Psion: Assumptions and Discussions (Patreon)

As most of you know, one of my major tasks (as informed by Patreon goals... need to think of the next one now I guess...? Ideas?) is working on a Psion.

I wanted to have a chat with you all about what my assumptions will be during develop, give you some design insight into the direction things have gone so far, and give you all the chance to voice any thoughts and options you have:

I want to be very transparent that - just like everything I make - I will take feedback, but at the end of the day, I won't be able make everyone happy. It will be a blend of input and judgement in a ratio that even I can't say for sure. That said, perspective and input are still a vital half the story, so I value any that people provide.

Spells

One of the elephants in the room in Psionics is "what role do spells have in a Psionic" class verging from "Psionics should be a Wizard subclass" to "Psonics should be a completely different system".

We've seen WotC try both, and I wouldn't be here making it if I thought I were an unmitigated success.

My stand point is somewhere between, so let me outline my model and see if you guys agree:

I organize the first pass of Psionics into Three Pillars: Telepathic, Telekinetic, Enhancement.

Which of these will be structured into a minor passive power and a modular active power, and a handful of "advanced" applications... that will use spells.

Let's break down what I mean...

Telekinesis:

Passive: Allows you to move an interact with objects up to 5 pounds with your mind. (just a quick example)

Active: Allows you damage, move, lift, through things (including creatures and throw things at creatures) with varied power depending on your level and how much resource you spend. This will be much more modular than a spell. (again, this is not the full text of the ability... it might have a table...) It will both be a cantrip and spell in one, and will be your "default action" and the purest expression of telekintics.

Advanced/Alternate Effects:

| Points Spent | Alternate Effect |

|:------------:|:----------------:|

|  1          | *jump, catapult, mage armor, shield, thunderwave* |

|  2           | *levitate, dust devil, earthbind, hold person, shatter* |

|  3           | *fly, erupting earth, water walk* |

|  4           | *Otiluke's resilient sphere* |

|  5           | *telekinesis, animate object, wall of force* |

So what does all this mean - it means rather than trying to say how Telekintics would let you  do something like these spells, I would just literally let you use Telekintics to cast these spells (with a global modifier that telekinetics does not have standard M/V/S components, but that's a topic for another time). For example - why couldn't someone use Telekinetics to water walk or fly? But I don't want to have to reprint all those spells into the ability when i already have a working version in the PHB, just as I don't want to just retread those spells, because you are someone that literally flex your mind upon the world, so your primary power needs to more flexible and modular in usage.

And than this will further be modified by Psionic Talents, which would be class wide Invocations (and available to any subclass that is associated with Psionics) that can enchance, combine, expand the core pillars.

Spell thoughts?

The Pillars

As I mention above, the primarily pillars I plan to "launch" with are Telekinetic, Telepathy, and Enhancement... but those will not be the subclasses. Each subclass will specialize in two of those: Awakened = Telepath + Telekinic, Unleashed = Telekintic + Enhancement and Transcended = Telepath + Enhancement (names are a work in progress).

They will be able to expand those slightly using Psionic Talents, but for the most part will grow inside those pillars.

I plan on Projection and Translocation as potential post launch pillars.

Concepts that will not be in the core class: Soulblade (this will be a monk), Battlemind (this will be a Warlord), Wu Jun (this will be renamed, and likely be a Wizard tie in).

Pillar thoughts?

Spell Slots vs. Psi Points

I am going to lay some cards on the table here - I don't like point systems that go into numbers like 71. I am not going to be super happy with a psi point system I cannot compress into ~20.

I am currently leaning toward a Psi Point system that looks more like Ki Points. I think spell slots are fine, but I also just don't think that people would be in love with the idea of using spell slots on the modular part of psionics - it seems like a thematic mismatch. So my currently plan is a simplified point system.

Psi Point thoughts?

I know I've dumped a lot of rambling here, but please let me know any thoughts you have, and hopefully we will see an early version of this + any feedback in a week or two.

I really appreciate everyone here, and am amazed by the explosive growth of our little community here. It is more than I ever expected already, and seeing the continued growth has been just amazing. You are really are the best!