Short version, they're coming, but you'll have to wait. Maybe for a long time.
PHB 3 might contain psionics, so look for it in 2010.
I really can't imagine what the Elemental classes will be like. Shugenja maybe? Wizards, Swordmages, and other Arcane classes just seem so focused on elemental damage and powers that I can't picture what will be different.
To be honest, neither can I.
Psionics, I can see (obviously). Shadow, I can see (I think WotC intentionally reserved elements of the former Wizard for unique and interesting classes - Illusionist, Necromancer... maybe others). Ki I can almost see (if it absorbs Incarnum). Elemental, I simply cannot picture (It has to differentiate itself from both Arcane and Primal).
Just like in 3e, I'm sure there will be a distinction between Elements and just plain ol' energy types.
That's... that's a long time to wait lol... I wanted to make a custom psionic class too ; ; Guess I'll just reflavor it as Primal until then. Come on August (think that's when Primal Power come out?)
Nah, make it psionic now, and then revise it (or drop it) later, when core psionics becomes available. That's my plan (*points to Sig* *shameless plug*).
I was thinking that too though, and was just going to tell my players if they chose to play the class, treat it as primal or arcane (haven't decided) for the purposes of feat selection.
I basically modeled the class after the characters from S-Cry-Ed. Using matter manipulation and extreme acrobatics/athleticism as a means of creating and performing attacks and felt that a psionic (telekinetic) class could best emulate that.
Going as base Striker, and leaning towards Defender or Controller based on combat style, I'm trying to find that balance while trying to keep it original (tougher than I thought lol)
But the playtest should help me get a grasp of it ^^
... I see no sig lol.
Sigs only show up in the person's first post by default. You can find his in post #6.
I really can't understand why you would be so flabergasted that Psionics arn't in book 1. They weren't in 3E either, or any edition, as far as I know.
They were in an appendix in the very back of the Ad&D 1e book (the one with the guys trying to steal that demon-statue's ruby eyes). they were, of course, horribly broken and that experience continues to color psionics in some people's eyes even today.
So WotC will be sticking with 4e for a while, then? That's good news for me then.
What, did you think they would take, was it three years, developing this whole new game and then they would just randomly abandon it?
Bam. Psion.
If your DM is concerned about balance from the homebrews, take the Wizard class, rename your powers, and change the name of your implements.
Bam. Psion.
*shudders* Blaster-psion.
I'd take Warlock, m'self, if you were going that route. Though they're Strikers by the label, they've got more psionic-feeling powers (once re-fluffed) than Wizards (in my opinion).
I really can't understand why you would be so flabergasted that Psionics arn't in book 1. They weren't in 3E either, or any edition, as far as I know.
Flabergasted? I just said I was curious as to why there was no mention of them for this year. aka I hoping they had planned to release something for them sooner rather than later
What, did you think they would take, was it three years, developing this whole new game and then they would just randomly abandon it?
Well, certain amongst posters seem convinced that the first 6 months of 4e have proved such an abysmal failure that they'll do *exactly* that. Hey, where *is* RC, anyway? I wonder if he's "on vacation".
4e is doing very well, just check out amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1233411838/ref=sr_pg_1?ie=UTF8&rs=4442&rh=n%3A86%2Cn%3A4402%2Cn%3A4442&page=1
The fact that the gift set is still in the Top 5 alone is very telling of the current edition's success.
Heck number 12 isn't even out yet and isn't going to be out for two months and some change.
Psionics though is coming in the PHB III (2010) it's all but confirmed at this point just like it's all but confirmed Dark Sun is coming that same year.
Well, certain amongst posters seem convinced that the first 6 months of 4e have proved such an abysmal failure that they'll do *exactly* that. Hey, where *is* RC, anyway? I wonder if he's "on vacation".
Don't mention his name! That's what summons him from his dark realm!
for better or worse (probably better overall I think for fantasy type games), psionics only tends to make an appearance in the last year of a D&D edition... at which point there are a lot of splat books. I would be very surprised to not see psionics in a sci-fi opening book, but for fantasy, it tends to be a late option (well at least for d&d)
Neither the 2nd Edition book of Psionics, the 3rd Edition Psionics Handbook, nor the 3.5 Edition Expanded psionics Handbook, were printed in the last year of the edition, and 1e psionics were in the back of the PHB.
I wonder how a Psionic Leader would work.
