D&D 5E (2024) [+] What does a non-spellcaster Psion need/look like?

[EzekielRaiden]

This is sort of a prelude to future musings, looking to survey the field rather than debate per se. What do you think a Psion needs, if they are not, in any way, a spellcaster?

Please note the [+], if you are genuinely and entirely of the opinion that a spellcaster Psion is the correct path to pursue, or if you think a non-spellcaster Psion is unnecessary, unhelpful, unlikely, counterproductive, etc., etc., then while I recognize your opinion as valid, it's not constructive for this thread, and only going to result in "NUH-UH!" "UH-HUH!" slap-fights. I've had my fill of those as of late.

I of course have my own ideas, but I'd prefer to take a back seat and hear what others have to say for a while first. So--tell me your non-spell-based Psion ideas, or expectations, or desires, or vague formless design notions, or whatever! Doesn't need to be hyper-specific.

 

[James Gasik]

I think psionics could very well justify a return to encounter abilities. The powers are things you can just do, without any points or spell slots, but they are mentally and physically taxing enough that you need at least a brief amount of time to utilize them again. These are powers a humanoid mind might not be designed to wield, and so there is a limit to how far you can push your limits to manifest them.

I think it was Star Wars SAGA that had Force powers work in this manner. So you could have one Psionic ability that could be used 1/5-10 minutes or so. Developing a second power gives you the ability to use that ability, and now you can use two powers before you need to recharge- either both powers once or one power twice. And so on, so each power learned increases both capacity and what you can do.

This way, individual powers are stronger than a cantrip, but weaker than a spell slot, though they should all scale in some way. This means that eventually, your encounter powers are better than low level spell slots, but they'll never be as strong as the highest level spells.

It gives them a unique balance point, where they never quite reach busted levels of power, but can use their abilities frequently throughout an adventuring day.

The only question then would be to decide what the Psionicist does when they are out of juice, though once they have 3-4 powers, they should be fine for most encounters, as long as they have some combat ability, like say a Mind Thrust or Telekinetic Missile.

Subclasses could focus on a particular type of ability, be it Telekinesis, Telepathy, ESP, etc. etc..

 

[Zardnaar]

Probably psionic points based a d8 hit dice maybe lightning armor.

Conceptually warlock perhaps in terms of mechanics. Limited to two or 3 "schools". Maybe one more eg psychometabolic, psychokinetic and psy warrior subclasses.

Probably very few Powers maybe 4E like or SWSE. Conceptually bits of 3.5 one as well.

You could also put aura on them.