Shadowdark Western Reaches Stretch Goal: New Classes

[Reynard]

Psionics may have been inspired by a single author but fantasy characters with psychic mystical powers was not. However, “psionics” has become much a shorthand term for various psychic power tropes. These were very much a part of weird fantasy.

I'm still interested in what specific weird fantasy psionics you are thinking of. Different interpretations are going to suggest different game design implementations. And much like Vancian magic, any particular choice is going to leave some folks disappointed.

It seems like most people who want D&D psionics want a new version of traditional D&D psionics. But that has been so convoluted between editions, it is likely impossible to make anyone happy.

 

[Scribe]

I'm still interested in what specific weird fantasy psionics you are thinking of. Different interpretations are going to suggest different game design implementations. And much like Vancian magic, any particular choice is going to leave some folks disappointed.

It seems like most people who want D&D psionics want a new version of traditional D&D psionics. But that has been so convoluted between editions, it is likely impossible to make anyone happy.

I don't know, I'm wiling to take a stab, assuming she doesn't.

 

[Bill Zebub]

It seems like most people who want D&D psionics want a new version of traditional D&D psionics.

At first I wondered what you meant by that.

And...although this might not be what you meant...then it occurred to me that maybe what people want to replicate is that you got psionics on top of all your regular class stuff, not instead of. Because then you feel extra special powerful. (Even if sometimes it seemed like a good 50% of the characters happened to have rolled that low percentage...)

 

[Scribe]

At first I wondered what you meant by that.

And...although this might not be what you meant...then it occurred to me that maybe what people want to replicate is that you got psionics on top of all your regular class stuff, not instead of. Because then you feel extra special powerful. (Even if sometimes it seemed like a good 50% of the characters happened to have rolled that low percentage...)

I don't think so. I think it's about the flavour of it all, without the baggage of the 5e Classes, and Spell system.

 

[Bill Zebub]

I don't think so. I think it's about the flavour of it all, without the baggage of the 5e Classes, and Spell system.

Yeah, that makes sense to me. I lean in favor of no psionics, but I also feel that AD&D psionics, by being outside of the class and spellcasting systems, felt different. And that was kind of cool. Trying to normalize it to fit with the other subsystems takes away some of the...well, I guess the right word is "magic".

 

[Aldarc]

I don't know, I'm wiling to take a stab, assuming she doesn't.

He. That said, you are welcome to answer.

 

[Reynard]

At first I wondered what you meant by that.

And...although this might not be what you meant...then it occurred to me that maybe what people want to replicate is that you got psionics on top of all your regular class stuff, not instead of. Because then you feel extra special powerful. (Even if sometimes it seemed like a good 50% of the characters happened to have rolled that low percentage...)

I meant "another caster class" that uses a bespoke system with "spell points." I get that folks in general don't just want a "psionics" tag on top of normal spell mechanics, but beyond that every edition has treated it differently. Sometimes more than once in an edition.

 

[kapars]

What about a class that’s really good at throwing things? Knives, spikes, turnips, friends, enemies. Catapulist? Yeeti?

 

[TwoSix]

What about a class that’s really good at throwing things? Knives, spikes, turnips, friends, enemies. Catapulist? Yeeti?

A white-haired ape named “Yeeti” who throws lots of rocks is definitely showing up in my next game. Many thanks.

 

[Scribe]

He. That said, you are welcome to answer.

I meant Kelsey, if she doesnt make one as the stretch goal.