I am in need of ideas on how to describe someone who is psionic visually. In a way that they won't be confused with your normal sorcerer or wizard. Can anyone help me out?
Why do you want them to stand out from sorcerors and wizards?
Because that is what they want.
To answer the original question, visually I think it would be difficult as most of the abilities that a lot of people think of as Psionics (like Telepathy or Telekinesis) don't really have a visual effect for the most part. For my Soul Knife/Aberrant Mind I describe her eyes glowing and her hair moving as though disturbed by the wind as she is using her abilities. Pretty much the standard scifi trope.
I am in need of ideas on how to describe someone who is psionic visually. In a way that they won't be confused with your normal sorcerer or wizard. Can anyone help me out?
Well - traditionally, psions are the biker outlaws of the full caster classes. They have more tattoos, more facial piercings and a leaner, meaner look than your average pointy hatted scholarly wizard. Look up Ialdebode - hm, I tried that, but apparently he doesn't show up. Look for male human psion, you'll find his official portrait. Can't miss it, tattoos, psycrystal, strands of ectoplasm whirling around him.
Also, they're originally from Athas, so ... think of something Brom might have drawn. If his art isn't your style, eh, I dunno.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
My psion's tell wasn't visual... She had the habit of talking to people who weren't at the table/in the scene and addressing the space between players or above their heads...
A third eye opening up somewhere randomly on their head, torso or arms.
Blood trickling down their eyes and ears at random intervals.
Veins pulsing wildly even when the person is calm or not undertaking strenuous work.
Tattoos you could almost swear were dancing of their own accord.
A pale tongue covered in lacerations.
Eyes turning to those of snakes every so many blinks.
Fingernails cut like keys.
My inspiration for these was mostly from generic body horror. You might draw inspiration from HP Lovecraft or Clive Barker for the macabre depictions of people who have been touched by something otherworldly.
Zero is the most important number in D&D: Session Zero sets the boundaries and the tone; Rule Zero dictates the Dungeon Master (DM) is the final arbiter; and Zero D&D is better than Bad D&D.
"Let us speak plainly now, and in earnest, for words mean little without the weight of conviction."
I would suggest a personality that's more removed from everyday people, or one who's constantly thoughtfully analyzing. As for visual cues, I once played a homebrew class simply called the psionic, and one of its subclasses was the mindshackler. They could cast charm person a number of times equal to their PB, and when they did the person they had charmed had an illusory chain made a bluish, smoke like substance, coming from the back of their head attached to my wrist or forehead. (It looked cooler than it sounded)
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Quokkas are objectively the best animal, anyone who disagrees needs a psychiatric evaluation
Hmm…well, unless using something like a “Subtle” metamagic, I’ve always assumed that spellcasting required visual somatic components (magic words, hand gestures, or some form of bodily movement).
Psionics, being of the mind, would have no need for this…visually, though, I’d say that perhaps their eyes would glow with a color of their choice; or perhaps a glowing halo or third eye would manifest whenever their psionic powers flared in earnest.
Actually, I like the idea that a specific shade of “color” is both a psionic’s visual power; but also kind of their obsession or quirk…like, maybe they have a staggering knowledge of color shades because that’s how they do their mental exercises (“No, no…THAT’S not BLUE; it’s CERULEAN…!”)
Dunno where I’ve heard this before, but…there was this idea that a psionic person would form a “symbol” in their mind…a symbol that only THEY would know: sort of like a rune. This symbol would be like their signature, or anchor, whenever they flexed their psionic power.
Maybe this glowing symbol would appear in the air or on their body somewhere whenever they use their powers. Could be interesting.
Maybe mathematical equations hover in the air when the psionic is manipulating reality.
If playing a psionic character still shackled by the magic system, consider changing the verbal and somatic components of their spells. Rather than vaguely narcissistic Latin chanting, go for short, quickly repeated mantra-like phrases, and 'somatic gestures' may be more akin to specific, mostly static positions of the hands and arms rather than egregious finger-waggling. Think DC Raven's 'Azerath Metrion Zinthos' phrase, and meditative hand postures rather than trying to play the invisible lute.
Essentially, these "spell components" are acting as ways to sharpen and maintain the psychic character's focus, tools to hone the mind rather than bizarre keys to the world's mana field. Focal amplifiers and centering tools, not "spell components". Consider asking your DM if the same set of focal mantras can be used for all of a psychic character's spells. The psychic character is already sacrificing the staggering majority of their class's spellcasting for absolutely no benefit or gain in turn, a mostly-fluff decision to help set psychic potential apart from bog-standard boring as hell spellcasting should not be penalized more than simply being-psychic is already penalized in R5e.
