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[poll] PSIONICS

Started by CYMRO, March 08, 2006, 11:36:12 AM

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How do you feel about psionics?

I LOVE them!!!
21 (70%)
Hate them with my very soul.
1 (3.3%)
Indifference, though I cannot be bothered with them.
3 (10%)
They are okay, I do not mind them in my CS.
5 (16.7%)

Total Members Voted: 0

Kalos Mer

I too was really annoyed by the "lets recreate all the item creation feats, but give them weird names and make them all out of crystals!" side of 3.x psionics.

I also feel like the artwork and some of the items (tatoos) gave these psionics an undeserved "sci-fi punk" or "crystalpunk" feel - it can be incorporated, I think in to your traditional fantasy if you wish.  (I simply don't wish it.)
My Setting:   

Numinous

Well, there is a lot of flavor in the renaming of things.  i personally haven't tried to mix the system in with anything yet though, so I could regret saying that later.  i like the crystals look myslef, and the tattos give psionic character s an exotic look.  but that's just me, and i've never claimed to be normal...
Previously: Natural 20, Critical Threat, Rose of Montague
- Currently working on: The Smoking Hills - A bottom-up, seat-of-my-pants, fairy tale adventure!

brainface

what i'm saying though, is that the renaming should've been done in the play stage--just like a necromancer can say all his wands are enchanted skulls or something. (i'm a big fan of taking mundane dnd abilites and giving them whatever flavor you want ;))

But as is, like, a psion with craft dorje can't make a cure light wounds wand with the cleric's help, like the wizard with craft wand can--they do exactly the same thing and are completely incompatible just because of different names.
"The perfect is the enemy of the good." - Voltaire

CYMRO

Quote from: Kalos MerI too was really annoyed by the "lets recreate all the item creation feats, but give them weird names and make them all out of crystals!" side of 3.x psionics.

I also feel like the artwork and some of the items (tatoos) gave these psionics an undeserved "sci-fi punk" or "crystalpunk" feel - it can be incorporated, I think in to your traditional fantasy if you wish.  (I simply don't wish it.)

The renaming convention fits with the "psionics are different" approach, which is how I like it.  It is different.  It ain't magic, it is psionics. ;)

And psionics(though not by that name) is traditional fantasy, just not the narrow Tolkienoid subgenre.  

brainface

meh, "psionics are different", as described in XPH, breaks everyone's defences, and leaves attacks intact. i think it would result in a bunch of warring mage & psions dying real, real quick.
"The perfect is the enemy of the good." - Voltaire

CYMRO

Quote from: brainfacemeh, "psionics are different", as described in XPH, breaks everyone's defences, and leaves attacks intact. i think it would result in a bunch of warring mage & psions dying real, real quick.

Yes!  Leaving the fighters and clerics laughing.

Kalos Mer

But are the tatoos and funky crystals?  They just rub me the wrong way - where do they occur in 'traditional' fantasy as opposed to some weird sci-fi thing?
My Setting:   

Ishmayl-Retired

I voted "Indifference," just because I have no interest in learning what seems to be a completely new ruleset for inside the game.  Seriously, if you have to come up with a whole new set of rules inside of an already existing ruleset (such as the PHB/DMG), then it's just too much to learn.  Just my opinion anyway.
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brainface

most of it's just the same rules renamed, making it look much more difficult. hence my gripe ;)
"The perfect is the enemy of the good." - Voltaire

Xathan

My setting allready has a sci-fi-ish feel, so I'm 90% likely going to put Psionics in, depending on how Complete Psionics handles them.
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CYMRO

Quote from: Kalos MerBut are the tatoos and funky crystals?  They just rub me the wrong way - where do they occur in 'traditional' fantasy as opposed to some weird sci-fi thing?

Burroughs and Moorcock are the obvious choices.

Numinous

Tattoed monk PrC?  Also, oriental feeling cultures, and who's to say street thugs can't find a place in fantasy...

EDIT:  And evil cults can tattoo their members as well.  Am I spelling tattoo right?
Previously: Natural 20, Critical Threat, Rose of Montague
- Currently working on: The Smoking Hills - A bottom-up, seat-of-my-pants, fairy tale adventure!

Kalos Mer

Eh, Moorcock.  If you want to call him 'tradtional fantasy', that's your choice, but...

Now that's two issues I've got to have a great war with you about. ;)
My Setting:   

CYMRO

Quote from: Kalos MerEh, Moorcock.  If you want to call him 'tradtional fantasy', that's your choice, but...

Now that's two issues I've got to have a great war with you about. ;)

Well Moorcock has been writing fantasy longer than even I have been alive, so he is pretty traditional.
If by traditional you mean a Tolkienoid, well..........have at thee!!! :p

Numinous

this may not fit in directly with current dicussion, but WoTC just put out an article on the effects of Psionics that I found to be both conveniently timed and pertinent, so here's a link for you.
Previously: Natural 20, Critical Threat, Rose of Montague
- Currently working on: The Smoking Hills - A bottom-up, seat-of-my-pants, fairy tale adventure!