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

[CreamCloud0]

I could live with psionics taking a softer more flexible approach with psi-power points and specialisations, each branch of psionic specialisation granting a conceptual focus for what your abilities can be used for rather than a hard codified set of powers, as well as ‘you can replicate the effects of XYZ spells but they don’t require V/S/M components’, each specialisation provides a scale of examples of what can approximately be achieved by each focus and how many points it would require to achieve that.

Like say the transformation specialisation is described as ‘you can manipulate your own bodily form’, you can replicate effects of these spells on yourself: primal savagery, disguise self, jump, cure wounds, enhance ability, stoneskin, enlarge/reduce, polymorph, regenerate, ect..., but you aren’t limited to just those effects so maybe you could use some psi-points to stretch your arms out and reach up to a high window or give yourself claws for climbing.

Given my own understanding of psionics i think id separate the focuses into:
-telekinesis: move and apply physical force to things in your environment with your mind
-telepathy: connect to, observe and influence the minds of others for better or worse
-transformation: control, manipulate and change your own bodily form
-energy manipulation: create and manipulate energy in the forms of fire, ice and electricity
-sensory: expand your ability to detect, observe, seek and divine the world outside your own body

 

[Faolyn]

I think a major issue with psionics is, in fact, the issue with magic in general: there's simply too much crossover. Too many spells are available to too many classes. There's not enough to make each class/archetype distinct.

If psions were the only ones who could read and alter minds, and no other class had access to spells like detect thoughts and charm person, but psions couldn't throw fireballs, then there would be a clear division here. Except... wizards are well-known to have mind-control powers, and psionics has always included psychokinesis.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

If we are having these troubles with the psionic powers, then I don't want to imagine the day when they dared the step for the martia adepts (3.5 Tome of Battle: Book of the Nine Swords).

The counterspells can't work in the same way with the psionic powers. If neither somatic nor verbal components are necessary this means a psion even being bound and gagged the psion could still be a serious menace.

If the wizards are an allegory about the sciences maybe the psion could be inspired in the philosophy of the martial arts about discipline, self-control and search of the perfection.

The psionic powers also can be used as a hook for the superheros-comic fandom.

* Some psionic powers might not need spending of power points, but using a reloading system like the (ki) martial maneuvers.

* I like the idea of Athanatism, the psionic art of manipulating souls and spirits (idea by Dreamscarred Press).

* Any suggestion? Psionic powers to be designed for an easy adaptation from spell to psi-power.

Psychic Powers - TV Tropes

The ability to alter (or remotely observe) reality, directly tied to the mind/brain of the character. This is a specific form of Magic by Any Other Name, where the magic is named for some pseudoscientific relationship with the caster's mental …

tvtropes.org

Magic or Psychic? - TV Tropes

Functional Magic and Psychic Powers frequently fulfill similar purposes in a plot. They're mysterious, fantastic, and enable one individual to wield incredible power. They are for the most part intertwined and interchangeable. What happens when a …

tvtropes.org

 

[Maxperson]

I think a major issue with psionics is, in fact, the issue with magic in general: there's simply too much crossover. Too many spells are available to too many classes. There's not enough to make each class/archetype distinct.

If psions were the only ones who could read and alter minds, and no other class had access to spells like detect thoughts and charm person, but psions couldn't throw fireballs, then there would be a clear division here. Except... wizards are well-known to have mind-control powers, and psionics has always included psychokinesis.

Yep. But that's why the mechanics have to be distinctly different. HOW each class goes about use of their power affects the feel. Divine classes get to choose from every divine spell every day. Wizards have to learn them from books and don't have access to all spells. The other arcane classes are also limited, but in different ways. Psions need to be different.

 

[Aldarc]

If psions were the only ones who could read and alter minds, and no other class had access to spells like detect thoughts and charm person, but psions couldn't throw fireballs, then there would be a clear division here. Except... wizards are well-known to have mind-control powers, and psionics has always included psychokinesis.

This is where I would sequester some things to subclass.

 

[Incenjucar]

One of the nice things about the 2E psionicist was that their powers were weaker than actual spellcasters, and so they had stats more in line with rogues. Magic altered reality, while psionics was mostly just expanding the "natural" abilities of an individual to bend reality a little. A person could throw a punch, while a psionicist could throw a punch, while a spellcaster summoned an angel to punch.

 

[Maxperson]

One of the nice things about 2E psionicist was that their powers were weaker than actual spellcasters, and so they had stats more in line with rogues. Magic altered reality, while psionics was mostly just expanding the "natural" abilities of an individual to bend reality a little. A person could throw a punch, while a psionicist could throw a punch, while a spellcaster summoned an angel to punch.

I liked 2e's concepts of critical successes for powers and fumbles for powers.

 

[Minigiant]

The big deal is, many (perhaps most) people want it, and almost none of them agree on even the smallest details of how it should work.

I think it's morre than none of the fans agree with WOTC's ideas for it. Mostly because they either tried to shove it into another class OR shove all of psionics into one class. AKA the easy cheap route.

Much like the artificer, if WOTC designs a psioincs class with a clear idea and concept most fans would be okay with it even if it isn't perfectly how they want it.

 

[Bill Zebub]

Telling people what their opinion must be is out of bounds. You can decide what you believe. But you can't tell others what to think and then deride them if they do not obey your demands.

In general a lot of the content around here makes unproven claims what other people want and why they want it. Almost invariably in an unflattering way.

 

[Incenjucar]

While I've always been baffled about the habit of avoiding just making a rules-only updated version of the 2e Psionicist and expanding from there if it takes off, I've found plenty to enjoy in the various incarnations of psionics. At the end of the day, I'd rather have something I'm only 80% on board with than nothing.