Author Topic: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)  (Read 6626 times)

Offline Argent Fatalis

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[5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« on: June 29, 2015, 04:19:48 AM »
Psion

Class Features
As a psion, you gain the following class features.

Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d6 per psion level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 6 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d6 (or 4) + your Constitution modifier per psion level after 1st

Proficiencies
Armor: None
Weapons: Clubs, daggers, quarterstaffs, light crossbows, spears
Tools: None

Saving Throws: Intelligence, Wisdom
Skills: Choose two skills from Arcana, History, Insight, Investigation, Medicine, and Religion.

Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment gained in your background;

  • (a) quarterstaff or (b) dagger
  • (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) any simple weapon
  • (a) a scholar's pack or (b) an explorer's pack


Level
Proficiency
Bonus
FeatureInnate
Powers
Power
Level
Powers
Known
Power Point
Reserve
1st+2Psionics, Psionic Archetype4124
2nd+2Psionic Focus4136
3rd+2Overchanneled Power (+1)42414
4th+2Ability Score Improvement55517
5th+3-53627
6th+3Archetype Feature53732
7th+3-54838
8th+3Ability Score Improvement54944
9th+4-551057
10th+4Archetype Feature, Overchanneled Power (+2)651164
11th+4-661273
12th+4Ability Score Improvement661273
13th+5-671383
14th+5Archetype Feature671383
15th+5-681494
16th+5Ability Score Improvement681494
17th+6-6915107
18th+6Archetype Feature, Overchanneled Power (+3)6915114
19th+6Ability Score Improvement6915123
20th+6Unconditional Power6915133
Psionics
   Psionics are purely mental actions that otherwise behave identically to spells and they do not always produce a display or obvious source of their effect. Powers that do create obvious effects have "displays" - or identifiable ways for others to note that some form of psionic effect has transpired provided the creature can even perceive that effect. These displays come in five forms; Auditory (A), Material (Ma), Mental (Me), Olfactory (O), and Visual (V).

   You know a number of powers equal to your Powers Known column. To manifest a power, you must expend power points equal to that power's specified cost, plus additional power points for any augmentations you may have manifested that power with. You regain all expended power points when you finish a long rest. You do not need to prepare your powers ahead of time, as you always know them and are considered to have them prepared at all times; they are an innate quality of your very being.

   Learning and Manifesting Powers
   You may not augment a power to a level beyond the maximum level of powers you can manifest. You learn new powers every two levels and you may replace previously learned powers every four levels.

   Manifesting Ability
   Intelligence is your manifesting ability for your psion powers, since your psionic ability originates from your refined and masterfully expansive intellect. You use your Intelligence whenever a power refers to your manifesting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a psion power you manifest and when making an attack roll with one.

      Power Save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
      Power Attack Modifier = Your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier

   Innate Powers
   Innate powers are like cantrips, costing no power points to manifest but may have augmentation options which increase their manifestation cost to one or more power points. You know a number of innate powers equal to the Innate Powers column. Like your other powers these innate powers are always available to you, however even if you have expended all of your power points for that day, you may continue to manifest innate powers of which you do not augment.

   Manifesting Focus
   You do not require a focus to manifest powers.

Psionic Archetype
   Upon becoming a psion you don a particular set of talents, unique unto your persona. In a way, your Psionic Archetype is a direct reflection of your application and use of your psychic abilities, as well as your future potential. Perhaps you studied and refined your psionic powers in a formal manner with great discipline, maybe you adopted a set of ideals and standards to exalt and pursue as a lifelong goal, or alternatively your power is so great that it is unpredictable and nearly uncontrolled. Whatever your reason, your Psionic Archetype determines your future specialization.

   You gain bonuses from your particular Psionic Archetype at 1st level, and again at 6th, 10th, 14th and 18th level. Once chosen, you may not alter your psionic specialization.

