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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Yaarel" data-source="post: 8570189" data-attributes="member: 58172">My hope for the discussion is to arrive at a win-win for all 5e psionic fans.When I look at your system I will be exploring how it or something like it might work in the context of 5e.Quick question, is it like 1e where a psionic combatant can only attack an other psionic combatant, and unable to affect a nonpsionic target? If so, this is the part that made 1e problematic narratively and mechanically. Narratively, for example, the mindflayer could Psionic Blast nonpsionic targets. A telepath can communicate with a nonpsionic, so weaponizing this should be possible against nonpsionics too. Mechanically, the psi combat minigame shut down the rest of the game for other 1e players that were nonpsionic.Before moving on to consider your system, the 1e psionic combat system might work in 5e as a system of spells (cantrips) and counterspells. Suppose the system simplifies to only three psicantrips for psicombat (so it really is like rock-paper-scissors). Each cantrip attacks both psionic and nonpsionic targets alike, and targets save normally against when appropriate. However each cantrip can also be used for a reaction that counterspells one of the other two psicombat cantrip. The three cantrips can use higher spell slots to augment the effect and to increase the DC versus counterspelling.Maybe keep it simpler with three psicombat cantrips. There can be other psionic cantrips with psionic effects, but only three cantrips for psicombat. The psicombat tends toward complex, three cantrips are probably enough to get that rock-paper-scissors feel.The psionic "powers: can be 5e spells or class feature effects that are nonspells. No problem.To augment psionic powers (whether cantrips, higher spells, or nonspell class features), I am looking at Warlock Invocations that can modify any spell or feature, as ad hoc case-by-case option.For 5e, the higher spell slots (or its eqivalent in spell points) to augment a spell effect. It seems also possible to use slots (or equivalent points) to augment class features that arent spells.Each edition of D&D has its own way of doing things, such as 5e using spell slots as a design space. "At higher levels", the spell slots (or their equivalent spell points) can augment cantrips or any feature.Cool, I think it might be neat if each psionic combat cantrip is dual-use, with both an attack an a defense (as well as a counterspell against one of the other two cantrips).Reaction is a great mechanic, but it slows down the game, and can be a frustration to other players. So reactions for psionic effects must be sparse and judicious.5e cantrips seem a good model. Some require concentration, some dont, some have long duration, some might be maintained be recasting it each round. On top of this slots/points can boost a psionic cantrip to "augment" it "at higher levels".Suppose we have a 5e psionic cantrip. It has two effects: an attack effect and a defense effect. Perhaps the defense effect needs to be up, in order to use the attack effect. (In away the cantrip is something like a Fighter "stance".) To keep the defense effect up may or may not require concentration, depending on mechanical balance.In addition, slots/points can augment the cantrip effect. And, the defense can be used to counterspell one of the other two psionic combat cantrip attacks.Note, it should be possible to build a psionic class without these psionic cantrips, by choosing other cantrips instead. But if the psionic combat cantrips are cool, there will be players who want to choose them for their character concept.For 5e, the slots (or eqivalent points) can augment the psionic cantrip "at higher levels".I think it is better to let each psionic cantrip have its own mechanics, whether reaction, bonus, action, or maybe even a permanent feature when choosing the cantrip, whatever mechanics achieves the flavor of the cantrip best.I will continue commenting on the rest of your system in a future post.</blockquote>

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