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General Tabletop Discussion
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Why UA Psionics are never going to work in 5e.
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<blockquote data-quote="JiffyPopTart" data-source="post: 7966425" data-attributes="member: 4881"><p>Here are a few, however in most cases they don't use the term "Psionic" to refer to what is happening. Rather its defined as "Strange things that specifically aren't MAGIC" in the respective setting and usually referred to as "Powers".</p><p></p><p>1. In the DC universe, Superman (at least in some incarnations) is immune and highly resistant to a LOT of things, but his vulnerability to MAGIC is one of his weaknesses. So you can shoot him with a nuke or blast him with a Firebolt (which is a superpower, not magic) and he is unharmed whereas a Firebolt (which is a spell cast by a magician, not a superpower) would affect him normally.</p><p></p><p>2. In the Marvel universe, Dr. Strange is a normal human with no super powers but who knows MAGIC. If he were in an area in which MAGIC was suppressed, he would be useless while the Fantastic Four wouldn't even notice something had happened. In that universe there is a distinction in power source between mutants, altered humans, and magic so much so that its a major source of plot. Humanity always seems to hate mutants but has no problem with the Hulk or Thor.</p><p></p><p>3. In the Steven Brust series of novels starting with Jhereg he establishes that there are at least two different sources of supernatural power. There is MAGIC like we consider it to be on DnD terms and "Witchcraft" which is a totally different technique with different abilities and expectations of how things work. It becomes a plot point in the series that the two are different enough that one can affect someone that the other might not.</p><p></p><p>4. In the RPG setting of Rifts there are mechanically differentiated Psions and Magicians.</p><p></p><p>5. In the RPG setting of Torg there are mechanically differentiated systems for Arcane Magic, Divine Magic, Psionics, Superpowers, and Gadgets.</p><p></p><p>NOTE: In 5e Monks are an example I would use to show how a character can do Superhuman things but it not actually be MAGIC. When the monk hits you with a stunning blow it functions like a spell mechanically, cost points to do, and distinctly isn't magic and cannot be dispelled or countered. This is why Psionics CAN be different in 5e, however they should be working from the Monk as the start of the concept to develop it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="JiffyPopTart, post: 7966425, member: 4881"] Here are a few, however in most cases they don't use the term "Psionic" to refer to what is happening. Rather its defined as "Strange things that specifically aren't MAGIC" in the respective setting and usually referred to as "Powers". 1. In the DC universe, Superman (at least in some incarnations) is immune and highly resistant to a LOT of things, but his vulnerability to MAGIC is one of his weaknesses. So you can shoot him with a nuke or blast him with a Firebolt (which is a superpower, not magic) and he is unharmed whereas a Firebolt (which is a spell cast by a magician, not a superpower) would affect him normally. 2. In the Marvel universe, Dr. Strange is a normal human with no super powers but who knows MAGIC. If he were in an area in which MAGIC was suppressed, he would be useless while the Fantastic Four wouldn't even notice something had happened. In that universe there is a distinction in power source between mutants, altered humans, and magic so much so that its a major source of plot. Humanity always seems to hate mutants but has no problem with the Hulk or Thor. 3. In the Steven Brust series of novels starting with Jhereg he establishes that there are at least two different sources of supernatural power. There is MAGIC like we consider it to be on DnD terms and "Witchcraft" which is a totally different technique with different abilities and expectations of how things work. It becomes a plot point in the series that the two are different enough that one can affect someone that the other might not. 4. In the RPG setting of Rifts there are mechanically differentiated Psions and Magicians. 5. In the RPG setting of Torg there are mechanically differentiated systems for Arcane Magic, Divine Magic, Psionics, Superpowers, and Gadgets. NOTE: In 5e Monks are an example I would use to show how a character can do Superhuman things but it not actually be MAGIC. When the monk hits you with a stunning blow it functions like a spell mechanically, cost points to do, and distinctly isn't magic and cannot be dispelled or countered. This is why Psionics CAN be different in 5e, however they should be working from the Monk as the start of the concept to develop it. [/QUOTE]
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