"Somatic" IS a weird word! 😄 Thanks for explaining the differences between the two systems! I've been considering unleashing psionics into my game world and your video convinced me it might be interesting to try, so I just got the expanded psionics handbook and am eager to read it! 📚 👁
I think the one thing they should have done with psionics is give some sort of scaling. I would have done automatic + 1 augmentation to every other level you gain in a Psionic class, like a free wild surge You still can't go past the class level in terms of total augmentation, but it would stretch those points that a lot further
@@MitchBurns the issue is that psionics encourage nova'ing, it's super easy to burn all your power points on a single encounter This is the only way I can think of that balances as small of a change as possible while still not changing a significant amount about the class itself. I'm sure a little tweaking is necessary versus my raw suggestion, but I just wanted to put my thought out there. Glad it's not terrible
Love the video but disagree with how much casting psions have vs spellcaster. If you value spell slots of a wizard as points then they actually have less points then a psion does at level 20.
Interesting. I wasn't aware of that. I never did the math, but it always seemed like their points were more. I guess it just comes down to how much more versatile they are.
Great resource here that gives you all of the nuts and bolts of manifesting powers to go with Mitch's video... www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicPowersOverview.htm To add in a few thoughts, I like that the only real negative to Psionics is the Display and you can ignore it with a DC 15+ level of the power check, with zero repercussions for failure. If you fail your check, the power still works... kind of mind blowing in a way. If you are a arcane or divine caster you have to take feats to pull off the same effects, which in turn costs resources (Turn attempts with Divine meta-magic) or increases the level of the spell where you might not be able to cast it. A 1st level Human Wizard who takes Eschew Materials and say Silent Spell (or Still Spell) can't even use the feat on their 1st level spells because Still and Silent make it +1 level each. A Cleric would need to take Divine Meta-magic for each meta-magic feat that costs spell levels, so would have to spend Four feats to be able to use Two Turn attempts to Silent and Still a spell! Then you look at all of the other stuff that is normally built into Psionic powers that can extend them or make them into a swift action to use that do not cost you feats, it can feel to be pretty broken with little to no drawbacks. Heck, they also seem to get key powers earlier than other caster (Tongues, True Seeing, ect). But there are some drawbacks... even though a Psionic character doesn't care about being grappled or wearing armor, they still have to make concentration checks to manifest when taking damage. They still provoke attacks of opportunity for manifesting. Their power pool system means they can just pour all of their points into a few powers and burn themselves out. The pool requires math to be done and constant resource management which can be easily abused. As a DM, you either have to do a lot of additional work to keep track of those points or have a lot of trust in your player to be honest... where a spell caster just crosses off a used spell, a Psion shaving a few points here and there can make a difference and is very difficult to catch. This is why a lot of DMs do not like Psionics IMO. Psionics also are limited in some ways... they do not have access to some types of spells or the rules for them leave interpretation open to be house ruled. Example would be Touchsight versus Superior Invisibility debate... you will have it and have to make a ruling on it. Invisibility is very hard to come by and Psionics are very limited on party buff spells. The utility they do get is great, and no one has a power like Psychic Reformation. If anything, I really will strongly suggest having a NPC Psion around that can cast Reformation to help players fix poor choices they made on their characters. I think Mitch needed to talk about Magic/Psionic Transparency. Things like that Power Resistance and Spell Resistance are effectively the same. Anti-magic and Dispel Magic effects will take down and counter Psionics, Detect Magic and Detect Psionics, so on and so forth. Heck, you can go so far as to go so far as to say Mage Bane and Psi Bane effect both groups and are the effectively the same weapon enchantment. Is there a line to it and where do you draw it? If a Ranger takes Favored Enemy Arcanist, would that count Psionics because of the Transparency? That is up to you to make that call. My finial thoughts on this subject... I think if you are a DM looking to run a 'classic' D&D LotR style game, Psionics is hard to shoe horn in. It really feels like it is the dirty underbelly of magic... what simple peasant folk mutter about in hushed tones into their ale when they talk about 'witchcraft' and the like. It really feels like it belongs buried in the Underdark and is the power that defines Aberrations... when you think Illithid, you think Psionics. So yeah, in a lot of ways, Psionics are just plain better than magic and if are a experienced arcane caster player, you will probably not have any real problems playing a Psionic character. It will take a lot of time and homework to sit down and play a Psionic character, so if you just want to hang with your friends and eat some pretzels, this probably isn't the system for you. But... if you are a new DM and a newer group and you love Lovecraft and those types of classic horror, don't be intimidated and do it, it can be very rewarding. I feel Psionics vs Psionics is way more balanced anyways. I would not suggest adding it to your game on a whim and to do your homework, but like a lot of things, you can play D&D just fine without it if you feel it is to much of a hassle.
