I'm very new to Psionics and UA as a DM, and I have some questions about how they work while playing. My biggest question is how does the Psionic Talent die work in-game; is it used up like spell slots or are the Psionic Talents a one time use per long rest? I figure the latter is the case due to Psionics being tied to the mind, acting like a Tiefling's Hellish Rebuke or other racial abilities, but the wording on Soulknife is pretty vague. On top of this, how does "changing the die" size work?
A player's Psionic Talent die is only used up if they roll a 4 after it's been reduced to a d4; basically they otherwise always have a dice, but it increases or decreases in size depending on what you roll with it, so there's a try your luck element to using a lot of psionic abilities.
Personally I'm not a huge fan of that mechanism, but Wizards of the Coast seem determined to continue with it.
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So unless a player rolls that last 4, Psionic Talents be used as many times a player wants?
Yep, though the more you use it, the more you risk the size changing (but it can also go up in size as well as down).
The abilities generally seem to be balanced by having some other cost, such as requiring an action, bonus action etc., so there's a limit to how many times you use psionics in a single round, but it depends which abilities you have as various UA sub-classes add them but there are also feats and I think magic items as well that all add additional capabilities (and can give psionics to non-psionic sub-classes).
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Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
Sounds to me like they might be discussing an earlier version of the sub-class; the one currently up as a Rogue sub-class on D&D Beyond doesn't have any options at 3rd level, and the 17th level feature already has the suggested DC change and no longer does extra damage (it inflicts Stunned instead).
I haven't personally played the Soulknife but the version currently on DDB seems pretty balanced to me.
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Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I'm very new to Psionics and UA as a DM, and I have some questions about how they work while playing. My biggest question is how does the Psionic Talent die work in-game; is it used up like spell slots or are the Psionic Talents a one time use per long rest? I figure the latter is the case due to Psionics being tied to the mind, acting like a Tiefling's Hellish Rebuke or other racial abilities, but the wording on Soulknife is pretty vague. On top of this, how does "changing the die" size work?
A player's Psionic Talent die is only used up if they roll a 4 after it's been reduced to a d4; basically they otherwise always have a dice, but it increases or decreases in size depending on what you roll with it, so there's a try your luck element to using a lot of psionic abilities.
Personally I'm not a huge fan of that mechanism, but Wizards of the Coast seem determined to continue with it.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
So unless a player rolls that last 4, Psionic Talents be used as many times a player wants?
Yep, though the more you use it, the more you risk the size changing (but it can also go up in size as well as down).
The abilities generally seem to be balanced by having some other cost, such as requiring an action, bonus action etc., so there's a limit to how many times you use psionics in a single round, but it depends which abilities you have as various UA sub-classes add them but there are also feats and I think magic items as well that all add additional capabilities (and can give psionics to non-psionic sub-classes).
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
Found this reddit comment by Nephisimian that may help with some balancing. What do you think?
Sounds to me like they might be discussing an earlier version of the sub-class; the one currently up as a Rogue sub-class on D&D Beyond doesn't have any options at 3rd level, and the 17th level feature already has the suggested DC change and no longer does extra damage (it inflicts Stunned instead).
I haven't personally played the Soulknife but the version currently on DDB seems pretty balanced to me.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I think I'll need to play things by ear or fiddle with the subclass before the session. Thank you for the help!