Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 michaeljpatrick Nov 26, 2014 16:35:03	I know I'm not the first, but I figured I'd take a stab at a psionic class.  It is only complete up to level 10 so far and could use a ton more devotions and sciences.     I am open to suggestion, but think the basic premise works.  Devotions are essentially psionic spells while sciences are similar to a warlock's eldritch invocations.  It feels like a cop out to use spells for psionics, but some of them fit very well and looking at Githyanki and Mind Flayers it seems like that is the way Wizards may eventually go if they release an official Psionics book.     I am especially open to suggestion regarding new devotions and sciences.  I would love the psionicist class to be as unique as possible while still fitting well within the framework of 5e.     I used the names of a few powers from earlier editions, but had to mostly come up with new effects for them.  Between editions it seems that wholly different versions of the same psionic power are completely inconsistent with one another so  I don't think I am way off base there.  I tend to favor powers with cool in-game effects over those that just give a bonus to this roll or that.      The link goes to a Google doc.   http://tinyurl.com/5ePsionics
#2 cowleymen Nov 26, 2014 21:08:20	I like it. It took me a few reads to figure out the minor and major devotions, and it seems fairly balance. IM not the best at figure out math for the most part though. Im looking forward to future features the class gets
#3 Nevvur Nov 26, 2014 22:53:09	Ditto, seems pretty cool, though it appears to have a lot in common with the warlock mechanically. But then, coming up with entirely original class mechanics is a tall order. I wouldn't consider Minor Devotions = cantrips, Major Devotions = leveled spells a cop out, in any case.    Not sure how I feel about each subclass having its own 'caster' stat, but there's nothing inherently imbalanced about that. Overall, I think this is the best interpretation of the psionic I've seen so far. As cowleymen wrote, we could use a mathematical interpretation of their combat prowess, but I'm not keen on undertaking the effort myself. Still, it seems balanced at a glance.
#4 michaeljpatrick Nov 27, 2014 9:24:15	Thanks guys.  I did base the structure a lot off of Warlock, especially the Devotion progression.  It seemed like a good fit and I don't believe in reinventing the wheel when I don' have to.  I've never been a fan of "power points" as it just adds one more thing to keep track of.   One of the things I tried to do was make sure that most of the options for Psionicists could work in any situation as opposed to just when fighting other psionics based creatures which is a common trait of previous editions.   No way am I going to sit and do the math, but if someone really wants to I wouldn't be offended.     I'll updated it with more sciences and devotions and finish levels 11-20 when I have some time.
#5 Drycanth Nov 29, 2014 21:14:22	the psychic blade thing should scale in damage like the monk unarmed strike does with the form being chosen at level 1. that way levels are more comprable via damage. Weapon type is a indication of personality and fighting style which should improve via the damge not the form.   you have bonus damage based of CHA which is not a proficent stat nor is it a primary stat. You should base it off the stats that they are proficent in. This is the norm for 5th.   the flury of blades ability is too powerfull as is. It is an AOE based melee atack. This does not exist in 5th. Only targeted attacks via weapons or area damage via special abilities/ spells. It does comperable damage to fireball and is short rest replenishing. Stacking this on having multiple attacks is too much. Also the fix for weapon damage would make this un-nescesary.   Enhance mind blade should be a level 3 ability and should only give a bonus to hit of +2 similar to the duling feature of the fighter and paladin. That is also the same level that magic weapon like abilities seem to become prevelent.   Since the soul knife is already based so closely on the monk I would suggest you put the shadow monk like levels in for most of the abilities for the soul knife and change the abilities to more psychic oriented.
#6 michaeljpatrick Nov 30, 2014 15:33:13	Drycanth-     Thanks for the advice.  I have made a few adjustments based on your comments.   I will rethink the damage progression of the psychic blade.  I didn't want it to be too similar to the monk, but can see yor point about weapon choice being more a matter of personality and fighting style.     I adjusted the damage on flurry of blades and changed "Enhance mind blade" as per your suggestions.  Those were spot on.   I will have to think it over a little more, but when I have gotten it finished up to level 20 I will repost the link here.
#7 michaeljpatrick Jul 03, 2015 16:36:21	Man, I never got around to finishing this. It's possible that Wizards will actually release a real psionics class before I complete this.
#8 rampant Jul 03, 2015 17:53:53	MEchanical issues: The damage on id insinuation and flurry of blades needs to scale somehow.    How does concentration work with psionic shift?   For psi barrier how about: Negate the damage of one attack or effect targeted at you. Specificying spells, weapons, and psionic powers leaves some holes.   Battlemind is prof in light and heavy armor, no medium?   Psionic vigor is pretty underpowered at higher levels, it probably needs to scale or be useable more often.    The tower of iron will needs to define psychic attack a bit better, do you mean psychich damage or requires a will save or what?   Why doe sthe mindblade need to level up to get shapes I mean a first level barbarian can pick up a greatsword.   Enhanced mindblade is a bit of a no-no, a flat +2 to taccuracy, is relaly pushing the whole bounded accuracy thing.    What level are sciences cast/manifested at?   Does the mind blade or the psychic weapon count as magic for the purposes of bypasisng reduction?     Thematic issues: Firstly it very much feels like a caster because its abilities are so rigid. A psionic chracter is defined by their ability to tweak and alter  how their power is experessed as compare dot a mage who has lots of power but little to no tweaking ability. Also the powers ad terms are all over the place. What definition of protean are you using?
#9 michaeljpatrick Jul 06, 2015 10:06:24	Thanks Rampant. Those are all really well thought out suggestions. I admit that I based it on the warlock quite a bit which does make it feel very caster-like.    I might have considered a point system instead, but that is more reinventing the wheel at this point and I was trying to work within the parameters already in the game at the time that I wrote this. A better psionicist would probably have its own list of powers instead of pulling from the spell list for so many, but quite a few potential psionic abilities are already spells.   In any case, it looks like Wizards is definitely coming out with their owin psionics soon so it is unlikely that I will revisit this class.   It has been a fun thing to mess with, though.   I would like to try and make a crafter or artificer class, but my idea for that would be more like a tech virtuoso who makes items on the fly. Not sure if that is the flavor of artificer that everyone wants.
#10 michaeljpatrick Jul 06, 2015 10:06:27	Thanks Rampant. Those are all really well thought out suggestions. I admit that I based it on the warlock quite a bit which does make it feel very caster-like.    I might have considered a point system instead, but that is more reinventing the wheel at this point and I was trying to work within the parameters already in the game at the time that I wrote this. A better psionicist would probably have its own list of powers instead of pulling from the spell list for so many, but quite a few potential psionic abilities are already spells.   In any case, it looks like Wizards is definitely coming out with their owin psionics soon so it is unlikely that I will revisit this class.   It has been a fun thing to mess with, though.   I would like to try and make a crafter or artificer class, but my idea for that would be more like a tech virtuoso who makes items on the fly. Not sure if that is the flavor of artificer that everyone wants.