Thanks for the resources, and the thoughts. You are right. I completely forgot to talk about magic and psionics counting the same for SR and stuff, or not counting the same. The rules actually leave that one up to the DM to decide. I fully intended to cover that in this video and completely spaced it! Thank you for that one.
@@MitchBurnsWell, sort of up to the GM, the transparency rules are in that link and state what I said, so that is kind of in stone. I just take it to the next step that isn't covered by those rules... mage bane weapon enchantments and Arcanist favored enemy and stuff like that. That is where a GM is going to have to house rule it one way or another... to draw that line so to speak.
I forget the page number, but I know in the Expanded Psionics Handbook they discuss if magic and psionics are the same or not and basically say it is up to the DM. I mean they lean towards them being the same, but also put in place rules for having them be different as well.
![Ars Notoria [Solomonic Magic - Full Grimoire]](/img/n.gif)
"Somatic" IS a weird word! 😄
Thanks for explaining the differences between the two systems! I've been considering unleashing psionics into my game world and your video convinced me it might be interesting to try, so I just got the expanded psionics handbook and am eager to read it! 📚 👁
Awesome! I'm glad I was able to help you out! Enjoy your book, it's a good one.
Thank you for the video
Of course. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Muito o seu vídeo, não vemos muito material apontando as diferenças entre estes dois pontos.
I suppose I could have done a better job with that.
@@MitchBurns The video it's really good. Thanks for your the material that you are producing and for the time that you are using to explain us dnd.
I think the one thing they should have done with psionics is give some sort of scaling. I would have done automatic + 1 augmentation to every other level you gain in a Psionic class, like a free wild surge
You still can't go past the class level in terms of total augmentation, but it would stretch those points that a lot further
That's not a terrible idea, but I think the logic is that because powers are easier to do, you get less of them.
@@MitchBurns the issue is that psionics encourage nova'ing, it's super easy to burn all your power points on a single encounter
This is the only way I can think of that balances as small of a change as possible while still not changing a significant amount about the class itself.
I'm sure a little tweaking is necessary versus my raw suggestion, but I just wanted to put my thought out there. Glad it's not terrible
Nice video man👍
Thank you. I really appreciate that!
Love the video but disagree with how much casting psions have vs spellcaster. If you value spell slots of a wizard as points then they actually have less points then a psion does at level 20.
Interesting. I wasn't aware of that. I never did the math, but it always seemed like their points were more. I guess it just comes down to how much more versatile they are.
Great resource here that gives you all of the nuts and bolts of manifesting powers to go with Mitch's video... www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicPowersOverview.htm
To add in a few thoughts, I like that the only real negative to Psionics is the Display and you can ignore it with a DC 15+ level of the power check, with zero repercussions for failure. If you fail your check, the power still works... kind of mind blowing in a way. If you are a arcane or divine caster you have to take feats to pull off the same effects, which in turn costs resources (Turn attempts with Divine meta-magic) or increases the level of the spell where you might not be able to cast it. A 1st level Human Wizard who takes Eschew Materials and say Silent Spell (or Still Spell) can't even use the feat on their 1st level spells because Still and Silent make it +1 level each. A Cleric would need to take Divine Meta-magic for each meta-magic feat that costs spell levels, so would have to spend Four feats to be able to use Two Turn attempts to Silent and Still a spell! Then you look at all of the other stuff that is normally built into Psionic powers that can extend them or make them into a swift action to use that do not cost you feats, it can feel to be pretty broken with little to no drawbacks. Heck, they also seem to get key powers earlier than other caster (Tongues, True Seeing, ect).