I asked Golaryn, because very often why you want something can tell the rest of us what your looking for in the plethora of possibilities - are looking for a visual that is telling folks psion not Wizard or are you looking for what to do instead of verbal and somatic components, or some combination of the two or something else? A psionic character could just as easily as as all the tropes above look just like any other adventurer perhaps dressed in leather armor with a crossbow and short sword and then use a single word and gesture with one/both hands to activate their powers. This way they don’t warn folks what they are up against like a Thayan Wizard does.
I will never understand the seething, constant, unrelenting hatred D&D people have for psychic powers/abilities in this game. It makes zero sense - a wizard can fling a ball of flames and errybuddy all "**** YEAH, THAT'S AWESOME, WHOOOO!" A pyrokinetic character ignites a blast of flame with their mind, and the exact same peoplescoff and scorn and do nothing but mock and deride the idea. It's, like...what? Really?
Psionics scares people, magic doesn’t- why? I don’t know but the very tropes we have listed above are a sign of that fear - weird, strange dangerous people that have to be obvious so everyone around them knows they are dangerous B$. Sorcerors share much the same problem - their powers are innate not learned so you can’t picture yourself being a sorceror while you can picture yourself learning the rituals, words, gestures and components to cast a spell. Spells are something any idjit can learn, psionics and sorcery mark you as special and different from the rest of us and therefore dangerous and to be feared and dreaded.
There are a multitude of examples from comics, movies, and stage magicians to draw from. The end result is the same - wizard or psychic says or does something, then stuff happens. I would allow anybody with Arcana a check to see if they can identify what kind of caster they are looking at. Others would need experience of some sort in order to tell.
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"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
I will never understand the seething, constant, unrelenting hatred D&D people have for psychic powers/abilities in this game. It makes zero sense - a wizard can fling a ball of flames and errybuddy all "**** YEAH, THAT'S AWESOME, WHOOOO!" A pyrokinetic character ignites a blast of flame with their mind, and the exact same peoplescoff and scorn and do nothing but mock and deride the idea. It's, like...what? Really?
Why?
This isn't a thing that I have really encountered at tables I have played at, but I have seen a weird dislike of Psionics here on these forums and places like twitter. I really don't get it but I think part of the issue is the idea that it only belongs in SciFi games, which is pretty weird stance to take in my opinion.
Yeah I think part of it is the idea of 'psionics are a sci fi thing' that may be a part of it. Or maybe a sense of feeling like magic is being threatened if someone writes something that has psionics being better than magic.
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I am in need of ideas on how to describe someone who is psionic visually. In a way that they won't be confused with your normal sorcerer or wizard. Can anyone help me out?
Why do you want them to stand out from sorcerors and wizards?
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Since psionic is mental powers, there will mostly just be penetrating stares going on.
Because that is what they want.
To answer the original question, visually I think it would be difficult as most of the abilities that a lot of people think of as Psionics (like Telepathy or Telekinesis) don't really have a visual effect for the most part. For my Soul Knife/Aberrant Mind I describe her eyes glowing and her hair moving as though disturbed by the wind as she is using her abilities. Pretty much the standard scifi trope.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Well - traditionally, psions are the biker outlaws of the full caster classes. They have more tattoos, more facial piercings and a leaner, meaner look than your average pointy hatted scholarly wizard.
Look up Ialdebode- hm, I tried that, but apparently he doesn't show up. Look for male human psion, you'll find his official portrait. Can't miss it, tattoos, psycrystal, strands of ectoplasm whirling around him.Also, they're originally from Athas, so ... think of something Brom might have drawn. If his art isn't your style, eh, I dunno.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
My psion's tell wasn't visual... She had the habit of talking to people who weren't at the table/in the scene and addressing the space between players or above their heads...
Some random ideas:
My inspiration for these was mostly from generic body horror. You might draw inspiration from HP Lovecraft or Clive Barker for the macabre depictions of people who have been touched by something otherworldly.
Zero is the most important number in D&D: Session Zero sets the boundaries and the tone; Rule Zero dictates the Dungeon Master (DM) is the final arbiter; and Zero D&D is better than Bad D&D.
"Let us speak plainly now, and in earnest, for words mean little without the weight of conviction."
- The Assemblage of Houses, World of Warcraft
I would suggest a personality that's more removed from everyday people, or one who's constantly thoughtfully analyzing. As for visual cues, I once played a homebrew class simply called the psionic, and one of its subclasses was the mindshackler. They could cast charm person a number of times equal to their PB, and when they did the person they had charmed had an illusory chain made a bluish, smoke like substance, coming from the back of their head attached to my wrist or forehead. (It looked cooler than it sounded)
Quokkas are objectively the best animal, anyone who disagrees needs a psychiatric evaluation
Hmm…well, unless using something like a “Subtle” metamagic, I’ve always assumed that spellcasting required visual somatic components (magic words, hand gestures, or some form of bodily movement).