   The Psion
   

   The Ardent
   The ardent is unique unto psions in the same vein of the wilder, in that not only do his powers stem from a different source - not his vast intellect, but instead his deep understanding of abstract or complex ideals - but so does his role. An ardent is a sworn exalt of some greater concept, some so vast and complex that they encompass even opposed ideals such as both good and evil, law and chaos, light and dark among others. A warrior of principal, he is both a manifester and combatant alike, with ample armor and combat prowess, but a unique manner in which he learns his powers; through "mantles", or the assumption of particular concepts as a psion to embody.
   
(click to show/hide)

   The Wilder
   The wilder, as with the ardent, invokes her power from a different source and for different reasons. She manifests through sheer force of personality and will power; she changes the world around her because she feels to. Wilders are prone to powerful emotions - sadness, rage, happiness, among many others - of which are often the source of their immense psychic potential. By and large, wilders have no formal training, with those that do being few and far between in contrast to most psions who are exceptionally educated and frequently of savant prestige. Owing to their volatile psychic nature, wilders are difficult to influence through mental means and are notably resilient physically as well.
   
(click to show/hide)

Psionic Focus
   At 2nd level your latent ability to meditate with greater portions of your mind while still functioning manifests completely as a form of special energy. As a psion, your knowledge of this inner meditation and its influence over your psionic abilities allows you to take advantage of it and manipulate it to your benefit.

   Psionic Focus
   As a bonus action you may gather ambient psionic energy stored within your mind through a brief internalized meditation. Despite being in a meditative state while you are gaining your Psionic Focus, you otherwise act as normal. Once having gained your Psionic Focus, you may expend it while manifesting a power to gain an added benefit, often at the cost of expending additional power points or even hit points. However, these added power points spent through your Psionic Focus do not count against your augmentation limit for that power.

   By virtue of you discovering your Psionic Focus, you gain the Focused Power option. You additionally gain new uses of your Psionic Focus based upon your psionic archetype and psion level as you advance in skill.

   Focused Power
   When you manifest a power with a duration of concentration you may expend your Psionic Focus and 2 power points. For the duration you concentrate on that power, you add your proficiency bonus to Constitution saving throws made to prevent losing your concentration due to damage.

Overchanneled Power
   At 3rd level you have discovered how to transcend your physical limits, but at great cost to your body; so great is the psychic power within you, that you can inflict mortal injury to your very being in unleashing it. You gain the Overchanneled Power use for your Psionic Focus, as described below.

   Overchanneled Power
   When you manifest a power which has the option to augment, you may expend your Psionic Focus. You immediately suffer 2d8 psychic damage, but may augment that power one time, free of increased power point cost for that single manifestation.

   For each +1 represented on the Psion Feature table for Overchannel, you may suffer an additional +2d8 psychic damage, but augment a power free of increased power point cost one additional time. You may choose not to manifest an Overchanneled Power at its highest bonus, but you only gain the specific benefits (and take damage) for that level of Overchannel you use.

Unconditional Power
   At 20th level your mental mastery has reached a pinnacle that exceeds all previously known bounds of psychic ability. So great is it, that even when seemingly crippled or outright incapacitated, you may manifest just as effectively by sheer psionic presence alone. You gain the Unconditional Power use for your Psionic Focus, as described below.

   Unconditional Power
   You may expend your Psionic Focus, even while completely disabled - such as while you are charmed or incapacitated - to manifest an Unconditional Power. A power manifested as an Unconditional Power costs twice as many power points as normal to manifest, in addition to requiring your use of your Psionic Focus, but otherwise functions as normal.

Powers

« Last Edit: July 15, 2015, 10:51:47 PM by Argent Fatalis »

Offline Argent Fatalis

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2015, 05:38:49 AM »
Currently a work in progress. Some major issues arise from the power point cost break down (I am attempting to make it 1-to-1 ratio with the sorcerer) and how to make it interact differently; the latter will come largely from the powers themselves.

Otherwise? It is largely a slightly tweaked sorcerer chassis.

Offline Nunkuruji

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2015, 04:47:20 PM »
I'm going to pour more thought into this over the day, but for now

I would completely ditch Metapsionics and Metapsionic points. It is basically a Spell Points variant Sorcerer. To that end, people have already done just that on a Sorcerer, with a new Archetype.


