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Dreamscarred Press / Roleplaying Games / Pathfinder RPG / Core

Ultimate Psionics (PFRPG)

4.70/5 (based on 11 ratings)
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Ultimate Psionics is just that—the ultimate book on psionics, combining nearly all of the material in Psionics Unleashed and Psionics Expanded into a single hardcover book. But not only does Ultimate Psionics contain existing content, over seventy pages of brand new material has been added (separately released as Psionics Augmented for those who already have Psionics Unleashed and Psionics Expanded), giving more character options, advice for game masters on using psionics, and even an example of completely altering the theme of psionics from the power of the mind to runic magic, to help you understand how easy it is to change the feel of psionics without changing the system so that it can easily fit into any campaign.

Ultimate Psionics is an over-400 page hardcover book that includes:

  • Ten psionic races, including the brand new forgeborn and noral, with racial archetypes, advanced racial options, and more
  • Ten psionic classes from the psion and soulknife to the aegis and vitalist, giving everything you need to have an all-psionic party
  • Psionic skills and feats, including over forty brand new psionic feats such as Assassin's Venom, Deep Focus, and Telepathic Link
  • Over 100 pages of psionic powers, including 0th level psionic talents new powers like T’Nail’s Ardent Legion
  • Nineteen psionic prestige classes, including the brand new Dark Tempest prestige class
  • More psionic items than could ever be found in any treasure horde, including legendary items like the Heartstaff and the Dancing Robes of Sharatwan and over 10 pages of brand new psionic items like the greater psicrystal staff, the tactician's chessboard, and more.
  • An entire section for advice and tips for game masters on introducing and using psionics, including the most commonly encountered rules mistakes, how to handle transparency, and variant themes if you don't want mental power and prefer psionics to be a form of magic.
  • And much more!

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An Endzeitgeist.com review

5/5 —

Sooo...this is it - 453 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, 1 page SRD, 1 page advertisement... 448 pages of content, so let's take a look!

All right, to properly preface this - I've been using psionics for about 80% of my DMing career - from 2nd edition to the rather poor 3.0 version (and its kind-of-fixes by Malhavoc Press) to the great 3.5-version...and this is when I found Dreamscarred Press. I liked what I saw there and got just about everything. Fast forward to pathfinder and Psionics Unleashed. It might sound weird, but without this book, my campaigns would simply have missed a central ingredient, like a dish missing salt. It was then I supported the diverse subscriptions offered and got Psionics Expanded - and at first ripped some of the content a new one. The resulting book, though, remains one of my favorite rulebooks ever, on par with the APG. So yes, I was very excited about this book, but alas, the KS came at a bad time for me and thus I don't (yet!) have the hardcover in my hands.

Now there have been quite some errata over the years and getting essentially the "final" up to date version, with new artwork etc. is great. In case you didn't know - this book doesn't stop by collecting the information from Psionics Unleashed and Expanded - it also contains new material galore, which was also made available to customers of the former books in a very fairly priced expansion called Psionics Augmented Vol. I. All of these books have one thing in common beyond their themes, content etc.- I've already reviewed them - in excruciating detail. Were I to go into this level of detail here, the review would probably clock in at well over 30 pages and let's not kid ourselves - no one would read that. I'm already surprised that some people read my lengthy ramblings.

So what I'm going to do instead is give you a brief synopsis of what to expect - 10 psionic races, including old favorites like the blue goblins and new ones like the half-construct forgeborn - all of which come with age, height & weight, attitudes to other races, favored class options and yes, alternate racial traits. Furthermore, each race gets an array of exclusive racial archetypes, often making use of the unique talents of the respective race.

10 psionic 20-level base classes, all of which are superior to any prior incarnation - the soulknife no longer sucks, to just give you ONE example. The classes are also very customizable and some of them rank among my favorite classes for PFRPG - PERIOD.

