Psionicist

More than a character of any other class, the psionicist is self-contained. Unlike the fighter and thief, he needs no weapons or tools to practice his art. Unlike the priest, he needs no deity. Unlike the wizard, he relies on no outside energies. His power comes from within, and he alone gives it shape. The psionicist strives to unite every aspect of his self into a single, powerful whole. He looks inward to the essence of his own being, and gains control of his subconscious. Through extraordinary discipline, contemplation, and self-awareness, he unlocks the full potential of his mind.

The striking fist or flashing sword pales beside a psion's focused stare. Psionic powers arise from a regimen of strict mental discipline developed over months and years of selfscrutiny and subconscious discovery. Those who overcome their personal demons, fears, and other pitfalls of intense self-reflection learn to call upon an internal reservoir of psionic power. Psions depend on a continual study of their own minds to discover an ever wider range of mental powers. They meditate on memories and the nature of memory itself, debate with their own fragment personalities, and delve into the dark recesses of their minds' convoluted corridors. "Know thyself" is not just a saying for a psion - it's the road to power.

A psion adventures to stimulate his mind. New experiences translate to new avenues of thought, and eventually to the discovery of previously latent abilities. A psion's powers are innate but not effortlessly attained. Good psions seek what is best in the world and attempt to preserve those elements with their mastery of mental powers. Evil psions seek to mold others to their own desires, whether using their powers openly or in secret.

The psion draws real power from his mind. His power is a logical expression of lore attained through ongoing self-study. His aggressive powers do not freely scale as do the spells of arcane and divine casters, but he enjoys supreme flexibility in accessing those powers. A psion often chooses one discipline in which to focus. Examples are a shaper (a psion who has selected metacreativity as her discipline) or a telepath (a psion whose discipline is telepathy).

Psions are not particularly drawn to any deity, due to their exceptional focus on their own personal potential. Psions who do revere a deity do not conform to any general choice.

Those destined to be psions may show signs of mental powers from the time they are just a few years old, but manifestations become especially noticeable at puberty. Unexplained noises and lights, crockery flying through the air of its own accord, and the appearance of small items out of thin air are common occurrences. Many who have the gift grow out of it, turning away from their potential. However, a few embrace their newfound special powers. Psions are often on their own, misunderstood and feared by friends and family. Sometimes, psions find others with similar abilities and form informal networks, small societies, or even tiny communes populated with individuals who all possess some psionic ability.

The inborn gift for psionics is unpredictable, and it can show up in any of the common races. Of the races with a penchant for psionic ability, githyanki and githzerai are most likely to take up the psion mantle. Mind flayers are especially likely to become psions, since their abilities are actually components of a deeper psionic nature.

Psions enjoy the company of monks and psychic warriors, sharing those characters' dedication to self-mastery. Psions may get off on the wrong foot with members of spellcasting classes such as sorcerers and wizards, because some psions feel that magic is a crutch for the mind.

A psion's powers make him a good addition to any party. Psions take on differing roles within a party, based on the discipline each one selects. For example, seers (specialists in clairsentience) serve to guide parties in difficult spots, while shapers (psions who have chosen psychometabolism as their discipline) can upgrade the party's options in a fight.

Requirements

Skills: Concentration 5 ranks

Feats: Iron Will

DM Unlock:

Application Required: Application Required: This PRC requires a written application sent to DMs for approval. Psionics are a unique and rare skillset for a character to possess, and as such all potential Psions must submit an application to the staff for review. This application should outline the character, their backstory, and when and how they first began to manifest their Psionic powers. This application should clearly state what makes this character a Psion.

Hit Die: d6

Proficiencies: Armor (Light, Medium), Weapons (Simple, Rogue)

Skill Points: 4+ INT

Class Skills: Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Discipline, Disguise, Escape Artist, Heal, Intimidate, Knowledge (all), Listen, Lore, Persuade, Profession, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Spot, Taunt