Instead I would focus on making the Psion stand on its own as a class with its own unique set of capabilities, and Disciplines that separate themselves from one another, and analogously, Wizard schools. Energy-sub for kineticist as an example. Wizard evocation poached overchannel...


What capabilities / class abilities?
Psionic Focus - consider some of the non-metapsionic focus related feats from 3.5 as base class features, maybe consider some of them as part of a Discipline kit, such as Boost Construct
Autohypnosis tied to Advantages
Mastery over concentration, perhaps the ability to maintain 2 concentrations tied to Focus
Psicrystal, should exist as something uniquely different than a familiar
Uniquely keep Unconditional Power as a once an X class ability


Powers
Psionics powers were largely characterized by flexibility in the power itself, such as selection of energy type, and a general lack of non-personal friendly boosts such as haste. Astral Construct and Energy X spells being prime examples. However, 5th edition spells have evolved to be closer to powers in this sense. Conjure Animals being pretty flexible in multiple creature selection, spells scaling with slot with sometimes additional effects, though no such mastery of energy.


Power Points
Psionics always had the ability to use the flexibility of a point pool. Copying 5e point pool variant as how psions manifest works well enough, and keeps them compatible with multiclassing.

Offline Argent Fatalis

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2015, 11:04:35 PM »
Changed power points to match spell point variant in the Dungeon Master's Guide. Short of that, trying to toy with how  Psionic Focus should work. Right now the intent is to let you burn power points on it in order to bypass the augment limit as well as bestow effects similar to the sorcerer's Metamagic.

As it is, Psionics Focus is a bonus action to gain, no action to spend but costs some amount of power points. More or less this keeps it in the 3.5e spirit of the Psionics Focus concept, but more in line with 5e where resources are more dynamic and flexible. Also eats up an action to gain, so it slightly curbs action economy.

Psicrystal I intend to be more a part of the psionics himself and less this independent entity. Psicrystals and familiars should be distinctly different. Maybe let it store added power points as a reserve of sorts. Unsure truly - never was a fan of them but they were too awesome to ignore and do go hand in hand with the most common ideal of a psion.

Suggestions for focus and psicrystal?

Offline Nunkuruji

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2015, 03:50:54 PM »
If you're going to continue down the path of giving them Metapsionics

1. Weigh giving a bonus PP amount equal to the slot worth of the sorcerer's sorcery points per level. Then again, if Psionics has no V/S, they are essentially getting Subtle Spell metamagic on every power.

2. I would consider only metapsionics that do not overlap with what Sorcerer offers. The possible list might include: Burrowing Power, Delay Power, Opportunity Power, Energy Substitution, Energy Admixture, Knockdown Power, Linked Power, Paraelemental Power, Shape Power

3. Overchannel may be relatively OK operate as the standard, reach beyond augmentation point limit while taking damage. Evoker Wizards is functionally maximize spell, so it's not a clone.


Psicrystal
1. Personality tied to skill (or tool?) which you either have rogue expertise bonus, or advantage on
2. Maybe let it hold concentration for you at the expense of your bonus action each round. Fairly unique advantage in concentration department, action resource wise conflicts with being able to recover psionic focus.

Offline Argent Fatalis

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #5 on: June 30, 2015, 07:53:37 PM »
Quote
If you're going to continue down the path of giving them Metapsionics

1. Weigh giving a bonus PP amount equal to the slot worth of the sorcerer's sorcery points per level. Then again, if Psionics has no V/S, they are essentially getting Subtle Spell metamagic on every power.

I had always imagined psions in the same vein of wizards; the sort who made extensive use of meta abilities. In part because the psion relied so much on their vast intellect and that besides the ardent (and to a much lesser extent, the wilder) they were the sort of dedicated "caster". That said, I want them to retain metapsionics as a sort of tangible element to them.

That was my intent. This was two fold because it forces a psion to choose between more powers per day and metapsionic enhanced powers. It also would diffuse action economy issues slightly by eating up the bonus action in order to gain Psionic Focus consistently.

I intend for it to be roughly the same weight in power points to sorcery points.

