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Psionics
Psionic Disciplines and Talents
Psionic talents and disciplines are the heart of a mystic’s craft. They are the mental exercises and psionic formula used to forge will into tangible, magical effects.
Disciplines are grouped in Studies based on their similar natures. Each of these Psionic disciplines were discovered by different orders and tend to reflect their creators’ specialties. However, a mystic can learn any discipline regardless of its associated order.
Psionic Studies
Every Discipline is grouped into what is called a Psionic Study. These studies represent a focused effort to achieve a particular kind of effect, or disciplines that have similar results. Every study was created and honed by a particular order of psions. As such, each Study is tied to that order, and all of the disciplines within it are tied to that order as well.
Every Psionic Study also has a Psychic Focus. These Psychic Focuses are side-effects of the study. The represent a train of thought that was used to create the associated disciplines and links them. Psychic Focuses are passive effects that can be switched between, but represent a particular mindset. However, following a particular psychic focus does not limit the disciplines you can use.
Using a Discipline
Each psionic discipline has has a particular way it can be used, contained in its description. The discipline specifies the type of action and number of psi points it requires. It also details whether you must concentrate on its effects, how many targets it affects, what saving throws it requires, and so on.
The following sections go into more detail on using a discipline. Psionic disciplines are magical and function similarly to spells.
Effect Options and Psi Points
A discipline provides information for how to use it with your psi points. Each discipline has a name, and the psi point cost appears in parentheses after its name. You must spend that number of psi points to use that discipline, while abiding by your psi limit. If you don’t have enough psi points left, or the cost is above your psi limit, you can’t use the discipline. Some disciplines show a range of psi points, rather than a specific cost. To use that discipline, you must spend a number of points within that point range, still abiding by your psi limit.
Some disciplines let you spend additional psi points to increase its potency. Again, you must abide by your psi limit, and you must spend all the points when you first use the discipline; you can’t decide to spend additional points once you see the discipline in action.
Each option notes specific information about its effect, including any action required to use it and its range.
Components
Disciplines don’t require the components that many spells require. Using a discipline requires no spoken words, gestures, or materials. The power of psionics comes from the mind.
Duration
An effect option in a discipline specifies how long its effect lasts.
Instantaneous. If no duration is specified, the effect of the option is instantaneous.
Concentration. Some options require concentration to maintain their effects. This requirement is noted with “conc.” after the option’s psi point cost. The “conc.” notation is followed by the maximum duration of the concentration. For example, if an option says “conc., 1 min.,” you can concentrate on its effect for up to 1 minute.
Concentrating on a discipline follows the same rules as concentrating on a spell. This rule means you can’t concentrate on a spell and a discipline at the same time, nor can you concentrate on two disciplines at the same time.
Targets and Areas of Effect
Psionic disciplines use the same rules as spells for determining targets and areas of effect.
Saving Throws and Attack Rolls
If a discipline requires a saving throw, it specifies the type of save and the results of a successful or failed saving throw. The DC is determined by your psionic ability. Some disciplines require you to make an attack roll to determine whether the discipline’s effect hits its target. The attack roll uses your psionic ability.
Combining Psionic Effects
The effects of different psionic disciplines add together while the durations of the disciplines overlap. Likewise, different options from a psionic discipline combine if they are active at the same time. However, a specific psionic discipline doesn’t combine with itself if used multiple times. Instead, the most potent effect —usually dependent on how many psi points were used to create the effect— applies while the durations of the effects overlap.
Psionics and spells are separate effects, and therefore their benefits and drawbacks overlap. A psionic effect that reproduces a spell is an exception to this rule.
Psionic Disciplines and Talents
The Psionic Disciplines from Unearthed Arcana are all still available, but function a bit differently due to the reworking of this class. You can find the complete list of Psionic Talents and Psionic Disciplines on their associated pages.
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