The Psion: Part 3

Intro

 

The Psion class is unlike all the others because of their unique ability to use their psychic gifts to manipulate the Real. Because of this, the Psion class has five ability trees with 4 abilities each but any given Psion may only learn to utilize their psychic gifts in a couple of different ways. In addition, the Psion utilizes edge dice to pay for their psionic ability activation as a resource. We cover this much more in Part 1 and Part 2 of the blog and I encourage you to go read through both of those blogs if you have not yet done so, it will be important to understand the contents of this final Psion class blog. 

Now Focus:

Focus classing is also different for the Psion than it is for any other class. When the Psion focuses they do not gain access to a Focused Ability on each of their ability trees like other classes but rather gain access to the special combination focus ability that incorporates the two ability trees they have selected. This combination ability is a very powerful psychic ability that combines the psychic attributes of both trees. In addition, the Focus Classed Psion gains 50% additional edge dice at the start of each mission allowing them to use the powers more than others. 

It is important to note that a Focused class Psion will only have a single focused ability unlike other classes that could eventually unlock all 3 of theirs, this is offset by the fact that both trees the Psion will have learned both have 4 unfocused abilities within those trees versus the usual 3. There is a powerful but expensive EMS upgrade the Psion can procure known as the Third Eye that allows the Psion to learn a 3rd Psion ability tree, doing so as a focused Psion would allow them to learn 3 Focused abilities for the 3 possible combinations of psionic powers between the trees. 

Below we explore each of 10 possible combination-focused abilities found in the Focused Tree known as the Transcended Mind tree. 

Telepathic Ressonounce & Telekinetic Manipulation

A Psion who has chosen the above two Psion ability trees gains access to the focus ability called Psycho-Somtic Paralysis:

While using the Read ability you may use the Crush ability against (Psionic Amplifier Value)/2 targets (rounded up). The Crush ability deals no damage to the targets but instead stuns the targets for (Psychic Resonator Value)/4 turns (rounded up)

This is a powerful multi-target crowd control ability that allows the Psion to stun multiple targets for potentially multiple turns. The ability to remove several targets simultaneously from taking turns is very powerful and will most often swing combat strongly in favor of the Eidolon squad. 

Telepathic Resonance & Auric Masniferstation

A Psion who has chosen the above two Psion ability trees gains access to the focus ability called Terror Mancy:

You may use the Weave ability to implant and amplify Psychic Dread in the mind of a target affected by read by making an Intimidaton vs Willpower check. On success, the target has a -(Psionic Amplifier Value)/2 penalty (rounded up) to all skill checks for (Psychic Resonator Value)/2 turns (rounded up)

You may use the Imbue ability on a target affected by Psychic Dread by making a Psionics vs Willpower check to give them the [Psychic Burn:X] tag, where X equals the penalty they have from Psychic Dread and lasts for the duration of Psychic Dread on the target.

• [Psychic Burn:X] deals its X damage as [Energy] damage to the head and bypasses all armor.

Terror Mancy is a powerful single-target debuff and DoT (Damage over Time) ability that implants fear into the mind of its victim and then amplifies it with Imbue to combust the victim's psyche so that the fear, quite literally, tears apart their psychic person. It is an extremely lethal attack that bypasses most known defenses in the game. 

Telepathic Resonance & Shadow Mind

A Psion who has chosen the above two Psion ability trees gains access to the focus ability called Dybbuk:

While you are perceiving through the senses of a target with the Observer ability you may use any Telepathic Resonance ability on the marked target.

Dybbuk is a seemingly simple ability that also seems underwhelming at first until you realize that you can manipulate and even steer the mark of Observer through Read and Weaver, planting suggestions and compelling them to act on those suggestions. Most powerful, however, is the ability to jump Observer’s mark to get to the target you need to and then Mind Control them at the right moment. The options for bypassing and manipulating a map with Dybbuk are frightening. 

Telepathic Resonance & Precognition

A Psion who has chosen the above two Psion ability trees gains access to the focus ability called Mind Lock:

You use the Read ability but direct it at a single target and then use the Fortell ability. For the duration, all skill checks you make against the target gain the Fortell bonus and all skill checks made against you from the target have the Fortell penalty. In addition, you may interrupt the target's turn with reactions from Combat Precognition as many times as you like. You may maintain this ability using +1 edge dice each round that you do.

Mind Lock is a deadly 1 vs. 1 power that allows the Psion to see every move and action of the enemy before they take it, making it nearly impossible for the target to land a blow and nearly impossible for the Psion to miss. This psychic ability is the ultimate combat mechanism that will make the Psion the most lethal kind of opponent. 

