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

[TwoSix]

Ah. You think that has nothing to do with money? I think that, for products that have fandom, good stewardship is good business. Bad stewardship nigh universally leads to economic ruin for the property.

I think it has everything to do with money at a corporate level, but much less so on the level of the individual designers (other than the need to hit corporate goals so they can continue working). Good stewardship is indeed good business, and you can't have good stewardship without employees who are motivated by creative and professional interest, not just the bottom line.

 

[Aldarc]

I like psionics as a form of divine magic, personally (although that might be my Warcraft background showing). Concepts like dedication, focus, faith, and willpower are already in the "divine magic" purview, and psionics seems like an obvious extension of that. Clerics have faith in gods/higher powers, druids commune with natural spirits, paladins focus on their obligations to others via their oaths, and psions commune with their own soul and the souls of the world around them.

As I said before, I do like how psions were a part of the Mystic class (alongside clerics, shamans, and druids) in Starfinder. However, I think that the issue is that in Warcraft "divine magic" is "theologically agnostic" (Light/Void) and linked to willpower, whereas divine magic in D&D is a loaded-term, often associated with faith and deities.

Psion class with an Int-focused subclass (erudite, psicrystals, flexibility), Wis-focused subclass (classic telepath/precog), and Cha-focused subclass (Wilder, holds the Carrie/Akira tropes) seems like a layup to me.

Though I like the subclasses, I'm not sure if having the main stat being determined by subclass would work terribly well.

 

[TwoSix]

Though I like the subclasses, I'm not sure if having the main stat being determined by subclass would work terribly well.

Out of curiosity, why not? I've seen homebrew that does it, and it seems to work fine. You just need to make sure your core class features are stat-agnostic.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Though I like the subclasses, I'm not sure if having the main stat being determined by subclass would work terribly well.

It would be unusual, but perhaps it would actually be better. You can already build most fighting classes to run on either strength of dex.

 

[Aldarc]

Out of curiosity, why not? I've seen homebrew that does it, and it seems to work fine. You just need to make sure your core class features are stat-agnostic.

That would likely be the main issue. Which skills and saving throws to give? WotC likes to somewhat play to the strengths of a class's stats.

 

[TwoSix]

That would likely be the main issue. Which skills and saving throws to give? WotC likes to somewhat play to the strengths of a class's stats.

I'd probably go Int/Wis or Wis/Cha, or possibly Con/Cha. WotC has plenty of times where the saves aren't really aligned with the overall flow of the class.

I'd probably just give a smattering of Int, Wis, and Cha skills to the class as a whole. With backgrounds and skill versatility, getting the skills you want for a concept is a pretty minor issue.

 

[Minigiant]

Aa

It makes me wonder -who- votes on these things? Diehard classists who, as you say, only tolerate the wizard with fiddly bits? Newbies? Casuals?

This is why popular vote sucks...we'll never get the designers' best, most creative work.

So now, we're going to get a psion that satisfies those who didn't really care for psions in the first place, and that disappoints those who really wanted a psion. So what was the point?

That's why I wished people have to choose which classes and races they commented on. Therefore only those with strong feelings would be used to infer the need for major changes.

But alas...

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Develop this as a full concept, make it pretty, slap it on DMSGuild, and I will give you money for it. I'm serious.

Doesn't even have to be THAT pretty.

Haha, you are too kind.

Sadly, I cant do math, the whole thing would be a mess. But if someone would take the idea and run with it, I'd say go for it.

 

[Ovinomancer]

Ah. You think that has nothing to do with money? I think that, for products that have fandom, good stewardship is good business. Bad stewardship nigh universally leads to economic ruin for the property.

If you quoted me entire instead of snipping out of context it would be obvious that I said exactly this. I wasn't arguing good stewardship is not tied to good business. My next sentences (that you snipped out) establish that it is. I was, instead, arguing against your statement that it was only money. Here's what you said, in case you've forgotten:

They don't care much about psionics beyond sales. And I think it would be a weird if they did care more than that.

I think this is wrongheaded. Considering money is part of good stewardship, but only considering money is not.

 

[Ath'kethin]

Haha, you are too kind.

Sadly, I cant do math, the whole thing would be a mess. But if someone would take the idea and run with it, I'd say go for it.

I dunno - your example skills seems spot on. Just keep going with it. Iterations, playtesting, and feedback are part of the process.