Dragon 394 - Unearthed Arcana: The Awakened Psion - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Dragon 394 - Unearthed Arcana: The Awakened Psion

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
MaximumHavoc
Dec 16, 2010 6:28:22 Dragon 394
Unearthed Arcana: The Awakened Psion
By Peter Schaefer and Robert J. Schwalb

When psions ignore the safety rules, they awaken new reservoirs of power and risk.

Talk about this Article here.

#2
mysticbelmont
Dec 16, 2010 6:34:55 This article was very good. I enjoyed it. Made me really want to play a Psion.
#3
thespaceinvader
Dec 16, 2010 7:19:31 A very interesting mechanic, with a lot of possibilities for advancing stories and creating interesting story conflicts. It's a shame Unearthed Arcana isn't LFR-legal. For me, this is about the perfect balance of flabour and crunch.

To expand a little: what I particularly like about this article is that the flavour is very descriptive of the crunch. It tells us about Awakened Psions, and what they do, and how they work. It expands on the crunch, and suggests a number of ways to bring it to life. Many recent articles have consisted of a story plus a vaguely related magic item/background - I want articles to give me ideas about how to apply the crunch to inform my own games, not to give me prefabricated stories. That's why I read books.
#4
tyrskald
Dec 16, 2010 7:33:47 I will say that I have played around with the idea of "pushing" powers of various sorts, using the 3.5 Psion mechanics as inspiration. I am pleased to see this article and that it's introducing the concept to the 4E world.

I do wonder, though perhaps it is inconsequential, why the Telepath and Telekineticist are mentioned, but the Shaper is not. Does it all boil down to the statement in the article about the two former mentioned schools/discipline paths as the most frequently encountered? (This might be self-evident, but it was late when I first read the article, and it is early as I write this.) Any thoughts?
#5
claytonm
Dec 16, 2010 7:38:56 I liked this one a lot. I have a psion in my darksun party that I am looking forward to showing this too.
#6
veok
Dec 16, 2010 8:49:44
I will say that I have played around with the idea of "pushing" powers of various sorts, using the 3.5 Psion mechanics as inspiration. I am pleased to see this article and that it's introducing the concept to the 4E world.

I do wonder, though perhaps it is inconsequential, why the Telepath and Telekineticist are mentioned, but the Shaper is not. Does it all boil down to the statement in the article about the two former mentioned schools/discipline paths as the most frequently encountered? (This might be self-evident, but it was late when I first read the article, and it is early as I write this.) Any thoughts?

Articles can have a 5-6 month lagtime between submission and publication; Psionic Power only came out 4 months ago -- it's conceivable the author didn't know the finalities of the new discipline when the article was originally written.
#7
frothsof
Dec 16, 2010 9:05:18 good stuff. schwalb indicated in a podcast i heard that there is a variety of psionic stuff that didnt make the book that should be trickling out over time. i like this a lot
#8
tyrskald
Dec 16, 2010 9:19:53
Articles can have a 5-6 month lagtime between submission and publication; Psionic Power only came out 4 months ago -- it's conceivable the author didn't know the finalities of the new discipline when the article was originally written.

Thanks, Veok, that's a good point I hadn't thought of.

I suppose it wouldn't be unthinkable, and it could be kind of fun, to extrapolate what Shaper content similar to that described in The Awakened Psion.

Cheers!
#9
olfactatron
Dec 16, 2010 10:42:20 Adding my voice to those that enjoyed this article. I would like to see more like this in the future.
#10
Aegeri
Dec 16, 2010 11:24:03 At least there was at least one decent article this month. This was actually really interesting and I am already considering using it in my games. The sheer story potential is amazing, but I wouldn't want to deal with it over an entire campaign. But to really make an adventure or two stand out from the rest? That seems like a great idea.
#11
tibis
Dec 16, 2010 15:06:46 Highly enjoyable article, providing some great food for thought on the class.
#12
Nai_Calus
Dec 16, 2010 15:40:34 I loved this, and I don't even play a psion. It has just the right amount of creepy wrongness about it. Mmm.
#13
salla
Dec 16, 2010 18:41:09 Hmm, yeah ... not using that.
#14
aoirorentsu
Dec 16, 2010 23:56:07 Awesome. Just, awesome. A very intriguing implementation of mind-reading etc.
#15
ranadiel
Dec 17, 2010 5:46:26
Articles can have a 5-6 month lagtime between submission and publication; Psionic Power only came out 4 months ago -- it's conceivable the author didn't know the finalities of the new discipline when the article was originally written.