But there are some drawbacks... even though a Psionic character doesn't care about being grappled or wearing armor, they still have to make concentration checks to manifest when taking damage. They still provoke attacks of opportunity for manifesting. Their power pool system means they can just pour all of their points into a few powers and burn themselves out. The pool requires math to be done and constant resource management which can be easily abused. As a DM, you either have to do a lot of additional work to keep track of those points or have a lot of trust in your player to be honest... where a spell caster just crosses off a used spell, a Psion shaving a few points here and there can make a difference and is very difficult to catch. This is why a lot of DMs do not like Psionics IMO.
Psionics also are limited in some ways... they do not have access to some types of spells or the rules for them leave interpretation open to be house ruled. Example would be Touchsight versus Superior Invisibility debate... you will have it and have to make a ruling on it. Invisibility is very hard to come by and Psionics are very limited on party buff spells. The utility they do get is great, and no one has a power like Psychic Reformation. If anything, I really will strongly suggest having a NPC Psion around that can cast Reformation to help players fix poor choices they made on their characters.
I think Mitch needed to talk about Magic/Psionic Transparency. Things like that Power Resistance and Spell Resistance are effectively the same. Anti-magic and Dispel Magic effects will take down and counter Psionics, Detect Magic and Detect Psionics, so on and so forth. Heck, you can go so far as to go so far as to say Mage Bane and Psi Bane effect both groups and are the effectively the same weapon enchantment. Is there a line to it and where do you draw it? If a Ranger takes Favored Enemy Arcanist, would that count Psionics because of the Transparency? That is up to you to make that call.
My finial thoughts on this subject...
I think if you are a DM looking to run a 'classic' D&D LotR style game, Psionics is hard to shoe horn in. It really feels like it is the dirty underbelly of magic... what simple peasant folk mutter about in hushed tones into their ale when they talk about 'witchcraft' and the like. It really feels like it belongs buried in the Underdark and is the power that defines Aberrations... when you think Illithid, you think Psionics.
So yeah, in a lot of ways, Psionics are just plain better than magic and if are a experienced arcane caster player, you will probably not have any real problems playing a Psionic character. It will take a lot of time and homework to sit down and play a Psionic character, so if you just want to hang with your friends and eat some pretzels, this probably isn't the system for you. But... if you are a new DM and a newer group and you love Lovecraft and those types of classic horror, don't be intimidated and do it, it can be very rewarding. I feel Psionics vs Psionics is way more balanced anyways. I would not suggest adding it to your game on a whim and to do your homework, but like a lot of things, you can play D&D just fine without it if you feel it is to much of a hassle.
Thanks for the resources, and the thoughts. You are right. I completely forgot to talk about magic and psionics counting the same for SR and stuff, or not counting the same. The rules actually leave that one up to the DM to decide. I fully intended to cover that in this video and completely spaced it! Thank you for that one.
@@MitchBurnsWell, sort of up to the GM, the transparency rules are in that link and state what I said, so that is kind of in stone. I just take it to the next step that isn't covered by those rules... mage bane weapon enchantments and Arcanist favored enemy and stuff like that. That is where a GM is going to have to house rule it one way or another... to draw that line so to speak.
I forget the page number, but I know in the Expanded Psionics Handbook they discuss if magic and psionics are the same or not and basically say it is up to the DM. I mean they lean towards them being the same, but also put in place rules for having them be different as well.