Quote
2. I would consider only metapsionics that do not overlap with what Sorcerer offers. The possible list might include: Burrowing Power, Delay Power, Opportunity Power, Energy Substitution, Energy Admixture, Knockdown Power, Linked Power, Paraelemental Power, Shape Power

Burrowing Power, Opportunity Power, Knockdown Power, and Shape Power should all work fine. Delay Power and Linked Power I believe safer to avoid because of 5e's strong adherence to trying to avoid breaking action economy (it still happens, just less). Energy Substitution, Energy Admixture and Paraelemental Power are all sort of rolled into how I'm still doing psionics, in that you can alter your energy type each time you manifest the power.

Lots of love for the blasting sorts.

But... I think there might need to be obvious parallels as well in Twin Power and Distant Power with the sorcerer. Then of course Unconditional Power, because it's just cool.

Quote
3. Overchannel may be relatively OK operate as the standard, reach beyond augmentation point limit while taking damage. Evoker Wizards is functionally maximize spell, so it's not a clone.

I really, really want psions to have Overchannel, but I think it would conflict too much with the wilder (which I am planning on doing ultimately, the ardent first after the psion). I'm not sure how to best implement an Empower or Maximize effect - they're both staples of the genre.


Quote
Psicrystal
1. Personality tied to skill (or tool?) which you either have rogue expertise bonus, or advantage on
2. Maybe let it hold concentration for you at the expense of your bonus action each round. Fairly unique advantage in concentration department, action resource wise conflicts with being able to recover psionic focus.

1. Personality tied to a skill or tool is a brilliant idea. More or less letting you add your proficiency bonus to that skill (even again) would make it feel appropriate and not be anything too outside the established realm.

2. Letting it hold concentration at the cost of a bonus action sounds like a respectable idea since it does conflict with Psionic Focus. It would prevent mixing the two pretty well.

Offline Nunkuruji

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #6 on: July 01, 2015, 10:45:50 AM »
Sorcerer Empower is a reroll of existing dice, which is a protection against getting a freak roll and exceeding even a Maximize.
Maximize remains classic maximum value of dice.

I would probably implement the Wilder closer to the Anarchic Initiate, though it may make more sense to just implement Wilder and Ardent as Archetypes of the Psion.

Offline Nunkuruji

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #7 on: July 01, 2015, 12:46:16 PM »
Thus, I would probably slightly update the table to look like this


Level
Proficiency
Bonus
FeatureInnate
Powers
Power
Level
Powers
Known
Power Point
Reserve
1st+2Psionics, Psionic Archetype feature4124
2nd+2Psionic Focus4136
3rd+2Overchannel +142414
4th+2Ability Score Improvement55517
5th+3-53627
6th+3Psionic Archetype feature53732
7th+3-54838
8th+3Ability Score Improvement54944
9th+4-551057
10th+4Psionic Archetype feature, Overchannel +2651164
11th+4-661273
12th+4Ability Score Improvement661273
13th+5-671383
14th+5Psionic Archetype feature671383
15th+5-681494
16th+5Ability Score Improvement681494
17th+6???6915107
18th+6Psionic Archetype feature, Overchannel +36915114
19th+6Ability Score Improvement6915123
20th+6???6915133
Where Psionic Archetypes are
Seer
Shaper
Kineticist
Egoist
Nomad
Telepath
Wilder
Ardent



Ardent is straightforward, and is very similar to how Favored Soul is implemented on Sorcerer.
1: Assume Psionic Mantle (2), All Armor Proficiencies
6: Assume Psionic Mantle, Extra Attack
10: Assume Psionic Mantle
14: Assume Psionic Mantle
18: Assume Psionic Mantle


Wilder probably something like
1: Wild Surge, Psychic Enervation
6: Wild Surge +2, Surging Euphoria +1, Random Deflector (closer to 3.5 Wild mage)
10 Wild Surge +3,  Chaotic Surge
14 Wild Surge +4, Surging Euphoria +2
18: Wild Surge +5

Wild Surge is instead of Overchanneling you may Wild Surge, or at 10th, Chaotic Surge.
Condition wise, Daze = Incapacitated
Subbed in Random Deflector from Elusive Touch, as touch attacks aren't a thing. Though could just as boringly be implemented as the Shield spell.
Could maybe give them resistance to psychic damage, as a sub for Volatile mind.


