Psionics expanded

psionics

This section provides rules and definitions for using psionic powers and playing psionic characters. In addition it contains description of psionic practitioners, their place in the world and the story of how they discovered their powers.

The psionic energy dice

The psionic energy dice represents the well of psionic power in the character and different psionic powers affect the psionic energy dice pool in different ways. A character has a maximum of psionic energy dice equal to twice their proficiency bonus. Psionic powers usually call for the expending of the psionic dice, making some of the dice unavailable, others call for rolling a psionic die.
As a character's power increases, so does the number and size of its psionic energy dice.
Psionic disciplines. Psionic powers are many and different, they represent how a trained mind can affect reality directly. A lot of the time they are related to clairvoyance, telekinesis, psychoportation, psychometabolism or metacreation. Many psionic powers extend your normal senses and abilities. Psionic disciplines represent a characters arsenal of psionic powers, each discipline has 4 tiers of understanding a psionic practitioner can master.
The psionics listed in this document are just a fraction of the possible disciplines that exist, and new ones can be discovered, practiced and mastered by clever enough psionic practitioners.

Investment

Some psionic powers require a steady flow of psionic energy that isn't allowed to be interrupted. When you are using a psionic power that requires investment it lasts until you stop investing into it.
Investment ends if:

You choose to end it, you can do it at anytime.
You are incapacitated or killed.
You expend a psionic die as part of another psionic power
You use a psionic power that requires investment.

Are psionics magic?

Magic is the ability to control external energy that infuses the world through words, gestures and materials. On the other hand, psionics is the ability to shape internal energy with the mind and have it effect the world.

Since psionics and magic are two different things, psionics work where magic cannot and vice versa, but they still interact with the effects of each other.

For example, Jasmine the psion turns themself invisible using psionic shroud. Ell the elf wizard casts detect invisibility and sees jasmine, but when he tries to dispell Jasmines invisibility he cannot because the invisibility is a psionic effect.

Another big difference between psionics and magic is the dependency on movements, incantations and materials. While some of them are required to cast different spells, psionics use only thoughts to cause an effect.

What does it mean to use psionics?

The first thing a psionic practitioner, learns is to recognize their internal energy. Everyone is filled with internal energy but few are the ones who become aware of it, and fewer that learn how to manipulate it.
First the psion notices their internal energy at times of emotional extremes, whether they be highs or lows. Grief, intense joy, numbing heartache or complete focus, at times as such it is easy to notice the internal energy.

After the practitioner finds their internal energy, they notice the unrhythmic ebb and flow of the energy. How it rises and dampens throughout the day, they understand how to draw the energy. Convince it to focus on a small area.
Once the energy is focused, the practitioner can manipulate it, use it to effect themself, others or the world.

Manipulation of the internal energy is done by visualizing the effect. The clearer the visualization the more energy pours from the practitioner.
The natural ebb and flow of the internal energy makes the magnitude of psionic effects not totally predictable.

Psionics in the world

While most D&D campaigns feature a medieval themes, cultures and set pieces. Psionic characters normally appear in the literary world of science fiction.
Therefore, you are free from preconceived notions on how psionics fit in your world.
Here are some ways for integrating psionics in a fantasy world.

In one world, psionic abilities are rare, rarer than magical abilities. There are no schools for psionics, the closest thing are masters looking for students, but the students must already demonstrate some psionic ability.
most can't tell the difference between psionics to magic and only psionic practitioners and scholars of magic even know that there is a difference.

In another world, psionics are known and feared. most people understand that psionics can do a lot of what magic can but without the incantations, making psionics into a silent threat. Thus, psionic practitioners usually live in psionic communities that take practitioners that were exiled.
practitioners are sought after by kingdoms for espionage and defense and are bound by magic to their king.

Part I

Classes and subclasses

Psion

The bridge collapses under the well dressed rabbitfolk and their companion. As they fall they briefly touch, leaving a glowing mark on the companion and both shortly appear safely on the other side.
A robed gnome marches into the city hall. With his eyes he forces the guards to kneel before him. And a flick of his wrist commands his thralls to kick out the mayor.

Psions use the power of their mind to reshape reality, whether directly or through changing the minds of others. They strive to unite every aspect of their self into a powerful whole.

