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[+] What does a non-spellcaster Psion need/look like?
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<blockquote data-quote="Remathilis" data-source="post: 9776058" data-attributes="member: 7635"><p>Gonna disagree on this. I will gladly agree 2e psionics were fairly unique since there is only two levels of power (science and devotion) and it has a lot of mechanics not seen in 2e spells (power score, crit failure, psionic combat). Even the 3.0e psion felt far more different than 3e casters. But the 3.5 psion is a spell point caster with a bunch of tweaked spells (some not even that different, see Levitate, Psionic). </p><p></p><p>Which brings me to an important question: what's more important; the psion having a unique "casting" mechanic or unique powers (spells)? If you had to pick just one, which is it? Because if psion is just using power points to cast the psionic version of Levitate, Knock, or Energy Ball, have we done enough to make Psionics unique? What if we made them use spell slots but have a completely unique spell list with zero overlap with traditional casters? Is THAT unique enough? (Obviously, these are both extremes used to emphasize effect). </p><p></p><p>I bring this up to emphasize that psionics can differ via method or effect, but the further you stray in both directions, the harder it gets to design for balance, role, and complexity.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Remathilis, post: 9776058, member: 7635"] Gonna disagree on this. I will gladly agree 2e psionics were fairly unique since there is only two levels of power (science and devotion) and it has a lot of mechanics not seen in 2e spells (power score, crit failure, psionic combat). Even the 3.0e psion felt far more different than 3e casters. But the 3.5 psion is a spell point caster with a bunch of tweaked spells (some not even that different, see Levitate, Psionic). Which brings me to an important question: what's more important; the psion having a unique "casting" mechanic or unique powers (spells)? If you had to pick just one, which is it? Because if psion is just using power points to cast the psionic version of Levitate, Knock, or Energy Ball, have we done enough to make Psionics unique? What if we made them use spell slots but have a completely unique spell list with zero overlap with traditional casters? Is THAT unique enough? (Obviously, these are both extremes used to emphasize effect). I bring this up to emphasize that psionics can differ via method or effect, but the further you stray in both directions, the harder it gets to design for balance, role, and complexity. [/QUOTE]
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[+] What does a non-spellcaster Psion need/look like?
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