Move Psicrystal to a Power, instead of class feature, methinks.

For current lack of original ideas, maybe 18th & 20th are Wizards Spell/Power Mastery, and Metaminds Font of Power, respectively.

Offline Argent Fatalis

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2015, 03:59:23 AM »
Updated the current format; doesn't include the "normal" psion disciplines yet, largely because I'm sure those will go more straight forward.

Right now I updated the table and functions based off your suggestions, but switched a few things around. Opinion on it as of right now?

I think Unconditional Power is a pretty legit capstone, since you could just remove crowd control that was on you and get back in the game for fairly cheap. It does cost your focus and double the power's cost however.

Offline Nunkuruji

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2015, 10:45:45 AM »
Wilder,
I'd advise Psychic Enervation be an Incapacitated instead of Stunned. It is a closer analog to daze, and Stun is just nastier in 5e...
Surging Euphoria is probably better as advantages, to avoid rising bonuses. May need some wording on whether you can stack up Euphoria, or 1|2 max.
Chaotic Surge, I'm not confident would be useful or used, other than on what would likely be a non-combat long duration non-concentration power like Inertial Armor.




Offline Argent Fatalis

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2015, 08:53:29 PM »
Wilder,
I'd advise Psychic Enervation be an Incapacitated instead of Stunned. It is a closer analog to daze, and Stun is just nastier in 5e...
Surging Euphoria is probably better as advantages, to avoid rising bonuses. May need some wording on whether you can stack up Euphoria, or 1|2 max.
Chaotic Surge, I'm not confident would be useful or used, other than on what would likely be a non-combat long duration non-concentration power like Inertial Armor.

I've updated the wilder, hopefully to an extent that comes across as reasonable. Some changes I made was made Wild Surges a bit more dangerous, in that was it stood, there really was no reason to not Wild Surge most every turn for free augments, which gave the wilder a huge amount of longevity compared to the psion and any other class.

Psychic Enervation is now just incapacitation until the start of your next turn, but drains power point cost + Wild Surge level + Psionic Focus cost (if present) power points if it kicks off.

Surging Euphoria now only has one rank, one use and lasts until the start of your next turn.

Volatile Mind gives resistance to psychic damage and deals an amount equal  to the damage you take to the psychic attacker.

Random Deflector is a once per short rest ability that reflects a spell or power that only targets you back to the attacker, but costs power points equal to that effect's level (not power point cost).

Chaotic Surge is now a once per long rest ability that lets you ignore Psychic Enervation.

I've more or less got a bit of the skeletal framework together for the ardent, but it needs tweaking; thus far I think the mantles are really awesome (they should be, as they're basically all you get) and I'm very partial toward the idea of their mantles all being active abilities that cost psionic focus. This is, in large part, because they do really weird things that powers don't often do, but cost your Psionic Focus and a few power points.

If anything, a few need their cost adjusted (since Dominant Ideal needs to be accounted for), but I don't feel as though there's anything wrong with their effects thus far.

Offline Nunkuruji

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #11 on: July 06, 2015, 02:36:59 PM »
I would say Volatile Mind, Random Deflector and Chaotic Surge should cost your reaction to use.
May want some clarity around Volatile Mind damage pre/post - psychic resistance.


I may spawn an effort to either

Draw up skeletons for
Slayer -> Ranger Archetype
Psychic Warrior -> Fighter Archetype
Lurk | Psychic Rogue -> Rogue Archetype
Psionic Fist -> Monk Archetype

or

Walk the 1st - 3rd levels power list for conversion.

Offline Argent Fatalis

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #12 on: July 07, 2015, 04:58:25 AM »
Volatile Mind should read as post psychic resistance; it's also why it takes no action, since it's a small amount of damage, but is just a neat bonus. A bit more flavorful than useful.

Random Deflector and Chaotic Surge are now both reaction cost.