Discipline and Enlightenment

Psionic energy derives from within. It comes from the harmony between mind, body and soul that is achieved through arduous training. The psion is enlightened in relaxation and exhaustion, understanding that his body and mind are a part of a bigger whole.
They don't study or prey for their powers, they are carried within, available to the psion as long as their psionic energy is not depleted.

Creating a Psion

The most important question about a psion's story is how they found their power? Was it through strenuous meditation? Was it enlightenment as a response to a crisis? Are psionic abilities part of your culture? Do you understand your powers?
What made you travel the world for adventure, was it a taste to test your skills? A hunger to become known as a hero? A curiosity to see the world?

QUICK BUILD

You can make a psion quickly by following these suggestions. First, Intelligence should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the Hermit background.

Psion

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Psionic dice pool	Die size	Psionic Disciplines
1st	+2	Psionic Power, Psionic Tradition	4	d6	—
2nd	+2	Psionic Replenishment, Psionic disciplines	4	d6	1
3rd	+2	Psionic Tradition Feature	4	d6	1
4th	+2	Ability Score Improvement	4	d6	2
5th	+3	─	6	d8	3
6th	+3	Mental Determination	6	d8	4
7th	+3	Psionic Tradition Feature	6	d8	4
8th	+3	Ability Score Improvement	6	d8	5
9th	+4	Sharp Memory	8	d8	6
10th	+4	Mind over Matter	8	d8	7
11th	+4	─	8	d10	8
12th	+4	Ability Score Improvement	8	d10	9
13th	+5	Split Mind	10	d10	10
14th	+5	Last Resort	10	d10	11
15th	+5	Psionic Tradition Feature	10	d10	11
16th	+5	Ability Score Improvement	10	d10	12
17th	+6	─	12	d12	13
18th	+6	Ascended Body	12	d12	14
19th	+6	Ability Score Improvement	12	d12	15
20th	+6	Psionic Tradition Feature	12	d12	15

Class features

As a psion you gain the following class features.

Hit points.

Hit Dice: 1d6 per psion level

Hit Points at 1st Level: 6 + your Constitution modifier

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d6 (or 4) + your Constitution modifier per psion level after 1st

Proficiencies.

Armor: None
Weapons: Daggers, darts, slings, quarterstaffs, light crossbows.
Tools: None.

Saving Throws: Constitution, Intelligence.

Skills: Choose two from Deception, History, Insight, Investigation, Intimidation, Medicine, Nature, Persuasion, and Religion.

Equipment.

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

(a) a quarterstaff or (b) a dagger
(a) a dungeoneer’s pack, and a book of lore, (b) a priest's pack and a book of lore, or (c) a scholar's pack.

Psionic Tradition

1st-level Psion feature
You trained mostly in following a specific psionic discipline, choosing from; Kineticist, Empath, Nomad
Your choice grants you features at 1st level and again at 3rd, 7th, 15th, and 20th level.

Psionic Power

1st-level Psion feature
You harbor a wellspring of psionic energy within yourself. This energy is represented by your Psionic Energy dice, which are each a d6. You have a number of these dice equal to twice your proficiency bonus, and they fuel various psionic powers you have, which are detailed below.

Some of your powers expend the Psionic Energy die they use, as specified in a power’s description, and you can’t use a power if it requires you to use a die when your dice are all expended. You regain all your expended Psionic Energy dice when you finish a long rest.

When you reach certain levels in this class, the size of your Psionic Energy dice increases: at 5th level (d8), 11th level (d10), and 17th level (d12). The powers below use your Psionic Energy dice. Your psionic powers come from a mastery of your own mind. When setting the save DC for a psionic ability and when making an attack roll with one.

Save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
Attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier

Psionic Talent Options.

You can use your psionic energy die in the following ways:

Aura reading. As an action, choose a creature you can see within 30 feet of you, then expend one Psionic Energy die. For a minute you can read their auras, showing you their current mood, whne you make insight checks against the target you can add a psionic energy die.
Call to Mind. If you fail an Intelligence ability check, you can expend and roll your Psionic Energy die and add the number rolled to the check, potentially turning failure into success.
Psionic Assault. As an action you can expend 2 Psionic Energy dice to tug on the psyche of a number of creatures up to your Intelligence modifier (minimum 1) within 30 ft of you. Each creature must make an Intelligence save. A creature takes 2d8 psychic damage on a failed save, or half on a successful one.
Psionic sense as an action you can expend a psionic die to sense all psionic practitioners and psionic influences in a 30 ft radius for 10 minutes.
Telekinetic Manipulation. You can manipulate an object, open an unlocked door or container, stow or retrieve an item from an open container, or pour the contents out of a vial, with your mind within 15 ft. Using this ability you can’t attack, activate magic items, or carry more than 10 pounds.
Telepathy. You can telepathically speak to any creature you can see within 30 feet of you. You don’t need to share a language with the creature for it to understand your telepathic utterances, but the creature must be able to understand at least one language.

