<rant>Psionic Magic?! WTF?!

[mneme]

The soulknife I find to be pretty cool in that you can manifest your own weapon. If anything, the 4E swordmage seems to resemble the soulknife, but in an arcane flavour.

Shadowblade. Assassin paragon path, manifests her own weapon, with enhancement bonus from her Ki Focus. Check it.

Only problem with it is that they need to make Ki Focuses treat affected weapons as if they're magical (or the Shadowblade won't be able to multiclass into Ranger/Rogue properly, as not being able to do burst attacks with Focused Expertise makes a multiclass Shadowblade sad).

 

[Tallifer]

I, on the other hand, am overjoyed that psionics are now called magic. I want them to fit seamlessly into a fantasy world. I was very excited to read the story of how psionic magic came from a supernatural intrusion of the Far Realm and how that intrusion related to the gods of the world.

Obviously, a Dungeon Master can run an interesting game with space opera psionics, but for me, the new flavour means "everything can still be core" and not feel jarring.

 

[Angellis_ater]

I, on the other hand, am overjoyed that psionics are now called magic. I want them to fit seamlessly into a fantasy world. I was very excited to read the story of how psionic magic came from a supernatural intrusion of the Far Realm and how that intrusion related to the gods of the world.

Obviously, a Dungeon Master can run an interesting game with space opera psionics, but for me, the new flavour means "everything can still be core" and not feel jarring.

I cannot agree more about how it is part of the core - but does it need to called "magic" was my main point. What was wrong with having it be "psionics" and STILL have the fluff that now exists?

 

[lukelightning]

I cannot agree more about how it is part of the core - but does it need to called "magic" was my main point. What was wrong with having it be "psionics" and STILL have the fluff that now exists?

I think it was just a writing style/grammar decision. The writer (or editor) preferred to say "psionic magic is blah blah blah" than "psionics are..."

 

[DracoSuave]

I cannot agree more about how it is part of the core - but does it need to called "magic" was my main point. What was wrong with having it be "psionics" and STILL have the fluff that now exists?

Nothing... but what makes it non-magical? Magic in 4e has nothing to do with rituals, or trappings, or any of that. You're still using an implement for some Psi classes.

Magic's just using the supernatural to get stuff done; how is psionics NOT magic?

What's the difference between a magic missile and a bolt of telekinetic force?

 

[KarinsDad]

What's the difference between a magic missile and a bolt of telekinetic force?

Nothing.

4E is all magic. There is no difference between a magic missile and an arrow and a sword swing and a psionic bolt. It's all magic now since all power sources now can result in the exact same effects.

You want temp hit points to protect you? Go to whatever power source you feel like.

You want to teleport? Go to whatever power source you feel like.

You want to be healed? Go to whatever power source you feel like.


Why is psionics special here? It's all magic.