D&D General What’s The Big Deal About Psionics?

[Crimson Longinus]

Because that's not a compromise. That's giving us nothing that we want and then giving us spell points which we already have. You're compromise is for us to basically play the Sorcerer. We don't want to play the Sorcerer. We want to play a Psion. Or Mystic. Or Psychic, etc.

Right. So you don’t care about representing the concept, you care about specific mechanical implementation.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Right. So you don’t care about representing the concept, you care about specific mechanical implementation.

Specific mechanical implementation is part of the concept for a lot of us. I think you know that by now.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Specific mechanical implementation is part of the concept for a lot of us.

And that’s the problem. Decide what’s the flavour is then choose the mechanics to represent it. More you can use existing mechanics, more likely it is actually to happen.

 

[Micah Sweet]

And that’s the problem. Decide what’s the flavour is then choose the mechanics to represent it. More you can use existing mechanics, more likely it is actually to happen.

Especially if there's a vocal group insisting that's the case.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Especially if there's a vocal group insisting that's the case.

Whatever. You can hold your breath waiting WOTC to spend time and resources writing an alternative magic system and you can blame me when it doesn’t happen.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Specific mechanical implementation is part of the concept for a lot of us. I think you know that by now.

And for some, the fluff is what is important.

 

[Micah Sweet]

And for some, the fluff is what is important.

The fluff is, I think, important to all psionics fans. But mechanical implementation is important too, and insisting on reskinning for all occasions is not going to work for a lot of people.

 

[Jer]

So speaking of the intersection of flavor and mechanics - if we were to get a full on new psionicist class of some sort, I'm interested in knowing what people think the subclasses for that class should be. (should this be it's own thread? This feels like the general "psionics" thread...)

I really dislike the Wizard subclassing model of taking every "school" and making it a subclass, but that would be what taking the 2e or 3e psionics model and moving it into 5e would mean (so telepath, telekinetic, metabolic, etc.). I'd personally like something with more flavor but still fairly general. Ideas?

 

[Minigiant]

Right. So you don’t care about representing the concept, you care about specific mechanical implementation.

I think the issue is many have different opinions of how much mechanical weight a class needs to be deserving of a class.

Because the Sorcerer exist, the Psion needs to be crunchier to deserve its spot.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

I think the issue is many have different opinions of how much mechanical weight a class needs to be deserving of a class.

Because the Sorcerer exist, the Psion needs to be crunchier to deserve its spot.

I think the Warlock level of mechanical uniqueness is pretty much the feasible maximum to actually get implemented.