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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 {{smallcaps|World of Greyhawk}}™.  Their existence has been confirmed by game designer [[Harold Johnson]], as well.{{cite polyhedron|107|25|Dispel Confusion|note="In the {{smallcaps|World of Greyhawk}}® setting, psionic powers are an old, established facet of life."}}  Although, psionics are seldom enumerated separately.
{{quoted text|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 [[:Category:Settlements|major cities]].|{{cite polyhedron|107|25|Dispel Confusion|note="In the {{smallcaps|World of Greyhawk}}® setting, psionic powers are an old, established facet of life."}}{{csb|PHBR5|108-109|TSR's Game Worlds}} }}

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.{{csb|WoG|77|Guide}}

Though they are a known part of life in the [[Flanaess]],"psionics are rare."{{csb|Ivid|159|Forces of the Empire}}

Amongst the [[Baklunish]] and in areas where [[Zuoken]] is commonly worshipped, psionics are called ''edel'' ("gift of fate").{{csb|LGG|190}}
Some NPCs in Greyhawk are noted to have psionic ability.
{{quoted text|[[Shattados|Shattados the Cruel]]'s curse transformed him into a horrific creature, a great and powerful giant scorpion with awesome psionic abilities... |{{csb|WGR3||s.v. ''Shattados''}} }}

There are surprising, even startling, uses of psionics—
{{quoted text|A particular psionicist on [[Oerth]] claims to have made telepathic contact with one of the water elementals living in a lake on [[Liga]].|{{csb|SJR6||25|}} }}
Just as some creatures or things have resistance or immunity to magic, the same is also true of psionics—
{{quoted text|… <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[The Sisters]]] cannot be probed by physical, psionic, or magical means.|{{csb|SJR6|71|The Sisters}} }}

Some powers have even used references to the {{smallcaps|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.”{{csb|Psionics Handbook ''(2001)'' |83|}}{{csb|Expanded Psionics Handbook ''(2004)'' |114}}

== 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.{{csb|PHBR5|108-109|TSR's Game Worlds}}

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.{{csb|Psionic Power ''(2010)'' |112}}

The '''[[Splintered Mind]]''' is a small order of monks, psionicists, and rogues who oppose the [[Scarlet Brotherhood]] from a position of secrecy.{{cite dragon|281|38-45|The Splintered Mind}}  The [[Scarlet Brotherhood]] is known to practice psionics in some form, and to breed or create creatures with psionic ability.{{csb|TSB|92}}  

Another such organization is in the [[Iron Hills]]—there is an "elite", "special sect of psionic hill [[dwarf|dwarves]]" who are "identified by special tattoos".{{cite card|1993|48|Zander of the Iron Hills (Psychokineticist)}}{{cite card|1993|161|Kelth of the Iron Hills (Telepath)}}{{cite card|1993||Dural of the Iron hills (Telepath)}}

== 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]].{{csb|WoG|38-48|Glossography}}  Xan Yae is considered the strongest amongst them.{{csb|WoG|48|Glossography}}  [[Murlynd]] also has strong psionic ability, though he is unpracticed or uncertain with them, and they only work 50% of the time.{{csb|WoG|35|Glossography}}, 

Perhaps the most notable psionic deities in throughout all editions are:
* [[Xan Yae]]{{csb|WoG|77-78|Guide}}{{csb|PG|20}}{{csb|LGG|188}}
* [[Zuoken]]{{csb|WoG|64|Guide}}{{csb|PG|20}}{{csb|LGG|190}}{{csb|Expanded Psionics Handbook ''(2004)'' |221-222}}
* [[Ilsensine]]{{csb|Expanded Psionics Handbook ''(2004)'' |222}}

== Items ==
{{quoted text|The famed '''[[Yellow Tome]]'''... is a valuable book kept in one of the three underground <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[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.|{{cite dragon|284|64|Campaign Corner:Greyhawk}} }}

== 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"{{csb|PH1e|110}} a small, variable chance (up to about 7-10%){{csb|PH1e|110}} 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."{{csb|MM1e|66}}  [[Dwarf|Dwarves]]{{csb|MM1e|35}} and [[halflings]]{{csb|MM1e|50}} did as well, although [[elf|elves]] and [[gnome]]s 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]], [[halfling]]s, [[dwarf|dwarves]], and [[gnome]]s often have a high degree of psionic talent. [[Elf|Elves]] and [[Elf#Elf subspecies|half-elves]] also exhibit some natural psionic ability, but they are unable to pursue it to high levels."{{csb|PHBR5|8}}  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){{csb|Psionic Power|}} 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),{{csb|TCoE|}}{{csb|PH2024}} 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."{{csb|MM2025|199}}

=== Monsters ===
In '''first edition''', every monster stat block detailed whether each monster had psionic abilities, or not.{{csb|MM1e}}  Even deities had stats for their psionics.{{csb|DaD1e|}} 

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: 
* [[Aboleth]]
* [[Brain mole]]{{csb|WG6|39}}
* [[Cerebral parasite]]{{csb|WG6|39}}
* [[Dragon]], gem or crystal
* [[Drow]] 
* [[Duergar]]{{csb|MToF|188,189}}{{csb|MotM|107}}
* [[Githyanki]]{{csb|MM5e|160}}
* [[Githzerai]]{{csb|MM5e|161}}
* [[Intellect devourer]]{{csb|WG6|39}}{{csb|MM5e|191}}
* [[Mind flayer]]{{csb|MM5e|222}}
* [[Obliviax|Obliviax moss]]{{csb|WG6|39}} or memory moss.
* [[Shedu]]
* [[Su-monkey]]{{csb|TSB|92}}
* [[Su-monster]]{{csb|Tomb of Annihilation|}}
* [[Thought eater]]{{csb|WG6|39}}
* [[Thri-kreen]]{{csb|MM5e|288}}
* [[Ustilagor]]{{csb|WG6|39}}
* [[Yuan-ti]]

==External links ==
{{External link disclaimer}}
* [https://melkot.com/locations/cogh/psi-school.html Greyhawk School of Psionics]—example psionic college by Denis Tetreault (08 December 2005) Melkot.com, Retrienved 13 February 2024

== References ==
=== Notes ===
<references group="note" />
=== Citations ===
<references />
=== Bibliography ===
* [[Anne Brown|Brown, Anne]]. ''[[Player's Guide]]''. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998. Item code TSR9578.
* [[Bruce R. Cordell|Cordell, Bruce R.]]. ''Expanded Psionics Handbook''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004. Item code 96666.
* [[Bruce R. Cordell|Cordell, Bruce R.]]. ''Psionics Handbook''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001. Item code 11835.
* SJR6. No extended bibliography data available.
* [[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''Monster Manual''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1977. Item code TSR2009.
* [[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''Player's Handbook''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1978. Item code TSR2010. Revised in 1983.
* [[Gary Holian|Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean Reynolds]] and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000. Item code 11743.
* [[Carl Sargent|Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[Ivid the Undying]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995. Published online. [https://greyhawkonline.com/download/16370/?tmstv=1727302323 PDF by William Allman with maps].  Original RTF archived:[http://web.archive.org/web/20081218001449/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads Wizards.com]. WGR7 or WGRx
* [[Robert J. Schwalb|Schwalb, Robert J.]] and [[Ari Marmell]]. ''Psionic Power''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2010. Item code 21094.
* [[Steve Winter|Winter, Steve]]. PHBR5 ''The Complete Psionics Handbook''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991. Item code TSR2117.
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