D&D 5E Sorcerer as Psion (Darksun)

[Zardnaar]

Thoughts in a Darksun game. I don't think the Sorcerer as a class belongs in Darksun at least in the classic timeline.

Post Prism Pentad things like the Storm Sorcerer maybe.

So without a massive rewrite what would you do?

There have been suggestions that you can refluff the Sorcerer into a Psion using spell points. I'm thinking a bit more than a refluff.

Spellpoints and metamagic seem a decent distinction to build off.

Switching from charisma to intelligence and changing saves to intelligence plus constitution.

Not sure what the best subclasses allowed are. Wildmage can be the wilder, psychic warrior a multiclass build. Dragon sorcerer doesn't fit and us hard to refluff.

Replacing the Sorcerer list with the bard spell list as another thought. Note spell casting bards wouldn't exist in this situation either.

Anyway thoughts. I'm open to very severe changes as long as they fit on a page or so for example using bard spell list, plus UA.

New subclass seems to be the best option.

 

[Salthorae]

Dragon sorcerer doesn't fit

Draconic sorcerer doesn't fit a setting where Sorcerer-kings work on giant rituals to turn themselves into Dragons? Really?

Take the new UA Wizard tradition, give it to the Sorcerer. Give them spell points instead of Vancian casting slots. Stick with your transition from Cha to Int and call it a day.

Wild Sorcerer could be the WIlder, sure.

Psychic Warrior just showed up in the new UA as a Fighter subclass, which is probably where it belongs.

 

[Zardnaar]

Draconic sorcerer doesn't fit a setting where Sorcerer-kings work on giant rituals to turn themselves into Dragons? Really?

Take the new UA Wizard tradition, give it to the Sorcerer. Give them spell points instead of Vancian casting slots. Stick with your transition from Cha to Int and call it a day.

Wild Sorcerer could be the WIlder, sure.

Psychic Warrior just showed up in the new UA as a Fighter subclass, which is probably where it belongs.

The reason it doesn't fit is Athas doesn't have chromatic dragons and Dragons are very very rare. It's also not public knowledge they exist except for The Dragon. Singular.

 

[Salthorae]

The reason it doesn't fit is Athas doesn't have chromatic dragons and Dragons are very very rare. It's also not public knowledge they exist except for The Dragon. Singular.

Call them Elemental Sorcerers then.

 

[Zardnaar]

Call them Elemental Sorcerers then.

Elemental theme is covered by clerics, it's their thing so still doesn't fit IMHO.

Conceptually on Athas magic comes from plants not bloodlines.

 

[cbwjm]

Although I'm not sure about the specific bloodlines, you could fit most of the dragon bloodline as a psionic by calling them psychokinetics, each of which focuses on a different energy type (maybe get rid of poison and acid but keep cold, fire, and lightning as cryokinesis, pyrokinesis, and electrokinesis... I guess I am sure about the specific bloodlines).

The ribbon ability of being better at talking to dragons can be dropped, maybe give them some minor telepathy instead. For the AC bonus change it to telekinetic armour. Damage bonus is due to their focus on a damage type and the resistance ability is like some kind of psionic defence. Wings becomes a self-telekinesis ability, no wings required. Not sure about the later fear ability but it could be flavoured as some sort of psionic ability.

 

[Salthorae]

Conceptually on Athas magic comes from plants

On Athas magic comes from life, of which plants are a part. You can defile humanoids too.

Anyway, @cbwjm 's idea works. Making them Psychokinetics is a great idea.

 

[Zardnaar]

On Athas magic comes from life, of which plants are a part. You can defile humanoids too.

Anyway, @cbwjm 's idea works. Making them Psychokinetics is a great idea.

Only Dragons can defile from life. It's not something an a usual OC can do.

It was a level 21+ ability 2E, epic level in 5E.

The other types of spellcasting on Athas came in retcons, post prism pentad or were limited to things PCs wouldn't know about.

Thinking of a new archetype based off the Dragon Sorcerer but outright replacing some abilities. Psychokinetic armor aka AC 13 can be done alone with int to cantrips, the more outright draconic aspects will be removed.

New UA spells and maybe replacing the spell list with bards is also an idea.


Draconic resilence refluff.
Elemental affinity. Int to cantrips or psychic damage.
Draconic wings replace
Draconic Presence replace

 

[Salthorae]

the more outright draconic aspects will be removed.

Just reflavor them. No need to remove them.

All you need to do is the Int/Cha swap you discussed and call them Psychokineticists instead of Draconic. Make it psionics, not magic. it's less work for you.

 

[Zardnaar]

Just reflavor them. No need to remove them.

All you need to do is the Int/Cha swap you discussed and call them Psychokineticists instead of Draconic. Make it psionics, not magic. it's less work for you.

It's not that much work. Psychokineticist dies make some amount of sense. I'm not a big fan of that aspect from 3.5.

What do you think of the bard spell list being used instead. A potential psychokineticist build just gains access to the invocation school.