Psionics, being of the mind, would have no need for this…visually, though, I’d say that perhaps their eyes would glow with a color of their choice; or perhaps a glowing halo or third eye would manifest whenever their psionic powers flared in earnest.
Actually, I like the idea that a specific shade of “color” is both a psionic’s visual power; but also kind of their obsession or quirk…like, maybe they have a staggering knowledge of color shades because that’s how they do their mental exercises (“No, no…THAT’S not BLUE; it’s CERULEAN…!”)
Dunno where I’ve heard this before, but…there was this idea that a psionic person would form a “symbol” in their mind…a symbol that only THEY would know: sort of like a rune. This symbol would be like their signature, or anchor, whenever they flexed their psionic power.
Maybe this glowing symbol would appear in the air or on their body somewhere whenever they use their powers. Could be interesting.
Maybe mathematical equations hover in the air when the psionic is manipulating reality.
If playing a psionic character still shackled by the magic system, consider changing the verbal and somatic components of their spells. Rather than vaguely narcissistic Latin chanting, go for short, quickly repeated mantra-like phrases, and 'somatic gestures' may be more akin to specific, mostly static positions of the hands and arms rather than egregious finger-waggling. Think DC Raven's 'Azerath Metrion Zinthos' phrase, and meditative hand postures rather than trying to play the invisible lute.
Essentially, these "spell components" are acting as ways to sharpen and maintain the psychic character's focus, tools to hone the mind rather than bizarre keys to the world's mana field. Focal amplifiers and centering tools, not "spell components". Consider asking your DM if the same set of focal mantras can be used for all of a psychic character's spells. The psychic character is already sacrificing the staggering majority of their class's spellcasting for absolutely no benefit or gain in turn, a mostly-fluff decision to help set psychic potential apart from bog-standard boring as hell spellcasting should not be penalized more than simply being-psychic is already penalized in R5e.
Please do not contact or message me.
There’s always the movie classics for people with psychic powers:
Hold your fingertips to your temple and give an intense, wide-eyed stare.
Hold your hand out like you’re trying to reach for an invisible, softball-sized object. Then slowly twist your wrist.
Get a nosebleed like 11 in stranger things.
In all of the above, it can help to shake a little.
I asked Golaryn, because very often why you want something can tell the rest of us what your looking for in the plethora of possibilities - are looking for a visual that is telling folks psion not Wizard or are you looking for what to do instead of verbal and somatic components, or some combination of the two or something else? A psionic character could just as easily as as all the tropes above look just like any other adventurer perhaps dressed in leather armor with a crossbow and short sword and then use a single word and gesture with one/both hands to activate their powers. This way they don’t warn folks what they are up against like a Thayan Wizard does.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Then perhaps you should have said that instead.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
A swollen pulsing head.
classic sci-fi.
I will never understand the seething, constant, unrelenting hatred D&D people have for psychic powers/abilities in this game. It makes zero sense - a wizard can fling a ball of flames and errybuddy all "**** YEAH, THAT'S AWESOME, WHOOOO!" A pyrokinetic character ignites a blast of flame with their mind, and the exact same people scoff and scorn and do nothing but mock and deride the idea. It's, like...what? Really?
Why?
Please do not contact or message me.
Psionics scares people, magic doesn’t- why? I don’t know but the very tropes we have listed above are a sign of that fear - weird, strange dangerous people that have to be obvious so everyone around them knows they are dangerous B$. Sorcerors share much the same problem - their powers are innate not learned so you can’t picture yourself being a sorceror while you can picture yourself learning the rituals, words, gestures and components to cast a spell. Spells are something any idjit can learn, psionics and sorcery mark you as special and different from the rest of us and therefore dangerous and to be feared and dreaded.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
There are a multitude of examples from comics, movies, and stage magicians to draw from. The end result is the same - wizard or psychic says or does something, then stuff happens. I would allow anybody with Arcana a check to see if they can identify what kind of caster they are looking at. Others would need experience of some sort in order to tell.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
This isn't a thing that I have really encountered at tables I have played at, but I have seen a weird dislike of Psionics here on these forums and places like twitter. I really don't get it but I think part of the issue is the idea that it only belongs in SciFi games, which is pretty weird stance to take in my opinion.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Think of the Ways that you describe a sorcerer or a wizard casting spells and then do anything else :)
Yeah I think part of it is the idea of 'psionics are a sci fi thing' that may be a part of it. Or maybe a sense of feeling like magic is being threatened if someone writes something that has psionics being better than magic.