Books are sent to the printers around two months before they are released so about 6 months ago the contents of the book would have been finalized. :P

Edit: Even were that not the case, there were still four months for the editors to catch the minor issue. :P
#16
cdtalmas
Dec 18, 2010 17:11:27 Sometimes I question the purpose of my DDI subscription. I dislike the web-based character builder and most of the articles feel uninteresting. Even the VTT looks like crap (but I will stave off anything beyond initial impressions until release). But then... things like this come out of left-field. A flat-out awesome mechanic that can be implemented easily and has incredible crunch AND fluff. This is why I am still a member. I want to see more of this. I also enjoy the "To Live Defeated" article that came along with. Not AS fun, but still a good idea and something I only thought about in passing before now.
#17
greatfrito
Jan 06, 2011 17:35:37 A friend with DDi showed me this article, with an introduction of "I know you like psionics. I think you'll be really impressed with this."

And you know what? I totally am. This article is extremely impressive. While I'm sure it's not something for everyone, this is easily the most impressive option I've seen from DDi in... uh... honestly? It's the most impressive option I've seen from DDi ever.
#18
diebry
Jan 07, 2011 9:29:39 This was a great article I really liked it and the Sharmind Psion in my group totally wanted to used it. So last gaming session we started using it. Good times and no bad side effects yet.
#19
Chigaru
Jan 07, 2011 10:59:37 Wish I had a psion in my Eberron group. (Un)Fortunately a couple of party members are dropping and I'm bringing in new ones. Maybe one of them will want to play a psion.

More on-topic, dayumn this was a great article. I seriously cannot wait to see more and more Unearthed Arcana articles if they're going to have even a fraction of the quality this article has.