Psi Replenishment.

2nd-level Psion feature
As a bonus action, you can calm your mind for a moment and regain a psionic energy die. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier, you regain spent uses on long rest.

Psionic Disciplines.

2nd-level Psion feature
In your self studies, and mastery of your own mind you have found different ways to extend your thoughts and affect reality. The psion table shows how many Psionic disciplines you know, to learn a new discipline tier you need to learn the previous tiers of the discipline and meet the prerequisites.

Additionally, when you gain a psionic discipline you can choose one of the psionic disciplines that you know and replace it with another.

Ability Score Improvement

4th-level, 8th-level, 12th-level, 16th-level, 19th-level Psion feature
You can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.

Mental Determination.

6th-level Psion feature
Your control over the well of power that resides in you grows. Whenever you roll your psionic energy die, you can treat a d8 roll of 3 or lower as a 4.
This ability changes as your psionic energy die progresses, becoming a d10 (4 or lower as a 5) on 11th level, and a d12 (5 or lower as a 6) on 17th level.

Sharp Memory.

9th-level Psion feature
Through your studies and mental training your memory grows in power. You can accurately recall anything you have seen or heard within the past month.

Mind over Matter.

10th-level Psion feature
You can draw on your psionic powers to withstand outer interferences. As a reaction when you make a Strength, Dexterity or Constitution save, you may expend and roll a Psionic Energy Die, adding the number rolled to the saving throw. You may use this ability after seeing your roll, but before the DM announces the result.

Split mind

13th-level Psion feature
When you use an action to invest into a psionic power, you can invest into an additional power. When you do this you gain the effects of both powers and when your investment ends it ends on both.
You can use this feature once per long rest.

Last Resort

13th-level Psion feature
You learned how to lean on your vitality to use more of your psionic powers. As a bonus action, you can spend all your remaining hit dice to regain a number of psionic die equal to half the amount of hit dice spent. You can use this feature once per long rest.

Psionic meltdown

14th-level Psion feature
You learned how to release the restraints on your well of power. As an action, you can unleash a torrent of psionic energy in a 60 foot cone emanating from you. You expend all your psionic energy dice and each creature in the area must make an Intelligence saving throw. A creature takes 5d10 psychic damage and an additional number of d10s equal to half of the psionic energy dice expended (minimum 1), on a failed saving throw or half as much on a successful one. You can use this feature once per long rest.

Ascended Body.

18th-level Psion feature
Your mind views the eternal, and your body adapts to its vision. You do not age and you become immune to disease and poison.

Psionic Traditions

Kineticist

Psions that dedicate themselves to improving their telekinetic powers, are known as Kineticists. As they train, their strength of mind is growing, learning to lift heavier and heavier objects until they can lift themselves.

Enhanced Telekinesis

1st-level Kineticist feature
Your telekinetic control increases, allowing you to lift objects with weight summing up to 15 times your Intelligence score in pounds with your Telekinetic Manipulation. Additionally the range for your Telekinetic manipulation increases to 3o ft.

Kinetic projectiles. You learn how to use your telekinetic powers to strike your enemies by throwing kinetically enhanced projectiles. As an action you throw a kinetic projectile at a target within the range of your telekinetic manipulation. It is a psionic ranged attack, it deals 1d8 + Intelligence modifier force damage. The number of projectiles you can throw increases with your level. 2 at 5th level, 3 at 11th level, 4 at 17th

Kinetic Absorption.

3rd-level Kineticist feature
You learn how to convert the kinetic energy of attacks into a psionic energy. When a creature you can see hits you or a creature within 10 feet of you with a weapon attack, you can use your reaction to use the psi replenishment feature and roll a psionic energy die and reducing the damage by the number rolled + your Intelligence modifier + your psion level.