However, let me point out the new cosmology:
The Divine power source appeals to the gods, which are in the Astral Sea.
What opposes them? The Primordials in the Elemental Chaos.
Most likely, Elemental will not be like Arcane, but rather like Divine, except instead of calling upon gods, it will call upon primordials.
Much like Channel Divinity, which seems now to be a Divine power source "thing," with feats to modify based on your deity, I can forsee a "Primordial's Call" or something like that for all the Elemental classes that you can take feats to alter depending on the raw elemental forces you...serve?
Additionally, much as the Shadow power source clearly calls upon the Shadowfell, I always kind of assumed the Primal power source would call upon the Feywild.
Oh, and a Psionic leader could be something like a "Battlemind" (a lot like a Warlord, really), or a rehash of the old Sangehirn.
As for Psionics, as others have said PHB3 is likeliest bet. It will be getting the same amount of support as every other Power Source as well.
The current class I'm working on is based on matter manipulation, taking absolutely nothing from 3.5, but borrowing heavily from a concept from a story I created a long time ago. Yes s-cry-ed was an inspiration, but this takes that to another level. 4e is written in a way that can competently express a range of characters and abilities in a given class and stay unique. It'll probably take me some time to complete thanks to all my game design classes, but I think it might be a welcome addition to the homebrew section when I finally get 'er finished
As for the official books. I guess they'll come out when they come out. I wanted ot see WotC's official stance to base my concept off of when creating the class, but I guess there's no reason to let that stop me... I can always adjust later on when they become official
I did a quick search and everything turned up 3.x. No mention of a 4e incarnation or did they consider them to be too much like a wizard and threw them out the window? Anyone heard anything about it?
I think they did to them what they did with sorcerers and either lumped them in with Wizards or are planning on making them non-core. They may also feel that psions jsut needed to fall by the wayside.
I think they did to them what they did with sorcerers and either lumped them in with Wizards or are planning on making them non-core. They may also feel that psions jsut needed to fall by the wayside.
... Waa? Sorcerer is going to be in PHB2 we already have a Preview of it. Also Psionics has been confirmed for a long time to be a Power Source, all Power Sources and Classes are to get equal treatment. It will also be appearing in a PHB so it will be as core as Arcane, Divine, Martial, Ki, Primal, Shadow, Elemental.
Shadow and Psi should be in PHB3.
Correction: They BETTER be in PHB3. :D The mention of future power sources, including Psi, is in the sidebar on page 54 of the PH.
Definitely expect psionics in PHB3. With Eberron as this year's setting, and hints about Dark Sun next year or in '11, psionics would make sense as a PHB3 headliner. Not to mention they've probably got more old stuff to work with for designing the psionic power source than they do for elemental or shadow.
Good points.
Psionics will need to have an interesting mechanic backing them as their appeal in prior editions was their different mechanical system.
I wonder how a Psionic Leader would work.
As of our last tidbit of information from a dev, the Psionic Leader will be the Empath. (Link should be find-able on the boards somewhere.) Obviously, things can change during the (unbearably) long time between now and when PH3 comes out.
The traditional "Psion" will likely be split or absorbed into multiple classes of differing roles just as the 3e Druid became the 4e Druid, Warden, and (sort of) Shaman. There was a discussion about what the main* Psi class (i.e., the controller) would be called on another thread here somewhere, as "Psion(icist)" might be a bit too general.
*
In 4e this class will probably no longer feel like the "main" Psi class; each Psi class will be able to stand on its own. In fact, that the 3e Psion encompassed so many different things is what makes it a target for dividing and refining.
Oh, and a Psionic leader could be something like a "Battlemind" (a lot like a Warlord, really), or a rehash of the old Sangehirn.
Rich Baker spoiled a while back that the Empath class would be a Psionic Leader. As a general rule, 4E doesn't like two-word or compound names for classes.
EDIT: Damn it, marius! I was ninja'd by mere seconds!
Rich Baker spoiled a while back that the Empath class would be a Psionic Leader. As a general rule, 4E doesn't like two-word or compound names for classes.
EDIT: Damn it, marius! I was ninja'd by mere seconds!
Victory is mine! :evillaugh
Well, actually that just makes me 1 and 3 for the last two days.
But the fact that it was you, doctor, makes it a good 1. 
Heheheh.Victory is mine! :evillaugh
Well, actually that just makes me 1 and 3 for the last two days.
Well I'm glad I made your day, marius...
:P