I did do a full class reboot of a Psychic Warrior using a ki point style method of power points. But I would absolutely love to get some assistance on the myriad of powers I will need to convert for psionics - especially for the psion here.

Edit: Tweaked some ardent powers and included more. Thus far only Fate and Creation lack uses for their Psionic Focus, but I'm unsure.

The only mantle that worries me is the Time Mantle's Inevitable Power - it seems balanced enough, in that it delays a power by a round, but applies the following turn even if the target wouldn't be valid this turn. It still provides saves and the like, but can ignore line of sight, planar boundaries, etc.
« Last Edit: July 07, 2015, 05:00:46 AM by Argent Fatalis »

Offline Nunkuruji

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #13 on: July 07, 2015, 10:38:33 AM »
I briefly started on power conversion last night.
I'm only really interested in 1st-3rd levels, as the 5e campaign I'm starting soon will be E6.
I wrote down notes for each of the conversions, so I'm interested to see if you agree or disagree with the thought process.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1z1RIJCphU68VEsz8veqo4g8bbOpg78imKPV4eaUdnMY

Offline Argent Fatalis

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #14 on: July 15, 2015, 10:43:54 PM »
I briefly started on power conversion last night.
I'm only really interested in 1st-3rd levels, as the 5e campaign I'm starting soon will be E6.
I wrote down notes for each of the conversions, so I'm interested to see if you agree or disagree with the thought process.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1z1RIJCphU68VEsz8veqo4g8bbOpg78imKPV4eaUdnMY

I entirely interested in seeing more conversions; the psion in particular is the most difficult to convert given the extremely wide array of powers. I noticed that condensing a few was more or less mandatory, such as with the Empathic Transfer (including the Hostile option), etc.

Offline Nunkuruji

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #15 on: July 16, 2015, 11:12:14 AM »
With the latest UA actually proving that they're working on Psi, I lost some steam, and switched focus on doing some DM prep since It looks like my group will actually be able to start 5e campaigning in August, thus the Core Templates thread.

That said, I will continue to work through the 1st-3rd list towards the end of July, which is when I will have free time. I would still like to have Psi represented in our campaign by NPCs, regardless of whether wotc gets their stuff done sooner or later.

Offline Nunkuruji

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Re: [5e] [Psi] Psion (INC)
« Reply #16 on: July 29, 2015, 10:54:24 PM »
Looped back around to this, though I'm at odds with myself over how to proceed.
So I'm not continuing on any conversion atm.


There are two straightforward methods of how to proceed with scaling

1. Scale on PP, which gives granularity in PP management, but is not linear and straightforward
2. Scale on power level, X PP = Power Level table (spell points table)


Beyond that, what is even more important to consider is how effective scaling should be.

In 3.5 casting, and 3.5 manifesting, the scale was typically dX / CL|ML
In 5e casting, the base damage is elevated a bit above the natural CL; 3.5 fireball starting at 5d6; 5e fireball starting at 8d6.
3.5 we get the "free" CL scaling all the way up to 10d6, but no DC scaling. Better spell examples have 20d6 cap or no cap.
5e we get fireball scaling up to 14d6 and DC scaling when a 9th slot is expended.


Furthermore, in 5e the base level of the spell holds more weight, as they are inherently more powerful in dice.
You would not likely Fireball out of an 8th or 9th slot vs. Sunburst or Meteor Swarm.
Casting from a spells base slot is the most resource efficient.
By comparison, 3.5 manifesting is a very linear scale.
Full augmentation for damage tended to be most efficient due to DC scaling, unless overkill.


Effectively, a 5e Sorcerer with spell points is a 3.5 Psion, in terms of flexibility and resource management.
The divider is how the powers themselves scale or augment.


So, what of making Powers unique vs. Spells?
Perhaps make Psion powers scale as closely as possible to spells, but make Discipline powers scale more effectively?
This perhaps gives them some competitiveness with sorcerer metamagic combos.
Both Sorcerer and Psion having such a limited Spells/Powers known, 1/2 of 3.5s, makes it all the more important what is chosen.