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

[Maxperson]

In 3e:

Spell slots = Spell points


Slot 1 = 1 point
Slot 2 = 3 points
Slot 3 = 5 points
...
Slot 9 = 17 points


The 3e Psion is a full caster who casts the appropriate spell slots at the appropriate caster levels, from spell slot level 1 spells to spell slot level 9 spells.

There are no default 3e casters other than psionic classes who use spell points, though. The DM had to go out of his way to convert other caster types to spell points. So spell points did not = spell slots in the default game.

 

[Maxperson]

The Wizard already has all of the redundant Charm spells, so this one spell replacing all of them is fine.

However, a "Real" Telekinesis spell would also need to augment "At higher levels", and should not appear on the Wizard spell list.

No. The augments like in your 5e charm example above should be psionic classes and subclasses only. Not for wizards, bards who whoever else. It would be a good way to represent the unique psionic caster, but that's destroyed if you give it to everyone else.

 

[Minigiant]

Yes, but upcasting a 1st or 2nd level spell to 3rd level is generally weaker than casting a 3rd level spell.

Yeah. But like I said it only matters within the commonly played levels if you are a blaster or resser/healer

That's why Wizards have Cure Wounds, Animal Friendship, Dissonant Whispers, Armor of Agathys and more all on their list.

1 feat or1 level dip gets them on the list

That's the problem.
Until our warlock died, the healer of one of my groups was the wizard.
Although that's why the warlock died. No revivify.

 

[Yaarel]

There are no default 3e casters other than psionic classes who use spell points, though. The DM had to go out of his way to convert other caster types to spell points. So spell points did not = spell slots in the default game.

3e has an official spellpoint system that Wizards can use. They still need to "prepare" their spells.

The 3e psionic format lists both the spell slot level and the spell point cost for that slot. Slot=points.

No. The augments like in your 5e charm example above should be psionic classes and subclasses only. Not for wizards, bards who whoever else. It would be a good way to represent the unique psionic caster, but that's destroyed if you give it to everyone else.

These are normal spells. Some classes have them on their spell list, some classes dont. Many spells in the Players Handbook already augment "at higher levels" using higher slots, such as the Cure Wound spell and the Fireball spell.

 

[Maxperson]

Yeah. But like I said it only matters within the commonly played levels if you are a blaster or resser/healer

Most 3rd level spells are better than upcasting a blasting/healing spell to 3rd level, even if you're a blaster or healer. I mean, if you choose to stay in your specialty of blasting or healing, you'll be upcasting a lot of those spells, but they still won't be as strong as most 3rd level spells, so your power level is going to drop compared to the caster that isn't upcasting and is using higher level spells.

1 feat or1 level dip gets them on the list

That's the problem.
Until our warlock died, the healer of one of my groups was the wizard.
Although that's why the warlock died. No revivify.

That's not a problem, though. Wizards don't have those spells on the list, so they aren't given to wizards in some sort of 5e share the spells philosophy. The wizard had to weaken his power level and level dip or invest a feat(if feats are even used) in order to get access. I don't see a problem with other classes having access to psionic specific spells if they pay the cost to get there.

 

[Maxperson]

3e has an official spellpoint system that Wizards can use. They still need to "prepare" their spells.

An official OPTIONAL spellpoint system in the Unearthed Arcana that wizards can use if the DM puts it into his game.

There is no default spell point caster other than psionic classes.

The 3e psionic format lists both the spell slot level and the spell point cost for that slot. Slot=points.

Not by default.

 

[Maxperson]

3e has an official spellpoint system that Wizards can use. They still need to "prepare" their spells.

The 3e psionic format lists both the spell slot level and the spell point cost for that slot. Slot=points.


These are normal spells. Some classes have them on their spell list, some classes dont. Many spells in the Players Handbook already augment "at higher levels" using higher slots, such as the Cure Wound spell and the Fireball spell.

Those are not augments. Fireball and Cure wounds don't augment, they simply get cast at higher level. It's the 5e way to represent fireball getting stronger as the wizard levels. Augments did more than just be cast at higher levels in higher slots.

 

[Yaarel]

Those are not augments. Fireball and Cure wounds don't augment, they simply get cast at higher level. It's the 5e way to represent fireball getting stronger as the wizard levels. Augments did more than just be cast at higher levels in higher slots.

3e augment and 5e "at higher levels" mean the same thing.

1 slot level higher = 2 spell points higher
2 slot levels higher = 4 spell points higher

 

[Maxperson]

3e augment and 5e "at higher levels" mean the same thing.

1 slot level higher = 2 spell points higher
2 slot levels higher = 4 spell points higher

No. No they don't mean the same thing at all. In 5e you cannot add NEW and DIFFERENT effects by casting in higher slots. 3e augments could.

 

[Minigiant]

Most 3rd level spells are better than upcasting a blasting/healing spell to 3rd level, even if you're a blaster or healer. I mean, if you choose to stay in your specialty of blasting or healing, you'll be upcasting a lot of those spells, but they still won't be as strong as most 3rd level spells, so your power level is going to drop compared to the caster that isn't upcasting and is using higher level spells.

I mean that multiclassing casters only hurts blasters and healers. Neither are primary roles of wizards nor psions. So a potential wizard/psion loses little because by the time it really matters, 80% of campaigns are over.