D&D 5E Use the For - er Psionics Luke!

[Ancalagon]

Hello

So, there are now strong indications that WotC will release some kind of book/supplement/ect for psionics. As I was thinking about that, and wondering if I wanted to fit this in my upcoming campaign, and the mechanisms etc, a thought struck me:

Psionics is an awful lot like the Force.

The Starwars Saga system had an excellent and easy to use Force system. Basically you spend a feat, get a few force powers. You can use each of them once, then have to rest a bit (a short meditation session) to recharge. Want more powers? Spend another feat. Want to use the same power twice in a fight? Buy the same power twice.

It doesn't look like this is the route that WotC is going, but it really would have worked.

 

[pukunui]

After playing and GMing SWSE for several years, I came to strongly dislike its force mechanics. I, for one, would not like it if they replicated it for psionics. I much prefer the direction they're taking in the Unearthed Arcana articles.

 

[Sunseeker]

Hello

So, there are now strong indications that WotC will release some kind of book/supplement/ect for psionics. As I was thinking about that, and wondering if I wanted to fit this in my upcoming campaign, and the mechanisms etc, a thought struck me:

Psionics is an awful lot like the Force.

The Starwars Saga system had an excellent and easy to use Force system. Basically you spend a feat, get a few force powers. You can use each of them once, then have to rest a bit (a short meditation session) to recharge. Want more powers? Spend another feat. Want to use the same power twice in a fight? Buy the same power twice.

It doesn't look like this is the route that WotC is going, but it really would have worked.

Soooo...Fighters would finally have an edge in something?

But I don't think that would be compatible with 5E at all. Oh boy, the fighter can use Force Push once/day! Big whoop.

It's interesting to use feats to buy powers, but 1/day for a feat is not worth it at all unless that power is some kind of one-shot ability. With how often the better feats come into play in a game, you'd want to have something equally reliable, and including one-shotty powers isn't going to improve 5E.

I'd like to see something that looks a little bit like the Elemental Monk crossed with the Warlock. All the important parts are there.

 

[Ancalagon]

But I don't think that would be compatible with 5E at all. Oh boy, the fighter can use Force Push once/day! Big whoop.

It's interesting to use feats to buy powers, but 1/day for a feat is not worth it at all

You read my post too fast. I never said once a day. Once a day would be indeed weak.

 

[Azzy]

Given that feats are optional, that would be an awkward way to do it in this edition.

Personally, I thought they should have used a system similar to the warlock's invocations. That'd get you close to your idea without actually using feats. Though you also introduce a feat that could give any character a psionic ability (like the feat that gives battle master maneuvers).

 

[jayoungr]

You can use each of them once, then have to rest a bit (a short meditation session) to recharge.

Note, however, that a force-power-recharging rest in Star Wars Saga Edition was five minutes.

After playing and GMing SWSE for several years, I came to strongly dislike its force mechanics.

What did you dislike about them?

The force mechanics are one of the things my group really likes about the system. They say it makes each use of a force power feel special and keeps the Jedi from being overpowered with regard to the rest of the group.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Hello

So, there are now strong indications that WotC will release some kind of book/supplement/ect for psionics. As I was thinking about that, and wondering if I wanted to fit this in my upcoming campaign, and the mechanisms etc, a thought struck me:

Psionics is an awful lot like the Force.

The Starwars Saga system had an excellent and easy to use Force system. Basically you spend a feat, get a few force powers. You can use each of them once, then have to rest a bit (a short meditation session) to recharge. Want more powers? Spend another feat. Want to use the same power twice in a fight? Buy the same power twice.

It doesn't look like this is the route that WotC is going, but it really would have worked.

Blech. I hate those kinds of gamist mechanics. Do I really believe that because Darth Maul opened one door with the Force during the fight, he couldn't have opened another unless he had the foresight to "buy" multiple "manipulate object" usages per day? No, actually I don't.

I'd rather have something which reflects which is actually, physically going on. Vancian mechanics don't belong in a physically non-Vancian universe--Vancian magic worked for Mazirian the Magician because he really could only fit six spells in his brain at once, but Luke, the Emperor and Darth Vader don't appear to have any such limitations. ("Sorry, Palpatine, I'm out of Mind Reads for today so I can't locate my son now--but at least I have plenty of Resist Lightning left!")

5E has too much of that 1/rest stuff going on already, it does not need more of it.

 

[Gadget]

Mmmm...I agree the psionics are a good fit for "the Force", but I'm not in love with a feat centric approach. For one thing, they (along with multi-classing) are optional; and there is a very good reason for that because--IMHO--they are probably the one of the most poorly designed element in 5e. They were kind of the bugaboos for past two editions as well, so that's no surprise.

 

[jayoungr]

Do I really believe that because Darth Maul opened one door with the Force during the fight, he couldn't have opened another unless he had the foresight to "buy" multiple "manipulate object" usages per day? No, actually I don't.

Actually, the Force Powers in SWSE are only for the "big stuff." Moving lightweight objects, getting a general location of another Force user, etc., are not limited.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Actually, the Force Powers in SWSE are only for the "big stuff." Moving lightweight objects, getting a general location of another Force user, etc., are not limited.

I'm glad to hear that SWSE has less of the kind of stuff I hate than I thought it did from the OP.

At the same time, that doesn't make me more eager to have more of that kind of stuff in 5E.