Psychic (5A)
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This is an original Bard subclass for 5A.
Psychics are focused on telepathic powers, the easiest psionic powers to master. A bard can turn into a psychic through mental exercise. Other would-be psychics never considered themselves entertainers or bards in the traditional sense, only learning such abilities to center and prepare themselves for greater psychic powers to come.
Greyhawk Psychics occur naturally on rare occasions, but most psychics are trained in mystic lodges in Zindia, the Celestial Empire, or in Baklunish lands.
Psionic Subclasses
In 5E, psionics does not have its own classes, it is instead expressed through subclasses. The this subclass uses psionic powers, along with a number of other subclasses in the game, the artificer Archivist and Psychometrist, bard College of Whispers and Psychic, cleric Spiritualist, fighter Psi Warrior, monk Way of the Soft Whisper, Spiral Monk, rogue Soulknife, sorcerer Aberrant Mind and Mystic, and wizard Arcane Horizon and Mentalist.
Subclass Features
Psychic Spells
Starting at 3rd level, you learn additional spells when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown on the Psychic Spells table. Each of these spells counts as a bard spell for you, but it doesn't count against the number of bard spells you know. You also learn the Mind Sliver cantrip.
Whenever you gain a bard level, you can replace one spell you gained from this feature with another spell of the same level from the bard spell list.
When you use the Bardic Inspiration ability, any bard spell you cast before the end of your next turn can be a psionic spell. A psionic spell requires no verbal or somatic components, and it requires no material components, unless they are consumed by the spell. You can chose to waste a bardic inspiration die to activate this ability if not suitable targets are around.
Bard Level | Spells |
3 | Command, Guiding Bolt |
3 | Detect Thoughts, Warding Bond |
5 | Mind Spike, Sending |
7 | Death Ward, Locate Creature |
9 | Contact Other Plane, Far Step |
Psychic Speech
Starting at 3rd level, you can form a telepathic connection between your mind and the mind of any other creature that understands a language. When you use Bardic Inspiration, you also establish telepathic communication with the target. You and the chosen creature can speak telepathically with each other while the two of you are within a number of miles of each other equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 mile). While you are connected to another with Psychic Speech, you can use Bardic Inspiration on that creature regardless of range or if that creature can hear you.
The telepathic connection lasts for a number of hours equal to your bard level. It ends early if you are incapacitated or die. At 14th level you can maintain telepathy indefinitely, even when incapacitated.
Centering
Beginning at 6th level, when you use Bardic Inspiration, you also center yourself and the target of your inspiration. As long as the target retains your inspiration die, both you and the target add your inspiration die to any saving throws you make. This does not consume the inspiration die. The target can then choose to expend the inspiration die to improve their saving throw result again. The effect does not stack with itself or your bardic inspiration dice.
Psychic Alliance
At 14th level, you can use Psychic Speech to establish telepathic communication with any willing creature you have ever used Psychic Speech with, regardless of range. The target is aware it is you seeking contact and can accept or decline.
Designer's Notes
With expertise, Centering can become overly powerful. This should probably be changed.