Random Speculation on Psionics

[DreamChaser]

i think the psionic class suite will break down as follows- psion as the controller, psichic warrior as the defender, soulknife as the striker (who kills the lurk and takes his stuff), and the ardent as the leader. this IS only speculation.

I think you may be right ... though i could also see the psychic warrior killing the soulknife and taking his stuff and not having a psychic striker at all. or perhaps having a wilder / lurk combo for the striker.

The psychic warrior might choose mind blade as a possible class feature...

I think divine mind's auras actually does the leader thing better than ardent and could see the divine mind killing the ardent and taking his stuff.

Hmmm...a range of psychic gifts? talents? other word for powers?

DC

 

[Wolfwood2]

i think the psionic class suite will break down as follows- psion as the controller, psichic warrior as the defender, soulknife as the striker (who kills the lurk and takes his stuff), and the ardent as the leader. this IS only speculation.

Remember that they're getting away from 'needless symmetry'. There doesn't have to be a psionic class for each role, or only one class per role.

 

[cdrcjsn]

Pure speculation, but I think the psionic classes will fall into:

Psionic Controller - Psion
Psionic Defender - Psychic Warrior
Psionic Striker - Monk

No Leader.

Soulknife will probably be split up between Monk and Psy Warrior. The image of a character wielding psionic energy as a weapon is cool, but probably not enough to sustain an entire class concept by itself.

I recall reading somewhere that PHB will feature mostly Primal and Psionics power source characters, and I'm pretty sure they'll put Monk in that book (along with all the class/race combos that people wanted and didn't make the original PHB).

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I just really, really hope the Lurk is the Psionic Striker.

 

[Henry]

I just really, really hope the Lurk is the Psionic Striker.

Instead I rather see BOTH Lurk and Soulknife as Striker; the description and power theme of the Soulknife is all striker, as it is mainly concerned with bigger swords, more swords, more powers for the swords, being able to throw the swords, etc.

The Psion naturally I would see as Psionic Controller, with powers primarily in the "mental force" vein, charms, memory-screws, force knives, telekinesis, etc.

The Psychic Warrior is definitely Psionic Defender material, but his powers might need a bit of tweaking more toward exotic movements, more of the walking on walls, sticking to foes, daily wallops, etc.

And the Ardent, with some retooling, would probably be better as a Leader-type; those auras might be better thrown on other people, etc.

The Divine Mind is just too much like Paladin in my opinion to warrant inclusion; I never saw them as distinct enough, myself.

 

[Falling Icicle]

The problem with the Soulknife being a base class is that they'd have to make an entire set of unique powers for it. Since the 3e version revolved completely around creating a mindblade and later learning to throw it, etc, it's hard to imagine what other powers it could get. It's focus is just too narrow. They could borrow from the psychometabolism and psychic warrior power lists, but that would diminish the psychic warrior class. I think that the Soulknife will end up being a paragon path for psychic warriors.

 

[Fiendish Dire Weasel]

Pure speculation, but I think the psionic classes will fall into:

Psionic Controller - Psion
Psionic Defender - Psychic Warrior
Psionic Striker - Monk

No Leader.

I think this is a pretty good guess myself.

As far as how they will work? Psions will just be a different flavored Wizard, and Psychic Warrior a different flavored Paladin. Monk may be pretty exceptional though. I don't see them working any differently though. Powers are powers.

Making Psionics exceptional is normally what unbalances it or gives it the impression of inbalance so it gets banned from games.

 

[Lizard]

Which means the snot and the crystals probably won't get dropped.

Crap.

Hmf. I like the crystal snot.

 

[Lackhand]

Which means the snot and the crystals probably won't get dropped.

Crap.

Hmf. I like the crystal snot.

So, to no one's surprise: Lizard, take more drugs. hong, take fewer drugs.

FIFY!

 

[Bacris]

I think divine mind's auras actually does the leader thing better than ardent and could see the divine mind killing the ardent and taking his stuff.

Auras were the ardent's originally; they'll probably just merge the two classes back into the one class they used to be: the ardent.