.

Although I saw some reference somewhere that the barbarian was going to be to the druid as the paladin was to the cleric. This worried me a little because I like the barbarian as the Conan archetype not the defender of the wild archetype (aka formerly known as the Ranger).

I think Psi could work well, but I think there needs to be a rather radical rethink of the flavour of Psi if it is to be brought into the mainstream of D and D.

Edit: Sorry I initially read the question in a broader way than intended, ie included all classes, not just psionic classes. Hence Barb reference. Definitely not a psionic class!

 

[Someone]

They roughly specified that wanted the psion to be the best with mind powers. Since they also want characters to not be completely shut down when encountering certain types of monsters (like when rogues or telepaths stumbled upon undead or constructs) I wonder how will they solve that problem: either the majority of monsters will have a mind able to be affected by telepathy, or the telepath psion will have some way to circunvent that.

 

[Steely Dan]

I've heard psionics will focus a lot on charm, and of course say goodbye to pp (we ditched those anyway).

My buddy in my current Planescape campaign is playing a Seer, and we're hoping psionics won't be purely: "Look into my eyes…" etc.

 

[LordArchaon]

I've heard psionics will focus a lot on charm, and of course say goodbye to pp (we ditched those anyway).

My buddy in my current Planescape campaign is playing a Seer, and we're hoping psionics won't be purely: "Look into my eyes…" etc.

I think Clairvoyance and Clairsentience powers in general still have many chances to be Psion's domain. What we must forget are the energy based powers, and maybe also much of the Metacreativity. And Psychoportation I bet will be domain of another psionic class, maybe a roguish type.

 

[nick012000]

I hope not. I loved playing a blasty psion who can kill things in a dozen different ways, each more painful than the last.

 

[Darkthorne]

Having the base mechanics like everything else I am fine with. Losing some versatility I am also fine with. My biggest concern is I want Psionics to be Psi, not magic or anything else. What's the point of having its own book if it's just magic anyway? Just say it's either A or B, not "Well it's primarily A but it can be B or C too". The Expanded Psionics handbook I thought was awesome, even put together a Cerebremancer (cool idea) until you got the "Well, see here it's magic" it became a waste of levels and character design (This was before practiced spellcaster/manifester). I didn't mind doing the lower amount of damage for either as I expected one would help the other's shortcomings, but once you hit the highers levels and SR affected both equally natural 20's became the need for anything to work. They address this and I'll be thrilled to no end.