[SCOOP] Psionics 3.5, The New Setting, and Dark Sun!!

[Katerek]

Hmmmm....yawn.

Like others, I hope that the new setting has more to it than the gimmick of Psionics.

Psionics have historically been a broken rules set.

Dark Sun didn't do all that well.

Now there is a new setting with alot of Psionics. I hope it is REALLY different. I really want this to succeed, but at first glance I have my doubts.

 

[Chun-tzu]

There's another good reason for Wizards to revise the psionics system. Didn't they say we'd be seeing supplements for D20 Modern that cover sci-fi/future settings? In most of those settings, we'd expect little to no magic at all, but psionics might take its place.

From what I've heard (mostly from posters on these boards), the Psi Handbook has been one of Wizards' most popular supplements, but there are also many complaints about various aspects of the system. Many of the complaints are reasonable, too! If you're going to have so many new books relying on the PsiHB (new setting, Dark Sun, D20 Future), you're going to want a pretty solid system in place.

 

[Gez]

You know, despite Morrus' belief, I'm highly skeptical about this whole thread.

But I just wanted to say, re: the survey, that if they did revise the current psionic system and change it wholly (to skill & feat or anything else than what it is actually), I would be massively upset.

As they are now, psionics are nice. A little underpowered overall, but OK.

 

[Voneth]

*Checks thread. Shakes head*

Psionics, ptui!

okaaay.
How about "alternate rules system for magic"

I am not getting into a whole "genre" thing, but game wise, a lot of mechanics can get a name change for flavor and everything is okay.

I got a similar problem right now. I am running a Farscape game (with a psionic flavored characters) with MnM rules (which are marketed as a super hero rpg.) I have one player (out of 5 total) who can't seem to get his head around the idea that while the rules support 4-color supers, my setting is not a super hero setting.

On the other hand, Monte's new "alternate PHB" is offering a psionic class that works off his version of the spell slot system to the point it doesn't even used psionic points.

 

[Deadguy]

I think I have to agree, at first blush, with those who've said they hope the setting has no more than a spin on psionics. I am afriad that I am one of those who feel that without a huge reworking of the magic system, psionics lacks a real place in D&D.

Of course, one thought that does cross my mind about that survey... how would WotC feel if, after polling a fair few people, the mood is against psionics. Their new setting would then need rather more work than they'd allowed for...
I love consipracy thinking!

 

[Eridanis]

Kesh beat me to it, but publishing a new Psionics HB with Dark Sun setting info makes perfect sense. It could incorporate changes (like some of Bruce Cordell's Malhavoc work, and the Mind's Eye material), and also show a setting in which to use those new toys. It would bring the PsiHB's physical size into line with FRCS and ELH. (Remember, a good quarter of the ELH is dedicated to an illustrative setting of the new rules: Union.)

Then, ithe new fan-created setting could use the new Psi Rules - but wouldn;t have to dwell on them, but could move on to all the things you need for a setting book.

2004 will be a busy year for WotC, it seems.

 

[Zarrock God of Evil]

I will also be holding my breath for this one. Some on the board already discussed the possibility for a Revised Psionics Handbook some 3 weeks ago in my thread: http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36817

Now that it seems it may become reality anyway, I'm extremely excited - I'd love to see psionics gain a more permanent place in DnD

-Zarrock

 

[Orias]

BRING BACK DARK SUN!

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Would it help if I were to say that I believe The Dragon?

Let me add that I'm pretty certain I know who The Dragon is, and if that is the case, his/her/its credibility is quite high in my book. Although I don't know the source, so don't try to get it out of me!

 

[Galfridus]

I don't know if this rumor is true, but I hope it is!

I love psionics, but it seems pretty clear to me that the implications of the psionics rules were not all understood when the PsiHB was printed. Psionic combat is ineffectual (except for Mind Blast, which is campaign-altering in its power) and should probably just be dropped. The lack of scalability of powers causes serious weakness issues, and the power selection makes some psi classes very difficult to play effectively.

At the same time, I think moving to a skill or feat-based system is too much change -- at that point, you might as well create a new system rather than try to replace what's already out there.

I would love to see a 3.5 PsiHB that ditches psionic combat and adopts many of the ITCK changes (power chains, upscaling, revised # of powers and power points). On a smaller scale, fixing things like the difficulty of making psi powers invisible (not really practical at present), the unnecessary mirroring of arcane magic items (tattoos, power stones, dorjes), and the goofiness of some items (those skins!) would be nice too.