|
6 months ago ::
Nov 30, 2012 - 3:51PM
#1
|
Date Joined:
Dec 27, 2011
|
So WotC has stated that the first PHB of 5e will have Psionic classes. We've already seen the Monk, but I'm wondering: how do you think the other Psionic classes (Psion, Battlemind/Psi Warrior, etc.) should be handled?
My advice to WotC is this: don't use a drastically different system than is already established. Psionics are often thought of by players as ill-fitting in the D&D world, and bizarrely different mechanics make it even worse. In 4e, for example, Psionics were the only class (until Essentials) to break the pattern established with AEDU. In older editions, they needed different weapons and other stuff (I don't know the specifics; could anyone fill me in?). I realize that it would likely be hard to do the same, since 5e has very different mechanics for each class. This is just to point out the problems Psionics have faced in previous editions.
|
|
|
|
6 months ago ::
Nov 30, 2012 - 4:27PM
#2
|
Date Joined:
Jun 27, 2004
|
Like my Signature. 
Feedback Disclaimer
Show
Yes, I am expressing my opinions (even complaints - le gasp!) about the current iteration of the play-test that we actually have in front of us.
No, I'm not going to wait for you to tell me when it's okay to start expressing my concerns (unless you are WotC).
(And no, my comments on this forum are not of the same tone or quality as my actual survey feedback.)
A Psion for Next (Playable Draft)A Barbarian for Next (Brainstorming Still)My 4e Projects
Show
|
|
|
|
6 months ago ::
Nov 30, 2012 - 4:34PM
#3
|
Date Joined:
Jan 29, 2005
|
Like my Signature.
Your sig link is broken 
Magic Dual Color Test
Show
|
|
|
|
6 months ago ::
Nov 30, 2012 - 4:34PM
#4
|
|
|
Like my Signature.
It says page not found. I definitely don't want psionics in next to work like that.
Why Mechanics-Alignment Integration is Bad
Show
so why even play a fighter if you can play the paladin the exact same way behaviorally and get added power to boot. "Paladin" is about accepting better game-enhancing mechanics at the price of more rigid in game behavior.
Really? So it goes something like this?
Fighter: "I want to be a paladin."
NPC: "Really?"
Fighter: "Yes."
NPC: "Very well." Starts reading from a holy book while still in-character "Do you accept having to choose and stick to the lawful good alignment, eventhough neither of us actually knows that it exists or what it is?"
Fighter: "I do."
NPC: "Do you reject good game balance because you accidentally rolled a high Charisma?"
Fighter: "What?"
NPC: "I don't know what it means either."
Fighter: "Oh. Umm, ok I do."
NPC: "In the name of all that is metagamey and broken, accept these better game enhancing mechanics."
Fighter: "These what?"
NPC: "Just get out there and try to fulfill a million different people's notion of good while not violating and part of any of them."
So the system is designed such that every single hit needs to be described to avoid confusion? Here's a scenario. The players are nudists, everybody in the world are nudists, it's not weird, it's totally normal in this land. They are naked and they fight drakes taking damage throughout, but healing up with surges. Later they meet the guy who raised the drakes.
Part 1: I didn't describe any of the hits. What does he see?
Part 2: Lets say I described the drakes as biting the players, yet they healed up. What does he see?
D20 Modern Toon PC Race.
Mecha Pilot's Skill Challenge Emporium.
|
|
|
|
6 months ago ::
Nov 30, 2012 - 4:56PM
#5
|
Date Joined:
Aug 22, 2007
|
A precentile Focus system where the Psions power are augmented based on how much of their focus is placed in maitaining or manifesting the Power.
Example:
Read Thoughts
You can choose a creature within range and read the surface thoughts of the mind of any creature in the area that fails a Wisdom save for 1 minute. A target that succeeds on its save is not affected by this manifestation of the power, even if it leaves the area and then reenters the area before the duration expires.
Focus
Less than 25%: The range of this power is 30 feet.
25%-99%: The range of this power is 60 feet
100% The range of this power is 60 feet and the target has disadvantage on the Wisdom Save.
Mindblade
You can create a semisolid blade composed of psychic energy distilled from your own mind. You are always proficient with this blade. The blade is identical in all ways except visually to the weapon it mimics. If the blade is broken or lost, the blade can be reformed at no action at the start of you turn or as a reaction on another creature's turn.
Focus
Less than 25%: The blade is a dagger.
25%-50%: The blade is a short sword.
51-75%: The blade is longsword.
76%-99%: The blade is a bastard sword
100%: The blade is a greatsword
Orzel, Halfelven son of Zel, Mystic Ranger, Bane to Dragons, Death to Undeath, Killer of Abyssals, King of the Wilds.
Constitution Based Class for Next!
|
|
|
|
6 months ago ::
Nov 30, 2012 - 4:58PM
#6
|
|
|
My vision for psionics is to see some kind of fatigue resource mechanic for casting their powers. However they handle it, psions need to be able to communicate telepathically to those nearby without burning resources. It should be something that they can just do.
Now I can see them all not being able to do this. Maybe psion gets divided into the specialties telepaths and kinetics, with the ability to dabble in their non-specialty as they level.
Why Mechanics-Alignment Integration is Bad
Show
so why even play a fighter if you can play the paladin the exact same way behaviorally and get added power to boot. "Paladin" is about accepting better game-enhancing mechanics at the price of more rigid in game behavior.
