D&D (2024) Should 2014 Half Elves and Half Orcs be added to the 2025 SRD?

[Micah Sweet]

Sure and that could happen after several years for 5.24e. But I was happy there is some basic amount of psionics as a concept in the PHB at least. They have some of the core ideas already: telepathy, telekinesis, invisible force shields, mind defenses, strikes that come from your mind, no verbal or somatic components, often with a separate limited resource (like once free per day), etc.. They can build on that and all these ideas have roots in the AD&D 1e rules on some level.

It didn't happen after several years of 2014 D&D, why would it for 5.5? WotC simply isn't interested in taking risks, which any psionics they make would be from their point of view, because less than 70% of those polled like any option they present.

 

[Mistwell]

It didn't happen after several years of 2014 D&D, why would it for 5.5? WotC simply isn't interested in taking risks, which any psionics they make would be from their point of view, because less than 70% of those polled like any option they present.

I understand your pessimism on the issue given the history you outlined. I'm more optimistic. I think the designers at WOTC like psionics, and want to try again. We'll see.

 

[Scribe]

I understand your pessimism on the issue given the history you outlined. I'm more optimistic. I think the designers at WOTC like psionics, and want to try again. We'll see.

Potentially, but with the uh, attempts, now enshrined in the 5.5 PHB? I dont know if they are going to somehow go the extra mile now.

 

[Minigiant]

Sure and that could happen after several years for 5.24e. But I was happy there is some basic amount of psionics as a concept in the PHB at least. They have some of the core ideas already: telepathy, telekinesis, invisible force shields, mind defenses, strikes that come from your mind, no verbal or somatic components, often with a separate limited resource (like once free per day), etc.. They can build on that and all these ideas have roots in the AD&D 1e rules on some level.

I'd rather they outsource that to its own book and make 3-4 fully fleshed out psionic classes.

 

[Maxperson]

It's been flavor on the existing magic rules since 3e and onwards. The 1e AD&D system was a complete mess but at least it was genuinely distinct. It's just been "reflavor magic" since then really. So I'm glad we at least got the reflavored magic version version.

I'm going to disagree with that assessment. 3e used psionic points which no other class used unless you brought in the optional rule from the UA. Further, you could augment the psionic powers with points in ways no other class could, even if they did opt into the spell point system.

Those differences amount to more than just a flavor change to the existing magic rules, even if they were relatively minor. I do get that those differences aren't nearly as significant as the 1e and 2e system differences.

 

[Maxperson]

It didn't happen after several years of 2014 D&D, why would it for 5.5? WotC simply isn't interested in taking risks, which any psionics they make would be from their point of view, because less than 70% of those polled like any option they present.

Which is really the fault of WotC. They keep asking the wrong questions. While it's true that we all have our favorite incarnation of psionics, almost everyone here and outside of this forum that I have spoken with about psionics has been okay with other incarnations as well. But rather than have people rank the various incarnations, they only ask if you like the one they are presenting, so none has hit 70%.

I'm very certain that if they brought out all the incarnations and had folks rank them based on how much they like or dislike a specific psionic system, they'd find one that 70% of people approve of, even if it's not the favorite of 70%.

 

[Maxperson]

I understand your pessimism on the issue given the history you outlined. I'm more optimistic. I think the designers at WOTC like psionics, and want to try again. We'll see.

I agree and hope that the designers get it together and ask the right polling questions. If they had done so before, we'd almost certainly have had a psionic system released by now.

 

[pemerton]

And yet you can use the same rules to play space marines if that's your goal

You'd need additional rules. No one can use just the PC build and action resolution rules found in the PHB to play space marines.

 

[Minigiant]

You'd need additional rules. No one can use just the PC build and action resolution rules found in the PHB to play space marines.

It's called cheating on your ability score rolls.

A space marine is a max height species with 20 in all physical stats and implanted magical items.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It's called cheating on your ability score rolls.

A space marine is a max height species with 20 in all physical stats and implanted magical items.

You're assuming 40k then? They haven't quite trademarked the term "space marine" yet.

Or maybe they have. I quit paying attention when they changed the names of everything for depressing business reasons. Still a big fan of the setting though.