I'd like the wizard tradition replaced with a Psion class with its own spell list and features, but still treating psionics as spells for game simplicity sake. Granting all these psionic spells to most spellcasting classes seems wrong to me, and blurs the line between them.
— BAMorrier (@benmorrier) November 29, 2019
The wizard subclass—Psionics—in the latest Unearthed Arcana is just that: a subclass. It is a wizard who studies psionics in a wizardly way. The name of the subclass is the tradition the wizard is part of. It is not a psionics system. D&D has a number of psionic-themed subclasses, including the Great Old One and some recent UA options: the Aberrant Mind, the Way of the Astral Self, the Psychic Warrior, the Soulknife, and the Psionics wizard. They offer psionic powers within the game’s classes. #DnD
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 30, 2019
We love seeing how a class can flavor a type of supernatural power. We’ve done it with arcane magic, divine magic, psionics, and more. The Eldritch Knight, the Arcane Trickster, the Great Old One, the Divine Soul, the Path of the Zealot, and others are examples When new subclasses appear in Unearthed Arcana, they are in the game’s broader context of exploring different themes inside each class. A subclass does not have system implications outside its class. That’s something to keep in mind when evaluating a subclass in UA. #DnD
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 30, 2019
I like these subclasses, but it would be nice if y'all could confirm whether a full psionics class is still under consideration in some form, or if we should only be expecting more subclasses in this vein?
— Jordan White (@TheCryovolcanic) November 30, 2019
We haven’t closed the door on a class like mystic/psion. But right now, we’re focused on exploring subclass options. Just as the wizard doesn’t own arcane magic and the cleric doesn’t own divine magic, a potential psionic class doesn’t own psionics. #DnD https://t.co/RthehMtsQw
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 30, 2019
I agree. That’s why we introduced the mystic/psion first.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 30, 2019
Would you say the Archivist had some Psionic undertones too? The Artificial Mind feels the closest to a 3rd Edition Psicrystal that I’ve had in 5e so far. The Archivist intentionally had psionic undertones.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 30, 2019
Yayyyyy!! I’m continuing on with my Archivist in a weekly campaign (scenario inspired by Heroes of Might and Magic 8), with the subclass adapted into the published baseline Artificer and loving playing her. There’s certainly balance issues, but it’s also delightful. I’m glad you enjoy playing her! I love the Archivist.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 30, 2019