Unearthed Arcana Unearthed Arcana Revisits Psionics

The latest Unearthed Arcana from WotC revisits some psionic rules! “Shine with the power of the mind in this installment of Unearthed Arcana! Today we revisit several psi-themed options that we released in the past few months. Studying your feedback on those options, we’ve crafted this new collection of subclasses, spells, and feats, found in the PDF below.“

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[Parmandur]

This is false.
The path from anecdote to data requires a specialized trained professional to put in a full-time job collecting anecdotes on a very large scale, and subjecting the mass to rigorous screening.
No mere part-timer or amateur has the resources to do this and have his results be recognized as valid by an authority on the subject.

Right...which was my point. WotC has those resources.

 

[jgsugden]

We have not hit 50 pages, yet, arguing about a peripheral concept to the UA article this post was about? SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.

 

[Fenris-77]

We have not hit 50 pages, yet, arguing about a peripheral concept to the UA article this post was about? SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.

#trollharder

 

[Hussar]

Most importantly, that's how the Psionic Monsters and PC Races in 5E already operate.

But, that doesn't matter in 5e. 5e monsters are not built like PC's. Any monster mechanic has zero to do with a PC mechanic.

What PC races have psionic powers in 5e?

Additionally, @Maxperson, you are basically splitting hairs here. The argument was that Psionics had no visible "tells" for how they work. That's untrue. In 3e they did and in 2e, they often did. 1e did not, that is true. Whether those tells come from "displays" or VSM doesn't really matter does it? What difference does it make if using my power makes me smell like lime jello or if I'm waving my fingers about. The point is, you can tell when someone is using a power or a spell. Is it really a make or break issue where that "tell" comes from?

 

[Parmandur]

But, that doesn't matter in 5e. 5e monsters are not built like PC's. Any monster mechanic has zero to do with a PC mechanic.

What PC races have psionic powers in 5e?

It is not absolute, but it is a notable trend

Githyanki, Githzerai and Kalashtar at least.

 

[Maxperson]

Additionally, @Maxperson, you are basically splitting hairs here. The argument was that Psionics had no visible "tells" for how they work.

The argument from our side is that they don't use V, S, and M. That's it. If some outlier is saying that there shouldn't be any side effects, that's not a strong sentiment from this side of things.

That's untrue. In 3e they did and in 2e, they often did.

They didn't in 2e, either. What you say about the description of Aura Sight is true, but unless the power itself was flashy, even the powers that don't say anything about subtlety still don't have V, S, M or any visual, aural or scent side effects.

Is it really a make or break issue where that "tell" comes from?

Not from our side, no. That's not what we are asking for. ::

 

[Hussar]

So, you don't want VSM, because psionics didn't have VSM, even though, they effectively HAD them, they were just called something different? Does that about sum it up?

 

[Lucas Yew]

Sincerely very heartening to see others who see VSM on psionics is wrong. And yes, I don't care whether psionics share spell effects, use spell slots, have other components (like for example, PF1's Thought and Emotion, and/or burning ozone smells and glowing skin veins) that can be exploited to detect and/or hinder "casting". Just no reliance on a biophysical vocalization organ + appendage combination.

Even the much referenced Jedi (or any force user in general) theoretically don't "need" vocal chords nor a protein hand (just look at Darth Vader, he's a cyborg during the entire Original Trilogy) to use telekinesis.

 

[Maxperson]

So, you don't want VSM, because psionics didn't have VSM, even though, they effectively HAD them, they were just called something different?

They did not effectively have them and never did. A component is required to cast a spell. If you don't have a required component, you cannot cast the spell. Period. And before you say, "but, but, there are ways to make it so you don't have to use components." if you have one of those ways, the component is no longer required. So to reiterate, without a required component it is impossible to cast a spell. The only requirement 1e, 2e, and 3e had was that you have the power points to fuel the power. That's it. No V, S, M or any equivalent.

After effects to let the enemy know a power was used is not a component or component equivalent.

Does that about sum it up?

Not even close. We don't buy into your mistaken ideas.

 

[Hussar]

But, psionics in D&D already HAS VSM. They are called Display's or Ectoplasm, but, they are RIGHT THERE!