Really? So it goes something like this?
Fighter: "I want to be a paladin."
NPC: "Really?"
Fighter: "Yes."
NPC: "Very well." Starts reading from a holy book while still in-character "Do you accept having to choose and stick to the lawful good alignment, eventhough neither of us actually knows that it exists or what it is?"
Fighter: "I do."
NPC: "Do you reject good game balance because you accidentally rolled a high Charisma?"
Fighter: "What?"
NPC: "I don't know what it means either."
Fighter: "Oh. Umm, ok I do."
NPC: "In the name of all that is metagamey and broken, accept these better game enhancing mechanics."
Fighter: "These what?"
NPC: "Just get out there and try to fulfill a million different people's notion of good while not violating and part of any of them."
So the system is designed such that every single hit needs to be described to avoid confusion? Here's a scenario. The players are nudists, everybody in the world are nudists, it's not weird, it's totally normal in this land. They are naked and they fight drakes taking damage throughout, but healing up with surges. Later they meet the guy who raised the drakes.
Part 1: I didn't describe any of the hits. What does he see?
Part 2: Lets say I described the drakes as biting the players, yet they healed up. What does he see?
D20 Modern Toon PC Race.
Mecha Pilot's Skill Challenge Emporium.
|
|
|
|
6 months ago ::
Nov 30, 2012 - 5:14PM
#7
|
Date Joined:
Nov 18, 2007
|
Maybe the Bard is going to be psionic. It would make sense, especially if they go the Celtic Bard route, emphasizing the mental training and the effect of music and story on the mind.
|
|
|
|
6 months ago ::
Nov 30, 2012 - 6:01PM
#8
|
Date Joined:
Aug 13, 2004
|
Power points instead of expertise dice, and their more powerful abilities requiring a short rest to refocus and use them again.
Utilities being at-will to avoid the vancian mess and have a built-in concentration mechanics, or requiring meditation to manifest instead of having rituals.
And if they could use bones, blood, skin and teeth instead of girly crystals to create items of power or tatoos, psychic people would become very interesting people to draw or paint.
"They are making it clear that when modern design and common sense come into conflict with tradition, tradition wins." - thecasualoblivion
"Vancian isn't broken, you just have to set your game to the wizard's clock!" - Oxybe
"In many ways, making a new edition of D&D is alot like trying to sell a car to the Amish." - Dwarfslayer
"Encounters are the heart of the AD&D game" - PHB AD&D 2nd edition.
"you shouldn't even bother trying to become like me." - Gary Gygax (Elfcrusher confirmed)
"Feel free to claim I said anything you like. How's someone going to call you out on it? Are they going to be all like, 'I know all of the things that Gary said, and that's not one of them?'"
- Gary Gygax
|
|
|
|
6 months ago ::
Nov 30, 2012 - 6:11PM
#9
|
Date Joined:
Jun 27, 2004
|
Well hell. For some reason, when I update my signature, it sometimes just doesn't work.
It should be working now.
Feedback Disclaimer
Show
Yes, I am expressing my opinions (even complaints - le gasp!) about the current iteration of the play-test that we actually have in front of us.
No, I'm not going to wait for you to tell me when it's okay to start expressing my concerns (unless you are WotC).
(And no, my comments on this forum are not of the same tone or quality as my actual survey feedback.)
A Psion for Next (Playable Draft)A Barbarian for Next (Brainstorming Still)My 4e Projects
Show
|
|
|
|
6 months ago ::
Nov 30, 2012 - 6:19PM
#10
|
|
|
Well hell. For some reason, when I update my signature, it sometimes just doesn't work.
It should be working now.
Not bad. I have to admit that I'd personally like to back off the expertise dice on upcoming classes. Expertise dice are great, but expanding it beyond the martial classes (to me) reeks of "martial finally got something nice. Quick, lets steal it for casters!" Not that you intended that way. But, I'd love it if the underdogs of D&D got to keep their unique something nice.
Why Mechanics-Alignment Integration is Bad
Show
so why even play a fighter if you can play the paladin the exact same way behaviorally and get added power to boot. "Paladin" is about accepting better game-enhancing mechanics at the price of more rigid in game behavior.
Really? So it goes something like this?
Fighter: "I want to be a paladin."
NPC: "Really?"
Fighter: "Yes."
NPC: "Very well." Starts reading from a holy book while still in-character "Do you accept having to choose and stick to the lawful good alignment, eventhough neither of us actually knows that it exists or what it is?"
Fighter: "I do."
NPC: "Do you reject good game balance because you accidentally rolled a high Charisma?"
Fighter: "What?"
NPC: "I don't know what it means either."
Fighter: "Oh. Umm, ok I do."
NPC: "In the name of all that is metagamey and broken, accept these better game enhancing mechanics."
Fighter: "These what?"
NPC: "Just get out there and try to fulfill a million different people's notion of good while not violating and part of any of them."
So the system is designed such that every single hit needs to be described to avoid confusion? Here's a scenario. The players are nudists, everybody in the world are nudists, it's not weird, it's totally normal in this land. They are naked and they fight drakes taking damage throughout, but healing up with surges. Later they meet the guy who raised the drakes.
Part 1: I didn't describe any of the hits. What does he see?
Part 2: Lets say I described the drakes as biting the players, yet they healed up. What does he see?
D20 Modern Toon PC Race.
Mecha Pilot's Skill Challenge Emporium.
|
|
|