Telekinetic Manipulation & Auric Manifestation

A Psion who has chosen the above two Psion ability trees gains access to the focus ability called Auric Supercharge: 

• You may use the Bulwark ability to instead Supercharge an object. If the object has the [Thrown:Xft] tag and you make a Thrown Weapon check with it, when it hits it explodes with psychic energy dealing .5x(Psionic Amplifier Value) damage with the [Energey] tag (rounded up) and [Blast] tags, with a blast radius of (.5x(Psychic Resonator Value)x5ft (rounded up).

• The object may instead be Push/Pulled increasing the damage upon hit to 1x(Psionic Amplifier Value) instead.

• Lastly, you may use Crush on the Supercharged object to deal Crush’s damage to the object and Supercharge’s damage in a blast radius of (1x(Psychic Resonator Value)x5ft.

• Note: Supercharge’s damage is also dealt to the object unless Crush is used to detonate the object.

• Note: Thrown Weapons still deal their normal damage (this includes grenades)

Auric Supercharge allows the Psion to wreath and supercharge an object in explosive psychic energy, allowing them to then throw, push/pull, or crush it to deal a massive psychic explosion attacks. This terrifying power turns every mundane or small object into a psychic grenade ready to deal with multiple opponents at the same time. 

Telekinetic Manipulation & Mind Shadow

A Psion who has chosen the above two Psion ability trees gains access to the focus ability called Directed Death:

While the Pass ability is active you may take an action to make a Firearm or Thrown Weapon attack, before rolling for the check you use the Push/Pull ability to direct the weapon in any direction you like, up to 10ftx(Psychic Resonator Value). While moving the projectile/weapon you may make a Stealth vs Awareness check with a bonus +(Psionic Amplifier Value)/2 (rounded up) to keep enemies unaware of the projectile/weapon. If the target of the weapon is Unaware of the weapon or projectile you may pay 1 edge dice and perform a Coup De Grace by making a Psionics vs Dodge check.

Directed Death is the ultimate stealth kill Coup De Grace mechanic, allowing the user to guide their lethal attack around corners and through impossible situations to strike their enemies from impossible angles. This allows the stealth-based Psion immense stealth lethality with minimal risk of exposing their position. 

Telekinetic Manipulation & Precognition

A Psion who has chosen the above two Psion ability trees gains access to the focus ability called Impossible Target:

On a round that you use the Reactive Oracle ability you gain the following reaction ability:

• You may use a reaction and 1 edge dice to redirect an attack targeting you to another target within range of that attack.

Impossible Target is the ultimate defense skill that will eat through the Psion’s edge dice but turn each attack against them into an attack against an enemy of the Psion. This powerful redirection ability can make a single Psion capable of taking on overwhelming numbers and coming out on top. 

Auric Manifestation & Mind Shadow

A Psion who has chosen the above two Psion ability trees gains access to the focus ability called Blink:

• While the Pass ability is active you may use a sub-action and spend 2 edge dice to silently teleport 5ftx(Psychic Resonator Value). Blink may allow you to move through 2.5ftx(Psionic Amplifier Value) thickness of solid material.

• You may only make a half movement on a turn you use Blink

• If the end destination of Blink is in a solid object then you do not blink and take 5 damage with the [Energy] tag to the head and become stunned for the remainder of your turn and next turn.

Blink is the ultimate movement ability, allowing the Psion to instantaneously teleport from one location to another, passing through objects or even walls. The ability makes it almost impossible to stop the Psion from gaining access to locations they should not be or could not be. It also allows the Psion to maneuver themselves unseen through impossible situations or position perfectly for a Coup De Grace. 

Auric Manifestation & Precognition

A Psion who has chosen the above two Psion ability trees gains access to the focus ability called Calamity Breaker:

You may pay 1 edge dice to use your reaction and then use the Bulwark ability on a target that has already been hit. Before the damage is applied Bulwark is applied first. 

Calamity Breaker is the ultimate support Psion ability, allowing them to split-second shield an ally before potentially lethal damage is applied. This ability keeps the Psion and their allies seemingly impossibly isolated and will make the Eidolon team a very difficult one to take down. 

Mind Shadow & Precognition

A Psion who has chosen the above two Psion ability trees gains access to the focus ability called Mirror Image:

You may spend 1 edge dice and a reaction or subaction to switch locations with the cognitive mirage created by your Mirage ability.

Mirror Image allows the Psion to instantaneously swap locations with a created mirage allowing them to virtually be in two locations at once and never in the location the enemy would like them to be. It is a powerful tool both in combat situations and stealth allowing the Psion extreme flexibility and maneuverability.

Psion Class Conclusion!

And there you have it! (few…) The 3 part blog about the Psion class, a robust exploration of the class, its design philosophy, ability trees, and unique focused abilities. The Psion makes for an incredible character and allows for so much creativity and diversity of play. It takes all the usual gameplay and adds a fun and creative psychic spin to it allowing the class to operate like no other. 

If psychic powers and mysticism are your sort of thing then I highly encourage you to take a look at this class and explore all the different ways you can build it to live out your Psychic wielding power fantasy in a Cyberpunk setting.