I don't see the issue. Psionics can be considered an optional rule, with rules for both a Psion class and add-on psionic abilities for other classes. Every DM/table decides how it fits into their campaign.
"Problem" solved in about 30 words.
Yeah sure, neither was Thor technically but why go through the work of balancing kinda-but-not magic when you could just have it magic and flavor it different. Would it help if the text said "While it may look and act like arcane or divine magic, it actually uses a mental science too complex for most mortals to uncover. When you use a spellslot, you are actually pulling the mental powers from within!"In many case of sci fi and literature, the difference is simple, but with wide ramifications.
If you use magic, you are using magic.
Conversely, psionics, even if appearing similar, is actually "science" and a real cause and effect.
Spock was not using magic.*
*I should put that in my sig.
It’s like the old saying about advanced enough technology being indistinguishable from magic. The question for me is what is magic in D&D. It’s outside the normal realm of what people can do but it’s learnable. If it’s learnable that’s kind of science-based. We don’t understand how wizards make magic but that’s because it’s beyond our comprehension. Just like someone in the Middle Ages would think WiFi is magic.Conversely, psionics, even if appearing similar, is actually "science" and a real cause and effect.
Spock was not using magic.*
It’s like the old saying about advanced enough technology being indistinguishable from magic. The question for me is what is magic in D&D. It’s outside the normal realm of what people can do but it’s learnable. If it’s learnable that’s kind of science-based. We don’t understand how wizards make magic but that’s because it’s beyond our comprehension. Just like someone in the Middle Ages would think WiFi is magic.
So it's basically the Warlord situation???
Except this debate falls into the "we're not really arguing about what happens at our own tables, we're arguing about the future of D&D" category.
OK. You probably want a clarification on that last part. Remember what I said about WotC ignoring niche stuff? They are not going to publish a book of psionic rules which is going to be ignored by over half of the player-base because it's weird, complicated, overpowered, or just different for the sake of being different. It's not that the people who want psioncs to be special are wrong, but that ship has more or less sailed and the people who are voting against normalization are basically just ensuring that if they can't have it their way, nobody can. Even if they don't realize it.