Unearthed Arcana Unearthed Arcana: Psionics and Mystics Take Two

February's Unearthed Arcana article from WotC's Mike Mearls has been posted. This time around, the topic is psionics again "This month, Unearthed Arcana returns to the mystic character class and the rules for psionics. Based on the playtest feedback you sent us, there are a number of changes you can expect." The article expands the Mystic class to 10th level, and adds a variety of new options.

Find the article right here.

 

[Raisyx]

Perhaps Level 14 would simply grant an extra Talent across the board. Opinions?

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

you now what make this better? mystic 5 / assassin 3/ battlemaster 3 / pali 2 / favored soul 6

haste, quick BB or GFB and more spell slots.
I prefer without assassin to hard to trigger in the monster you need to use the nova and you can get more psi points.

Don't know, maybe is good to be that way, everyone will want to deep a little in mystic, like fighter 2 for fighting style and action surge, but they will need Int instead of dex or strenght that everyone has.

I guess when you come out of the womb at 20th level that might be good. But actually leveling this character over months/years? That guy also gets a whopping 2 stat adjustments...

I dont think we should nerf lethal strike because of a 5 class multiclass (optional rule) that uses another unearthed arcana subclass... Balance around the optimum combos, and you're going to have a class that's underpowered for people who just level in that. Lethal strike is mostly fine as is.

 

[spartanah]

Why not all 5?

Mystic 5/ Paladin 5/ Assassin 3/ Battlemaster 3 / warcleric 1 (bonus attack), with a maul and 20 Str, (13 dex, 13 wis, 13 Int).

5 attacks = 10d6+25 = 60
3*2d8+2*3d8 smite = 54 (1 slot left)
25d10 leathal strike = 137.5 (2 psi left)
+4d8 battlemaster = 18
(no sneak attack with maul).
= 269.5 damage * accuracy.

Level 17 wizard = Meteor swarm = 140 damage. (Lots of slots left)

I don't see it.

Yea, you can make a nasty assassin with a big nova, but it's going to suck against a horde, and you won't have anything left for the rest of the fights.

So congrats on burning all your resources to 1-shot the dragon, but make sure to thank your party for carrying you though the rest of the dungeon. There's still balance over the course of a day.

How did you get 5 attacks?
And you forgot 13 in charisma. How did you get 20 STR?

 

[bogmad]

Still want to know how psionic will interact with barbarian rage and druid wild shape.

I'm curious if psionics will even be compatible with barbarians; they can't cast spells while raging can they, why should psionics work?
Rage is all about unfettered, unrestrained fury. Psionics and the mystic are all about "Rigid mental exercises to put a creature in the correct mindset to wield mental power." Sure, I'm thinking from a story perspective and not a mechanical one, but I'd be much more happy if rage didn't interact with psionics at all.

Wild shape I don't really have a problem with. A psychic bear sounds fun to me.

 

[bogmad]

An ardent or wilder subclass of the barbarian could be fun though...

 

[procproc]

I'm surprised that people aren't focusing more on the lack of an extra attack for the Immortal. That's basically a deal-breaker for me, and for a lot of people I play/have played with.

The obvious comparisons are to Valor Bard, Paladin, and something like War Cleric. The first two both get extra attacks, and the War Cleric has a great deal more versatility in spells. (While people are describing the Mystic as having a "primary caster" class progression, it's really not a primary caster class based on what we've seen so far.) Cutting Resonance is cute, but it's not a replacement for a second attack.

 

[mellored]

How did you get 5 attacks?

Multi-attack (2), action surge (2), and war clerics bonus attack (1).

And you forgot 13 in charisma. How did you get 20 STR?

Human.

Str 15 (16)
Dex 12 (13)
Con 10 (11)
Int 12 (13)
Wis 12 (13)
Cha 12 (13)
= 27


Then +2 Str from mystic 4 and +2 paladin 4.
Could also work with dragonborn or half-orc.


Though, swapping cleric to sorcerer (quicken booming blade) let's you get 2 more Con.

 

[zaratan]

That makes me feel better about mystics.


Pallies get +2 on every attack from dualist. Then +1d8+str on every attack at 5. d10 hit dice, lay on hands, channel divinity, aura's, ect...


Currently, i wouldn't play a mystic over pally (from an optimization standpoint). A little bit stronger nova isn't worth it.

And 5 levels of multi-classing isn't worth it either. Unless your doing a theoretical build just to see how big of a nova you can get.

you don't need to deep 5 level to make multiclass with mystic good. For 1 lvl you can have expertise, blindsight or advantage in
iniciative and change to a magic weapon as a bonus action in the first turn of a combat, at will, the 4d10 is just a bonus. Multiclass mystic 15/champion fighter 5 , 94 psi points, 19 attack of 5d10 day, 19% crit (with advantage), so probably you will only use lethal strike when you get a crit, the rest of psi points can be used for a lot of utility. Isn't just a nova. and multiclass for 5+ levels worth in many cases.

I guess when you come out of the womb at 20th level that might be good. But actually leveling this character over months/years? That guy also gets a whopping 2 stat adjustments...

I dont think we should nerf lethal strike because of a 5 class multiclass (optional rule) that uses another unearthed arcana subclass... Balance around the optimum combos, and you're going to have a class that's underpowered for people who just level in that. Lethal strike is mostly fine as is.

i didn't made that build to play.

I said in my first post that psionic weapon for mystic as single class can be ok, but when you start to multiclass, well... just bladesinger, bard, eldritch knight, champion fighter, battle master, pali, monk, rogue, warlock... you can make a great build with any class since you doesn't need high int, to get the real juicy, just 13.

would be easier if let immortal mystic have the extra attack and equalize the psi points with divine smite.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

i didn't made that build to play.

I said in my first post that psionic weapon for mystic as single class can be ok, but when you start to multiclass, well... just bladesinger, bard, eldritch knight, champion fighter, battle master, pali, monk, rogue, warlock... you can make a great build with any class since you doesn't need high int, to get the real juicy, just 13.

would be easier if let immortal mystic have the extra attack and equalize the psi points with divine smite.

The issue is the immortal isnt a hybrid caster/warrior like the paladin. They dont have a separate points table from the order of the awakened, and have the same power list. For this to work, we'd need a separate psychic warrior class, with reduced power points. The immortal is more the equivalent of a bladesinger or maybe valor bard than a paladin (both of which get full 9 casting progression in addition to a way to get extra attacks)

That, or just make Lethal strike a subclass feature, since its essentially required for the immortal to do their job (sort of like agonizing blast and whatever the pact of the blade one that adds cha to damage should have been). Maybe at 6th level let them use a talent and make an attack?

 

[Devilbass]

I actually like that they aren't using Extra Attack as the damage increase for the Mystic. While I think they could put lethargy strike into the immortal subclass, I'm not sure they should. One of the things that appeals to me about the mystic I like in this iteration is its versatility, and I wouldn't want to curtail it too much.

I'm still not finding lethal strike too powerful either, even with multiclassing (as I explained in previous posts). The choice between damage and utility is something each player must ask themselves when they play a mystic. The way the mystic is designed, that question can be asked on a turn by turn basis, which is incredibly appealing to me.