School of Mentalism (5A)

This is an original Wizard subclass for 5A.

Mentalism is magic made pure, without resort to arcane words, gestures, or other mumbo-jumbo. Mentalists, students of the School of Mentalism, form patterns in their mind that they use to channel energies of the cosmos. These patterns can be recorded and then imprinted on a trained mind. This allows mentalists to avoid the crutches used by other traditions.

In practice mentalism is a subtle art and can cast spells without obvious outward signs—which makes them scary even in a society used to magic. In places where magic is persecuted, mentalists are able to hide better than their peers, but this feeds into the image of wizardry as secretive and nefarious.

Greyhawk Mentalism is practiced in secret societies the world over. The Baklunish do practice this art, but not as extensively as other psionic traditions.

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, bard College of Whispers and Psychic, cleric Spiritualist, fighter Psi Warrior, rogue Soulknife, sorcerer Aberrant Mind and Mystic, and wizard Arcane Horizon and Mentalist.

Subclass features

Psionic Wizardry

At second level, when you join this college, you learn to use Psionic Wizardry. By focusing the power of a spell inwards you can cast it inside your mind before releasing it into the world outside. Doing so burns out the pattern of the spell in your mind.

When you cast a spell using Psionic Wizardry, you cannot cast that spell again until you take a long or short rest. The spell requires no verbal or somatic components. It requires no material components unless the components are consumed by the spell.

Telepathic Orthography

Starting at 6th level, you can form a telepathic connection between your mind and the mind of any other creature that can read a language. As a bonus action, choose one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. 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 Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1 mile).

The telepathic connection lasts for a number of hours equal to your wizard level. It ends early if you are incapacitated or die or if you use this ability to form a connection with a different creature.

At 10th level you can remain in telepathic contact with a number of creatures equal to your Intelligence bonus (minimum 2 creatures). You decide if these creatures can communicate directly with each other. If not, they are unaware you have telepathy with others. When you are in contact with too many creatures, you must choose which telepathic connections to end. At the same time you learn to use telepathy at any range, even to other planes of existence.

At 14th level you can maintain telepathy indefinitely, even when incapacitated.

Disciplined Mind

Beginning at 10th level, your psionic discipline gives you resistance to psychic damage and advantage on saving throws against effects that would give the charmed and frightened conditions.

Keyed Telepathy

At 14th level, you can use Telepathic Orthography to establish telepathic communication with any creature you have ever used Telepathic Orthography with, regardless of range or if you can see them. The target is aware it is you seeking contact and can accept or decline.

Designer's Notes

Wizard subclasses only one or possibly two strong abilities. For that reason, the abilities of the mentalist are a bit watered down compared to those of other psionic subclasses.