Psionics--the Poll!

Would you like to have Psionics in your game?

  • Yes please.

    Votes: 53 72.6%

  • No thanks.

    Votes: 20 27.4%
CleverNickName

CleverNickName

Limit Break Dancing (He/They)
Once again, the discussion on the ENWorld forums has returned to Psionics. There are a lot of cool ideas, interesting points of view, and personal experiences being shared in a couple of places, and I don't want to detract from that discussion...I just want to gauge folks' interest as a whole.

It's a simple yes-or-no question: would you like to have Psionics in your game?

Search your heart, and vote for the option that is closest to what your heart tells you. Then post a comment below to explain all of the caveats, exceptions, qualifiers, and other nuances that your response didn't capture. And if you're feeling particularly verbose, go ahead and tell us what kind of game you're running.
 
Last edited:

log in or register to remove this ad

It's a term that makes me think of pulp 1970's sci-fi. I have no real interest in that vibe, so I'll just go with "magic", "powers", or similar for my Fate, BRP, d20 or whatever game. I might use the term for a 4-color superheroes campaign as the vibe fits, but that's probably it.

I mean, it's not like there are mechanical differences between "psionic" and other similar types of ability that are consistent across game systems -- I am assuming that because you posted in this group you're not talking specifically about D&D's Psionics mechanics. If you are, might be better to ask in a more focused group.
 

When I'm sitting in the DM chair, I allow psionics in my games. Back in the days of 3.X Edition D&D, I allowed the psionic classes as they were written in the Complete Psionic supplement. Nowadays we play 5E D&D, I allow the psionic-themed material in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, and the excellent Paranormal Power supplement by @Steampunkette. It's been twenty-five years, and so far, none of my players have ever expressed an interest.

As a player, I've played a couple of them over the years: the Aberrant Mind sorcerer was the most fun, and the Psi Warrior was a bit dull. And I always ask, but so far, no DM has allowed me to use third-party resources...so no Paranormal Power for me. :(

But outside of D&D, I have played a psionic character in a Star Wars RPG game, an Esper Genesis 5E game, and Call of Cthulhu, and my GMs didn't even bat an eye. I think that says more about D&D psionics, than it says about psionics as a whole.
 
Last edited:


Gorgon Zee said:
It's a term that makes me think of pulp 1970's sci-fi. I have no real interest in that vibe, so I'll just go with "magic", "powers", or similar for my Fate, BRP, d20 or whatever game. I might use the term for a 4-color superheroes campaign as the vibe fits, but that's probably it.

I mean, it's not like there are mechanical differences between "psionic" and other similar types of ability that are consistent across game systems -- I am assuming that because you posted in this group you're not talking specifically about D&D's Psionics mechanics. If you are, might be better to ask in a more focused group.
Click to expand...
Nope, I posted it in TTRPG General for that very reason. I want to get a feel for overall interest throughout the entire gaming hobby, not just at the intersection of "psionics" and "D&D."
 

I should caveat that while I want psionics, I don't want just a reflavoring. The closer the psionics system captures the flavor of the Deryni novels the better I like it, flavor-wise. (Or Norton's Witchworld's.) But mechanically, it has to fit into the same power structure as the existing system, or things get wonky. And if you're just going to reflavor the existing magic, why bother?

(Interesting thought/aside: The Vancian spell slot system was, I believe, called Psionics in the actual Dying Earth books.)
 




As a DM, I like using the occasional psionic threat as something that exists, but is poorly understood by the players. When they fought Duergar in my current game, I pointed out that they weren't using magic to become invisible or grow in size, which led to a bit of confusion, lol.

Of course, what's good for the goose is good for the gander- if a player wants psionic powers, I'd like to offer them, but when they received a psionic relic from some Neo-Otyugh, I debated on it's powers for awhile before sighing and saying "you get the Telepathic Feat for attuning to this". Because everything else at the time felt like it just went against the grain of the system as a whole. I bought Steampunkette's book simply because I was looking for psionics that felt weird and alien, but actually worked with 5e as a whole.

I like using a lot of old D&D lore as well, and Psionics is totally a thing that existed back in the day. And I couldn't even imagine Dark Sun with the current interpretation of Psionics as just spells (I mean, sure, you could do it, but it just doesn't feel right).
 

Similar Threads

Wolfpack48
  • Poll Poll
How happy are you with your regular ruleset?
8 9 10 11 12
Replies
113
Views
9K
Wolfpack48
Wolfpack48
Wolfpack48
  • Poll Poll
Which table concerns do you consider the most significant?
2 3 4 5
Replies
48
Views
5K
Jd Smith1
Jd Smith1
Wolfpack48
  • Poll Poll
How happy are you with your table/group?
2 3 4
Replies
39
Views
4K
LyleTheLloyd
LyleTheLloyd
GMMichael
  • Poll Poll
Friends, Gamers, Editors, Lend Me Your Ears! (New Rules)
2
Replies
16
Views
958
RenleyRenfield
R
Wolfpack48
  • Poll Poll
What criticisms do you have for current or previously used systems?
2 3 4 5
Replies
42
Views
4K
Wolfpack48
Wolfpack48

Trending content

Remove ads

Top