Why do you love psionics?

[InShambles]

So, in the spirit of not debating, I say the standard reply is 1) they don't fit the high-fantasy archetype (no psionics in the greatest and most well-read fantasy literature, and that's the feel D&D tries to duplicate), and 2) There's enough ways to do magic-type stuff in D&D, we don't need anyother way.

1) I think this is a tell-tell sign of a lack of imagination. Of all people I would think D&D players would be imaginative enough to take the fantasy genre out of whatever pigeon-hole society or societies sub-cultures has put it in. There is no reason every campaign has to be some "Tolkien-esqe" world. Dark Sun was a great example of game designer thinking "outside the box". Psionics also suffers from being pigeon-holed into the Sci-Fi genre. Even magic is "explainable" in some stories. Wouldn't that make magic more Science than Fantasy?

2) It’s just another tool in the box. Use it or leave it.

 

[Suldulin]

Not really, but I am starting to see some of the benefits of the Elements of Magic pdf I picked up...

On the other hand, I have to admit, that if they were to change the name of psionics to, say, "Pure Magic" or "The Gift of Power" (and change all the flavor text of the abilities to match these concepts) I would probably like it better.
That said, I'm probably a pretty shallow non-psionicist.

personally I wish they'd called psionics 'mysticism' or the like in 3e

 

[Azure Trance]

I agree with the people above, but probably it was Dark Sun that got me most hooked onto how nifty Psionics was.

 

[El Seso]

I always thought of magic as more like the Jedi using the Force. Magic is an external "force" that can be called upon and manupulated through the various componants..
Psyonics are developed from within, and I think of Jean Grey/Professor X when I think of psyonics.
I think that I've always been attracted to psyonics because it's not used so often, way back from 1st before it was a class in of itself. Having recently read through the 3rd Ed handbook, it does seem kind of thrown in, but it looks interesting. I really like the idea of the psychic warrior. My biggest complaint is that you HAVE to choose a discipline. After all, Jean Grey can probe people's minds and move things at the same time... Other than that, looks like a great system.

 

[Andor]

No psions in Fantasy?

Plus the grand daddy of all modern fantasy. Never mind Galadrial (who displays clairvoyance as well as telepathy and foresight) , In the Lord of the Rings both Denethor Steward of Gondor and his son Faramir are clearly full bore telepaths. Aragorn and his mom have foresight, as does Elrond. Gandalf speaks into Frodos mind from half a world away. LOTR is thick with powers more generally ascribed to psionics than magic, it's just not called that. (In fact I'm not sure the phrase had been coined yet.) Neither one exists in any verifiable sense, what difference does it make how they are called?

-Andrew

 

[Desdichado]

I always thought of magic as more like the Jedi using the Force. Magic is an external "force" that can be called upon and manupulated through the various componants..
Psyonics are developed from within, and I think of Jean Grey/Professor X when I think of psyonics.
I think that I've always been attracted to psyonics because it's not used so often, way back from 1st before it was a class in of itself. Having recently read through the 3rd Ed handbook, it does seem kind of thrown in, but it looks interesting. I really like the idea of the psychic warrior. My biggest complaint is that you HAVE to choose a discipline. After all, Jean Grey can probe people's minds and move things at the same time... Other than that, looks like a great system.

I've never thought of Jean Grey as a psion -- she's clearly got something altogether different.

 

[Desdichado]

Re: No psions in Fantasy?

Plus the grand daddy of all modern fantasy. Never mind Galadrial (who displays clairvoyance as well as telepathy and foresight) , In the Lord of the Rings both Denethor Steward of Gondor and his son Faramir are clearly full bore telepaths. Aragorn and his mom have foresight, as does Elrond. Gandalf speaks into Frodos mind from half a world away. LOTR is thick with powers more generally ascribed to psionics than magic, it's just not called that. (In fact I'm not sure the phrase had been coined yet.) Neither one exists in any verifiable sense, what difference does it make how they are called?

Ehh, I think the only thing clear is that you need to reread the series. Especially that about Denethor and Faramir. What in the world are you talking about?