It’s a huge news break for the veteran tabletop RPG, Dungeons & Dragons, as they experiment with an all-new class: the Psion. It is the first all-new class since the Artificer came along back in 2019, and is a more emphasis on psionic powers within the Fifth Edition ruleset.
The Psion is conceived as an Intelligence casters, tapping into mind power instead of standard arcane or divine options. Its mechanics are created with spells like telekinesis and telepathy, where the players are controlling their surroundings and minds by sheer willpower. The class has a profound progression system, 20 levels, and provides four different subclasses to suit different playstyles: the Metamorph, Psi Warper, Psykinetic, and Telepath. Each subclass possesses specializations, ranging from physical alteration and battlefield control to telekinetic detonations and supreme mind-reading.
Customization is also taking center stage with the Psion, with the ability to customize their character with the aid of Psionic Energy dice, which fuel rolls and abilities. On top of that, the class incorporates “Psionic Modes,” where players can shift between offense and defense mid-fight. Psionic Disciplines add further layers of customization with the option to access certain mental achievements and to augment spells or ability checks.
Beyond the class itself, this Unearthed Arcana playtest also features “Wild Talents,” a new class of feats that delve into less-visible psionic expressions. These feats, like Empath and Pyrokinesis, bestow delectable abilities and a handful of attendant spells, though players need only select one Wild Talent per character.
The launch of the Psion class is an indicator that there is a push to expand the Dungeons & Dragons experience, allowing players new avenues to build their characters and play tactically. Speculators who are eager to be able to have a hand in shaping this exciting new addition can take part in the survey on June 3. This will be an important steps towards defining the Psion prior to its eventual release.