Grip of Iron

7th-level Kineticist feature
Your control over the kinetic field grows, allowing you to affect creatures with your Telekinetic Manipulation. As an action you can make a psionic attack to attempt to grapple, shove or pull creatures within your Telekinetic Manipulation range.
Additionally, the lift capabilities of your Telekinetic Manipulation feature are doubled.

Psychokinesis

15th-level Kineticist feature
You can use your bonus action to lift one Large or smaller creature that you previously grappled and move it up to 30 feet anywhere within your telekinetic field. As long as the creature is grappled it can stay there until it escapes the grapple or you choose to drop it on your turn using your bonus action for this ability.
Additionally, your control over moving bodies manifests as a control over your own. You gain a 30 ft. flying (hover) speed.

Master of Kinesis

20th-level Kineticist feature
You are a paragon of psychokinesis. The weight you can lift with your telekinesis is up to 30 times your Intelligence score in pounds, and the range increases to 60 ft.
Additionally, you can as an action invest into Master of Kinesis. While invested:

Your flying speed increases to 60 ft.
The weight you can lift with your telekinesis is up to 60 times your Intelligence score in pounds.
you can lift a number of creatures with psychokinesis up to your Intelligence modifier.
When you take the Kinetic projectiles action, you can take it again as a bonus action.

Empath

Empaths focus on controlling the emotions of others. Using their psionic powers to mute emotions and enhance them. Psions who study empathy learn how to see the emotions of others and some of their thought through their auras

Aura Influencing

1st-level Empath feature
You have learned how to read the emotions of others. When you use the Aura Reading option of your psionic talent, you don't expend a Psionic Energy die and you can read the auras of a number of creatures up to your Intelligence modifier and to read their surface thoughts.

Terror flash. As an action you flood the psyche of another creature that you can see within 60 ft. with primal fear. It must succeed a Wisdom save or take 1d6 psychic damage and the target is Frightened until the end of its next turn. The damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).

Psionic speech If you fail a Deception, an Intimidation or a Persuasion skill check, you can expend and roll your Psionic Energy die and add the number rolled to the check, potentially turning failure into success.

Psyche pulling

3rd-level Empath feature
You learn how to take the sense of self from others to fill your power reserves. As an action you can take the sense of self from a humanoid that isn’t hostile towards you, using the psi replenishment feature , for a minute the creature is charmed. While it is charmed you have advantage on all charisma checks against that creature and it considers you as a close friend from long ago.

Calming pulse

7th-level Empath feature
You can, as an action you can expend a psionic energy die to send a pulse of calming thoughts to all humanoids within a 20 ft. radius. All humanoids in the area must succeed a Charisma save; a creature can choose to fail this saving throw if it wishes. If a creature fails its saving throw all effects causing it to be charmed or frightened are suppressed, and their emotions calm down making it easier to reason with it. The effect lasts for a minute.

if you know a creature’s current mood it has a disadvantage on the saving throw as you tailor the effect to each creature.

Wave of excitation

15th-level Empath feature
As an action you can Invest your psionic energy dice into Wave of Excitation. While you are invested in Wave of Excitation all humanoids within 30 ft. radius of you must succeed a Charisma save or be charmed. While charmed they succumb to an emotion of your choosing. The affected creatures are compelled to act according to the emotion.

if you know a creature’s current mood it has a disadvantage on the saving throw as you tailor the effect to each creature.

Examples

Boldness: Encouraging creatures to shout hidden truths and act out their greatest victories
Doubt: Makes creatures hesitate, mistrusting their ability to escape their current difficulties
Fear: Overwhelming creatures with dread and urging them to give voice to their deepest fears
Hatred: Provokes creatures to scream and destroy things
Inspiration: Causing creatures to create works of art on the spot and obsess over them
Joy: Inspiring creatures to dance, relax, and sing
Love: Encourages creatures to confess their love to others and endlessly list their favorite things
Sorrow: Overwhelms creatures with sobbing and confessions of regret

Master of Empathy

20th-level Empath feature
You are a paragon of empathy. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses Deception, Intimidation, Persuasion against creatures that aren't immune to charm.
Additionally, you know the current mood, surface thoughts and deepest desires and fears of all creatures that you can see.

Nomad

Psions following the tradition of Nomads, specialize in psychoportation the art of transporting creatures with the powers of the mind. They move around, traveling through different planes as easily as some take a single step.

Flicker

1st-level Nomad feature
You know that your path is in forging your own. You understand how to use the ethereal plane to travel between places and how to excess it with your mind.

