D&D 5E What's wrong with this psion?

[Flamestrike]

Doesn't sound like a typical D&D psion though.

Wisdom entails willpower, intuition, and is also associated with the mysticism of the cleric, druid, and monk traditions. It would make the Psion good at Perception and Insight.

The closest stat to Empathy is Wisdom.

Id say the closest is charisma.

Maybe it straddles the line though.

 

[Aldarc]

Id say the closest is charisma.

Maybe it straddles the line though.

Empathy involves, to some extent, being able to intuit the feelings of others. That's far more analogous to Insight (Wisdom). I believe there was even a UA feat called Empathic that was tied to Wisdom.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Empathy involves, to some extent, being able to intuit the feelings of others. That's far more analogous to Insight (Wisdom). I believe there was even a UA feat called Empathic that was tied to Wisdom.

Yep. I don't think this is ambiguous at all. Empathy is super clearly within the purview of wisdom. Whether empathy has anything to do with psionics is another matter.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Why would they even use intelligence? If the fluff is that they use some sort of inner mental strength to achieve the psionic effects, then certainly either wisdom are charisma are better fits?

Because intelligence works just as well (it is better IMO) and is under-represented in the game. Only the Wizard relies on intelligence, which is why a lot of people dump it--which is also super annoying because few people role-play their character as having a lower intelligence.

Ideally, psionics would be represented by all three with about 50% INT, and 25/25% for WIS/CHA depending on the effect the power achieves.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Because intelligence works just as well (it is better IMO) and is under-represented in the game. Only the Wizard relies on intelligence, which is why a lot of people dump it--which is also super annoying because few people role-play their character as having a lower intelligence.

Ideally, psionics would be represented by all three with about 50% INT, and 25/25% for WIS/CHA depending on the effect the power achieves.

Artificers use intelligence, right? Anyway, 'that there is not enough classes using it' is a poor justification, they should use the stat which makes most sense and of the mental stats int makes least sense. If think about some sort of meditating mystic that unlocks the higher levels of consciousness to tap on supernatural abilities then that's clearly wisdom, if I think about some sort of rasputin-like mesmer then that's charisma. I don't know what intelligence has to do with psionics at all.

 

[DND_Reborn]

To me, charisma makes a lot more sense than intelligence.

Charisma is all about manipulating others.

But psionics aren't all about "manipulating others." There are all sorts of powers psionics should be able to tap into, many INT (most IMO), some WIS and some CHA (such was manipulating others.)

 

[humble minion]

Artificers use intelligence, right? Anyway, 'that there is not enough classes using it' is a poor justification, they should use the stat which makes most sense and of the mental stats int makes least sense. If think about some sort of meditating mystic that unlocks the higher levels of consciousness to tap on supernatural abilities then that's clearly wisdom, if I think about some sort of rasputin-like mesmer then that's charisma. I don't know what intelligence has to do with psionics at all.

I can certainly understand/justify an intelligence-based psion. It could be a very analytic approach to the discipline, the memory palace approach where one systematically examines and maps the far corners of ones own consciousness and mental capacity.

But this is only one approach to psionics. The Wis-based approach where psionic ability stems from pure focus and raw willpower, and the Cha-based approach where you crush another's personality with the sheer force of your own, are both valid justifications in my book.

Which is why i don't like locking psionics to a any single mental ability score. I think it should be accessible via any of the three.

 

[Aldarc]

Artificers use intelligence, right? Anyway, 'that there is not enough classes using it' is a poor justification, they should use the stat which makes most sense and of the mental stats int makes least sense. If think about some sort of meditating mystic that unlocks the higher levels of consciousness to tap on supernatural abilities then that's clearly wisdom, if I think about some sort of rasputin-like mesmer then that's charisma. I don't know what intelligence has to do with psionics at all.

I don't think that Intelligence is without merit. It's linked with the idea of higher reasoning, mental acuity, education, intellect, memory, mind over matter, etc. that sometimes is associated in D&D with Intelligence. I think there is some overlap here with how telepaths/telekinetics are sometimes depicted in comic book media. I do agree that Wisdom would be more suitable, or at least personally preferable, for psions than either Intelligence or Charisma.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Artificers use intelligence, right? Anyway, 'that there is not enough classes using it' is a poor justification, they should use the stat which makes most sense and of the mental stats int makes least sense. If think about some sort of meditating mystic that unlocks the higher levels of consciousness to tap on supernatural abilities then that's clearly wisdom, if I think about some sort of rasputin-like mesmer then that's charisma. I don't know what intelligence has to do with psionics at all.

LOL Artificers... right.

Anyway:

CHA: Bard, Paladins, Sorcerers, Warlocks = 3.5 classes
WIS: Clerics, Druids, Rangers = 2.5 classes
INT: Wizards, Artificers (again.. ), and EK, AT = 2.67 classes (sorry, I don't include Artificer--worst class ever IMO, but for this... fine.)

Maybe have the powers split about 40/40 INT/WIS and 20 CHA?

Finally, INT makes the most sense for many of the powers you have, WIS is definitely right for others, and CHA is probably the least used IMO, but still has a fair share.

I don't know what intelligence has to do with psionics at all.

Telekinetics is all about INT-- mind over matter. There is a reason why INT has been the strongest factor of psionics since the beginning.

Anyway, 'that there is not enough classes using it' is a poor justification

No, it isn't. Maintaining balance and usefulness of all the ability scores has been important for many games and for many tables of D&D, which is why we (as a community) have so many house-rules to try to make STR and INT (and even CHA a bit) important for the classes whose core features aren't depended on them.

I'm not saying each ability score will be equally important for every PC-- that wouldn't make sense. But using INT makes just as much sense as using WIS or, gods forbid! yet another CHA-based class.

 

[TwoSix]

(sorry, I don't include Artificer--worst class ever IMO, but for this... fine.)

Boo! Do you not like the Artificer trope, or the WotC implementation of said trope?