Psionics

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Psionics is the general term used to describe powers of the mind, distinguished from those powers whose source is arcane or divine magic. Though rare, psionics are known on Oerth and are part of the inherent nature of some creatures, some learn it, and others manifest it spontaneously as "wild talents".

Nature of Psionics

Psionics is fueled by the internal power of one's own mind and life-force, similarly to ki used by monks, This power is used to produce psionic effects called "powers". In contrast to the spellcasting of conventional magic, psionics do not draw power from any other external power and do not need it to function. However, like with normal magic, psionic wild areas and psionic-dead zones are both fully possible.

In the World of Greyhawk

It has been stated in numerous sources that psionics exist in the World of Greyhawk™. Their existence has been confirmed by game designer Harold Johnson, as well.[1] Although, psionics are seldom enumerated separately.

"Psionics is an old and established facet of life on Oerth. Presumably it is brought there when an illithid spacecraft crashed on the planet ages ago. Psionicists are by no means common, but most people are at least aware of the existence of psionics and often consider it to be just another mystical pursuit, little different from magic. Psionic guilds and secret associations can be found in major cities."[1][2]

Psionics have been present in Greyhawk since the earliest editions of the game. The Player's Handbook (1978) includes psionics and preceded the World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting boxed set (1983), which also includes mention of psionics in Greyhawk.[3]

Though they are a known part of life in the Flanaess,"psionics are rare."[4]

Amongst the Baklunish and in areas where Zuoken is commonly worshipped, psionics are called edel ("gift of fate").[5] Some NPCs in Greyhawk are noted to have psionic ability.

"Shattados the Cruel's curse transformed him into a horrific creature, a great and powerful giant scorpion with awesome psionic abilities... "[6]

There are surprising, even startling, uses of psionics—

"A particular psionicist on Oerth claims to have made telepathic contact with one of the water elementals living in a lake on Liga."[7]

Just as some creatures or things have resistance or immunity to magic, the same is also true of psionics—

"… [The Sisters] cannot be probed by physical, psionic, or magical means."[8]

Some powers have even used references to the World of Greyhawk™ in their description. e.g.—"The power reveals general information about the character's location... such as “approximately 20 miles northwest of Greyhawk City.”[9][10]

Organizations

As mentioned above, there are psionic guilds, secret associations, and other organizations which exist in major cities, similar to other guilds found in metropolises.[2]

The Fists of Zuoken are monks who follow the path of the Breath of the Sun and the Moon. "The order’s disciples are paragons of enlightenment, working constantly toward personal perfection.[11]

The Splintered Mind is a small order of monks, psionicists, and rogues who oppose the Scarlet Brotherhood from a position of secrecy.[12] The Scarlet Brotherhood is known to practice psionics in some form, and to breed or create creatures with psionic ability.[13]

Another such organization is in the Iron Hills—there is an "elite", "special sect of psionic hill dwarves" who are "identified by special tattoos".[14][15][16]

Deities

In the World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting, demigods and deities are given statistics which include psionic ability. Boccob is noted as being a very powerful psion, as are Fharlanghn, Istus, Obad-hai, Trithereon, Ulaa, and Xan Yae.[17] Xan Yae is considered the strongest amongst them.[18] Murlynd also has strong psionic ability, though he is unpracticed or uncertain with them, and they only work 50% of the time.[19],

Perhaps the most notable psionic deities in throughout all editions are:

Items

"The famed Yellow Tome... is a valuable book kept in one of the three underground [Great Library of Greyhawk] vaults. Though few are allowed to see it, it purportedly contains lore of psionics, mind flayers, and a secret so terrible that merely reading it has driven people insane."[26]

Creatures

Psionics can manifest in many creatures, but it has varied by edition which player character races may be psionicists. (as with most classes in earlier editions).

Core species

The first edition Player's Handbook (1978) gives all human player characters "and possibly dwarves and halflings"[27] a small, variable chance (up to about 7-10%)[27] of having psionic powers in addition to whatever abilities they may have from their race or class. In the Monster Manual (1977), exceptional humans ("leader types") had "the usual chance for psionic abilities."[28] Dwarves[29] and halflings[30] did as well, although elves and gnomes did not.

In second edition, the "psionicist" became a class that could be chosen for a character. The Complete Psionics Handbook (1991) presents similar lore that "humans, halflings, dwarves, and gnomes often have a high degree of psionic talent. Elves and half-elves also exhibit some natural psionic ability, but they are unable to pursue it to high levels."[31] There were still "wild talents" found in common races, as before.

