D&D General [Poll] How do you prefer psionics to work?

[Sacrosanct]

This is a tough poll, as I suspect if I included an "other" option, that would be pretty much everyone lol. So I'm going to limit it to a handful of very generic options, and select the one that best fits, and then a comment about how you'd change it to fit what you want (if applicable).

A note on the exhaustion option: Powers are broken down into a few levels of power. Based on your PC level, the levels of power would either not increase exhaustion at all, or they would raise by one category. The trade off is you get access to more powerful powers before a traditional mage would. For example, you could cast the equivalent of a 3rd level spell at 4th level, but it would raise your exhaustion by one.

Note on specialization: choose either object manipulation, or mind manipulation. OM is like telekinesis, levitation, cell repair, etc. MM is charm, fear, control, etc. Powers are like skill trees, with prerequisites. So before you can learn fly, you have to first learn levitate. And before teleport, you have to learn fly.

*Edit further clarification on specialization

 

[el-remmen]

I used to be a psionics advocate - but these days I only want psionics if it baked into the setting and mostly replaces magic as it currently exists - so Dark Sun, or a variation on D&D set in a Gamma World setting, and the like.

I do want it to be point based or exhaustion based - anything other than just becoming just another spell slot system (which is part of why I want it separate - in my experience every time I have tried to incorporate psionics into standard D&D it has become a set of clunky rules that are hard to remember in comparison to the system everything else uses - since I want psionics to be "different" I'd rather it be the only or dominant thing - thus baked into the setting).

 

[Fanaelialae]

I don't really care about the specific implemention, provided it is done well. I think all of the options you've listed have at least the potential to work. It should feel like psionics (which has more to do with the abilities themselves than the resource mechanics) and be reasonably balanced (which is something that I think D&D has struggled with in previous editions).

 

[Sacrosanct]

I used to be a psionics advocate - but these days I only want psionics if it baked into the setting and mostly replaces magic as it currently exists - so Dark Sun, or a variation on D&D set in a Gamma World setting, and the like.

I do want it to be point based or exhaustion based - anything other than just becoming just another spell slot system (which is part of why I want it separate - in my experience every time I have tried to incorporate psionics into standard D&D it has become a set of clunky rules that are hard to remember in comparison to the system everything else uses - since I want psionics to be "different" I'd rather it be the only or dominant thing - thus baked into the setting).

Yeah. The tough thing is to make them feel different than spells. How does that work? That's the question.

 

[Fanaelialae]

Yeah. The tough thing is to make them feel different than spells. How does that work? That's the question.

There are various ways, but for D&D I think the best way is to simply define how psionics is different than magic.

For example, maybe psionics is generally weaker but offers more nuanced control, since the energy for it is internal rather than external. Kind of like how a bazooka and a sniper rifle can both kill someone, but they're very different in application. So maybe magical telekinesis offers a higher weight limit, whereas psionic telekinesis offers very fine "motor control" (being able to telekinetically manipulate the tumblers inside a lock). A psychic "fireball" (pyrokinesis) might be weaker or smaller but could allow you very fine control over what it targeted.

Another option would be simply to not have spells than duplicate psychic effects, but that ship has sailed (barring a new edition).

 

[jmartkdr2]

Yeah. The tough thing is to make them feel different than spells. How does that work? That's the question.

The biggest thing, I think, is to change the core mechanics. For one thing, that means they cannot use spell slots, because that's how spellcasting works.

Beyond that: psionics is usually portrayed in fiction as a matter of concentrating - you focus, and the thing happens. Anything you do beyond concentration (hand gestures, furrowed brows) is just an aid to doing so (ie it's easier to focus on a point in space if you look at it and/or point at it) but these would never be required.

It's also usually portrayed as draining or even damaging to the brain: within the context of 5e rules exhaustion is the closest existing mechanic for that, although power points or something all new could work instead. I do like the idea of being able to hurt yourself by trying too hard, though.

I first voted for specialization, but I wouldn't want all characters locked in to one specialization with no way to expand beyond: ie if I choose to specialize in telekinesis, I should still be able to learn telepathy. I'm just not as good at it. Also I'm apparently one of about three people who liked to concept of different key abilities for different disciplines in the 3.0e Psionics Handbook, but in the simpler context of 5e I think it could work.

 

[MarkB]

I voted for the last option because it's closest to what I'd want to see, which is that any individual character only has a very small selection of actual powers, but each power is flexible and can be deployed in a variety of ways, becoming moreso as you level up. Think superheroes, or Bending powers from The Last Airbender.

There would be some form of expendable resource for more powerful or specialised usage of powers, but their more common means of usage would be always-on, like a selection of themed cantrips.

 

[the Jester]

I voted 'point based with power levels', but really, my answer is 'point based with power levels, with early specialization'.

 

[Sacrosanct]

So something like this (very rough idea).

 

[Greg K]

Skill and feat per the Psychic Class in Green Ronin's Psychic's Handbook for 3e.