After the "Campaign Workshop: Crafty Villains" article, for instance, I'd really like to see Death Shamans discussed in one of these.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 MaximumHavoc Dec 16, 2010 6:28:22	Dragon 394 Unearthed Arcana: The Awakened Psion By Peter Schaefer and Robert J. Schwalb When psions ignore the safety rules, they awaken new reservoirs of power and risk. Talk about this Article here.
#2 mysticbelmont Dec 16, 2010 6:34:55	This article was very good. I enjoyed it. Made me really want to play a Psion.
#3 thespaceinvader Dec 16, 2010 7:19:31	A very interesting mechanic, with a lot of possibilities for advancing stories and creating interesting story conflicts. It's a shame Unearthed Arcana isn't LFR-legal. For me, this is about the perfect balance of flabour and crunch. To expand a little: what I particularly like about this article is that the flavour is very descriptive of the crunch. It tells us about Awakened Psions, and what they do, and how they work. It expands on the crunch, and suggests a number of ways to bring it to life. Many recent articles have consisted of a story plus a vaguely related magic item/background - I want articles to give me ideas about how to apply the crunch to inform my own games, not to give me prefabricated stories. That's why I read books.
#4 tyrskald Dec 16, 2010 7:33:47	I will say that I have played around with the idea of "pushing" powers of various sorts, using the 3.5 Psion mechanics as inspiration. I am pleased to see this article and that it's introducing the concept to the 4E world. I do wonder, though perhaps it is inconsequential, why the Telepath and Telekineticist are mentioned, but the Shaper is not. Does it all boil down to the statement in the article about the two former mentioned schools/discipline paths as the most frequently encountered? (This might be self-evident, but it was late when I first read the article, and it is early as I write this.) Any thoughts?
#5 claytonm Dec 16, 2010 7:38:56	I liked this one a lot. I have a psion in my darksun party that I am looking forward to showing this too.
#6 veok Dec 16, 2010 8:49:44	I will say that I have played around with the idea of "pushing" powers of various sorts, using the 3.5 Psion mechanics as inspiration. I am pleased to see this article and that it's introducing the concept to the 4E world. I do wonder, though perhaps it is inconsequential, why the Telepath and Telekineticist are mentioned, but the Shaper is not. Does it all boil down to the statement in the article about the two former mentioned schools/discipline paths as the most frequently encountered? (This might be self-evident, but it was late when I first read the article, and it is early as I write this.) Any thoughts? Articles can have a 5-6 month lagtime between submission and publication; Psionic Power only came out 4 months ago -- it's conceivable the author didn't know the finalities of the new discipline when the article was originally written.
#7 frothsof Dec 16, 2010 9:05:18	good stuff. schwalb indicated in a podcast i heard that there is a variety of psionic stuff that didnt make the book that should be trickling out over time. i like this a lot
#8 tyrskald Dec 16, 2010 9:19:53	Articles can have a 5-6 month lagtime between submission and publication; Psionic Power only came out 4 months ago -- it's conceivable the author didn't know the finalities of the new discipline when the article was originally written. Thanks, Veok, that's a good point I hadn't thought of. I suppose it wouldn't be unthinkable, and it could be kind of fun, to extrapolate what Shaper content similar to that described in The Awakened Psion. Cheers!
#9 olfactatron Dec 16, 2010 10:42:20	Adding my voice to those that enjoyed this article. I would like to see more like this in the future.
#10 Aegeri Dec 16, 2010 11:24:03	At least there was at least one decent article this month. This was actually really interesting and I am already considering using it in my games. The sheer story potential is amazing, but I wouldn't want to deal with it over an entire campaign. But to really make an adventure or two stand out from the rest? That seems like a great idea.
#11 tibis Dec 16, 2010 15:06:46	Highly enjoyable article, providing some great food for thought on the class.
#12 Nai_Calus Dec 16, 2010 15:40:34	I loved this, and I don't even play a psion. It has just the right amount of creepy wrongness about it. Mmm.
#13 salla Dec 16, 2010 18:41:09	Hmm, yeah ... not using that.
#14 aoirorentsu Dec 16, 2010 23:56:07	Awesome. Just, awesome. A very intriguing implementation of mind-reading etc.
#15 ranadiel Dec 17, 2010 5:46:26	Articles can have a 5-6 month lagtime between submission and publication; Psionic Power only came out 4 months ago -- it's conceivable the author didn't know the finalities of the new discipline when the article was originally written. Books are sent to the printers around two months before they are released so about 6 months ago the contents of the book would have been finalized. :P Edit: Even were that not the case, there were still four months for the editors to catch the minor issue. :P
#16 cdtalmas Dec 18, 2010 17:11:27	Sometimes I question the purpose of my DDI subscription. I dislike the web-based character builder and most of the articles feel uninteresting. Even the VTT looks like crap (but I will stave off anything beyond initial impressions until release). But then... things like this come out of left-field. A flat-out awesome mechanic that can be implemented easily and has incredible crunch AND fluff. This is why I am still a member. I want to see more of this. I also enjoy the "To Live Defeated" article that came along with. Not AS fun, but still a good idea and something I only thought about in passing before now.
#17 greatfrito Jan 06, 2011 17:35:37	A friend with DDi showed me this article, with an introduction of "I know you like psionics. I think you'll be really impressed with this." And you know what? I totally am. This article is extremely impressive. While I'm sure it's not something for everyone, this is easily the most impressive option I've seen from DDi in... uh... honestly? It's the most impressive option I've seen from DDi ever.
#18 diebry Jan 07, 2011 9:29:39	This was a great article I really liked it and the Sharmind Psion in my group totally wanted to used it. So last gaming session we started using it. Good times and no bad side effects yet.
#19 Chigaru Jan 07, 2011 10:59:37	Wish I had a psion in my Eberron group. (Un)Fortunately a couple of party members are dropping and I'm bringing in new ones. Maybe one of them will want to play a psion. More on-topic, dayumn this was a great article. I seriously cannot wait to see more and more Unearthed Arcana articles if they're going to have even a fraction of the quality this article has. After the "Campaign Workshop: Crafty Villains" article, for instance, I'd really like to see Death Shamans discussed in one of these.