Flicker. As an action you can transport yourself, causing you to appear in a nearby unoccupied space. The maximum distance you can travel this way is equal to 5 times your proficiency bonus ft.

Ethereal pull. . As an action you try to pull a creature from their place using the forces of the mind, the creature must make a charisma saving throw or take 1d6 psychic damage and you can cause the creature to appear in an unoccupied space within 5ft of its location . The damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).

Linked Portation

3rd-level Nomad feature
You’ve learned how to tie between you and others. As an action you use the Psi replenishment feature and link between you and a creature. When you use a psionic ability to move yourself, you can also move a linked creature. To link a creature you need to touch it, if it's unwilling the creature can resist the link with a successful Charisma saving throw and does so with advantage if you or your companions are fighting it. The link lasts for a minute, unwilling creature can repeat the saving throw after every time move it with a psionic ability.

Jaunt

7th-level Nomad feature
You have learned how to jaunt, moving between far locations with the power of your mind.
as an action you can expend 2 psionic energy dice to transport yourself to an unoccupied spot within 500 feet. you can expend additional psionic energy dice, to extend the range by another 500 feet. you can expend a number of psionic dice up to your intelligence modifier.

if you try to jaunt to an occupied space the jaunt fails and you take 4d6 force damage.

Long travel

15th-level Nomad feature
You have mastered jaunting, when you jaunt you can travel to any location on your plane, or if you are holding an item from another plane you can jaunt to this plane.

Master of psychoportation

20th-level Nomad feature
As a master of psychoportation, when you move willingly you can appear at a space within 60 ft. of you instead of moving. and when you are moved unwillingly you can reappear at your original location if it’s unoccupied.

Additionally, you don’t need to expend a psionic energy die to jaunt, and you can jaunt to any other plane without an item from it.

Battlemind

A smirking, tired human stands between his enemies and allies. They focus for a fraction of a second and energy exudes out of them. Filling allies with vigour and enemies with fear.
A towering goliath clad in heavy armour, wielding an ax blocks the road. They start to float as a translucent figure more than twice their size appears around them.

Unlike Psions who first learn to master their psionic powers, Battleminds are trained fighters who found their psionic energy in the midst of a battle, an inner calmness to contrast the chaotic surroundings.

Battle Psionics

Battle minds combine mastery of weapons and psionics. Each specialize in different weapons and psionic powers.
A uniting aspect of Battleminds psionic powers is their psionically enhanced blows and glimpsing into the future predicting their foes next move.

Creating a Battlemind

To create a Battlemind you need to answer two questions. The first, why and where did you gain our martial training, were you a soldier? a knight's squire? did you learn on the streets or were you chasing a steady job as a town guard?

The second is when and how your psionic powers emerged. Were you defending the weak? Standing up to a corrupt lord? Was it at times of low morale, or did victorious joy unlocked something within you?

QUICK BUILD

You can make a Battlemind quickly by following these suggestions. First, make Strength or Dexterity your highest ability score, depending on whether you want to focus on melee weapons or on archery (or finesse weapons). Your next-highest score should go to Intelligence, and your third highest into Constitution. Second choose the Soldier background.

Battlemind

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Psionic dice pool	Die size	Psionic Disciplines
1st	+2	Psionic Power	4	d6	—
2nd	+2	Psionic Art, Fighting Style	4	d6	—
3rd	+2	Psionic Discipline, Psi Replenishment	4	d6	1
4th	+2	Ability Score Improvement	4	d6	1
5th	+3	Extra Attack	6	d8	2
6th	+3	Psionic Art Feature	6	d8	2
7th	+3	Battle Precognition	6	d8	3
8th	+3	Ability Score Improvement	6	d8	3
9th	+4	Psi-fueled Attack	8	d8	4
10th	+4	Psionic Art Feature	8	d8	4
11th	+4	─	8	d10	5
12th	+4	Ability Score Improvement	8	d10	5
13th	+5	Forced Understanding	10	d10	5
14th	+5	Psionic Art Feature	10	d10	6
15th	+5	Psionic Sense	10	d10	6
16th	+5	Ability Score Improvement	10	d10	6
17th	+6	─	12	d12	7
18th	+6	Improved Psychic Strike	12	d12	7
19th	+6	Ability Score Improvement	12	d12	7
20th	+6	Psionic Art Feature	12	d12	7