This changed in the third edition Psionics Handbook (2001), Expanded Psionics Handbook (2004), and Complete Psionic (2006), where any player character could learn psionics, regardless of species or ancestry, rather than it being an inborn trait. There were still "wild talents" found in common races, as before.

Fourth edition's Psionic Power (2010)[32] also makes psionics available to any creature, and psionic monsters are also found in fourth edition.

Fifth edition has separate subclasses of some common classes in the Player's Handbook for psionics which can be chosen by any of the common races, such as the Aberrant Mind (sorcerer), Psi Warrior (fighter), and Soulknife (rogue),[33][34] and also has "monstrous" creatures with psionic abilities.

In the revised fifth edition Monster Manual (2024), the "archmage" contains a list of some tropes for inspiration for types of mages. Amongst them is a "psion whose powers manifest as spells."[35]

Monsters

In first edition, every monster stat block detailed whether each monster had psionic abilities, or not.[36] Even deities had stats for their psionics.[37]

Later editions all have psionic monsters, but that ability is only listed specifically if a monster has psionic powers.

Psionics are more common among the races of the Underoerth.

They are also commonly found among:

Disclaimer:Any lore presented through the following links does not necessarily adhere to established officially published content, and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki.

References

Notes

Citations

  1. ↑ a b "Dispel Confusion".  Polyhedron #107 (May 1995), p.25. "In the World of Greyhawk® setting, psionic powers are an old, established facet of life."
  2. ↑ a b PHBR5 The Complete Psionics Handbook (1991), p.108-109, TSR's Game Worlds.
  3. ↑ World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.77, Guide.
  4. ↑ Ivid the Undying (1995), p.159, Forces of the Empire.
  5. ↑ a b Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.190.
  6. ↑ WGR3 Rary the Traitor (1992), s.v. Shattados'.
  7. ↑ SJR6 Greyspace (1992), 25.
  8. ↑ SJR6 Greyspace (1992), p.71, The Sisters.
  9. ↑ Psionics Handbook (2001) , p.83.
  10. ↑ Expanded Psionics Handbook (2004) , p.114.
  11. ↑ Psionic Power (2010) , p.112.
  12. ↑ "The Splintered Mind".  Dragon #281 (Mar 2001), p.38-45.
  13. ↑ a b The Scarlet Brotherhood (1999), p.92.
  14. ↑ 1993 Trading Cards, card #48, Zander of the Iron Hills (Psychokineticist)
  15. ↑ 1993 Trading Cards, card #161, Kelth of the Iron Hills (Telepath)
  16. ↑ 1993 Trading Cards, Dural of the Iron hills (Telepath)
  17. ↑ World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.38-48, Glossography.
  18. ↑ World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.48, Glossography.
  19. ↑ World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.35, Glossography.
  20. ↑ World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.77-78, Guide.
  21. ↑ a b Player's Guide (1998), p.20.
  22. ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.188.
  23. ↑ World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.64, Guide.
  24. ↑ Expanded Psionics Handbook (2004) , p.221-222.
  25. ↑ Expanded Psionics Handbook (2004) , p.222.
  26. ↑ "Campaign Corner:Greyhawk".  Dragon #284 (Jun 2001), p.64.
  27. ↑ a b Player's Handbook (1978), p.110.
  28. ↑ Monster Manual (1977), p.66.
  29. ↑ Monster Manual (1977), p.35.
  30. ↑ Monster Manual (1977), p.50.
  31. ↑ PHBR5 The Complete Psionics Handbook (1991), p.8.
  32. ↑ Psionic Power (2010).
  33. ↑ Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (2020).
  34. ↑ Player's Handbook (2024).
  35. ↑ Monster Manual (2025), p.199.
  36. ↑ Monster Manual (1977).
  37. ↑ Deities & Demigods (1980).
  38. ↑ a b c d e f WG6 Isle of the Ape (1985), p.39.
  39. ↑ Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (2018), p.188,189.
  40. ↑ Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse (2021), p.107.
  41. ↑ Monster Manual (2014), p.160.
  42. ↑ Monster Manual (2014), p.161.
  43. ↑ Monster Manual (2014), p.191.
  44. ↑ Monster Manual (2014), p.222.
  45. ↑ Tomb of Annihilation (2017).
  46. ↑ Monster Manual (2014), p.288.

Bibliography


This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Psionics on the Forgotten Realms Wiki (view authors.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

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