Basic concepts like the psionic focus, psionic displays etc. - all explained very concisely and thoroughly, with the latter even coming with an extensive, comprehensive list of sample visual, auditory, mental, material and even olfactory displays are provided - as is essentially a beginner DM's guide to how psionics work and how to introduce them to your campaign, including a sample reskin should you not enjoy the flavor of psionics. Skills are also covered, as are feats - how many? The table alone spans 6 (!!!) pages! And yes, having all of them in one chapter instead of three books is a major comfort-plus. The same holds btw. true for the powers. How many do we get? An insane amount. No, really. No less than 100 pages of the book are devoted to powers. now take into account that unlike spells, psionic powers can be augmented, thus requiring less variants of one spell concept than spells and you'll get an inkling of how many options are herein. Have I mentioned all the legendary items (not the mythic ones) - powerful magic items that increase in power over the levels, all with unique artworks and stories to discover? (Yeah, I've reviewed all of them as well...)

There also are no less than 19 Prestige Classes to be found herein and no less than 56 pages of magic items...oh, and beyond that, we also get a glossary that explains terms...and one fact I enjoy tremendously - the book offers astral construct stats and similar player-relevant monsters, but unlike the previous iterations, psionic monsters will be released in a separate bestiary, making this book fully and completely player compatible. Two thumbs up for that!

Conclusion:

Editing and formatting of this massive tome are of a surprising quality - excellent and top-notch by any realistic definition. Glitches indeed are thoroughly minimized to the point of being almost non-existent. Layout adheres to a drop-dead gorgeous full-color two-column standard and the pdf comes with a vast array of mind-blowing, awesome, beautiful artworks - and a Wayne Reynolds cover. Can't get much better than that in the art-department! The pdf is lavishly detailed in its bookmarks, making navigation simple - as is required by such a massive tome.

Sooo...what we have here is interesting: It's a bit like reviewing the CORE-rules or the APG: We're talking about what essentially is a completely non-optional book in my opinion.

Every campaign that shirks psionics not for flavor, but for by now completely inaccurate accusations of balance-issues is missing out on one of the most rewarding expansions for Pathfinder.

While this is not my personal opinion ( I enjoy both for what they do), I do feel obliged to point out that my players consider unanimously psionics to be the superior system when compared to vancian spellcasting (even though at least one of them dislikes the flavor) and in multiple years of using Dreamscarred Press' psionics have we not once encountered any crucial difficulties. Now this book collects all these nifty bits and pieces from 3 massive tomes in one book that is greater than the sum of its parts by sheer utility, by scope...and superb production values.

While I don't enjoy EVERY component part (see my individual reviews for that), the vast majority of the content should be considered simply stellar - awesome and a book that will enrich just about every game it is introduced to. Were I to complain about one thing, then that would be that the book has no index, at least in the pdf version on which this review is based since I don't yet have the hardcover.

So let me make that abundantly clear: If you have the component books, this is useful. If you don't have any of them, then this ranks among the best possible purchases you can make to expand your game and I stand by that. For me, this content of this book, whether as the component books or the superb Ultimate Psionics, is non-optional. It is as much part of the game as vancian spellcasting, as much part of my concept of Pathfinder's identity as a distinct system as the APG. Psionics Expanded, one of the component books, made it on my Top Ten-list of that year -and this is THE ONLY reason this book is not a candidate (and let's face it - high ranker or even winner) of 2013's list. Rare is the book that so wholly transforms the game, feels so concise and well-presented, offers so much and in this quality - rare indeed is such a monumental grimoire of crunch and much like Paizo's APG, this book does infinitely more to establish the identity of a distinct, diverse fantasy full of options than just about all crunch-books I've read. If you have so far shied away from psionics- here's your chance: Take it! If you have the component books, wager utility (all in one book) versus price point. If I may: The book is beautiful; personally, I'd go for the slightly more expensive full color version - the artwork's worth it. Final verdict? Unsurprising 5 stars + seal of approval.

Endzeitgeist out.

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Will there be new power card packs(or all-in-one pack for Ultimate Psionics)? Or just an add on pack to cover any new powers? As I have no packs yet, trying to figure out whether to buy them now or wait if there is going to be a newer pack(s) to cover any new powers in this book, or all-in-one after this book is released. Thanks in advance.
Grand Lodge

How much is the PDF going to run?
Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
Kainite311 wrote:
Will there be new power card packs(or all-in-one pack for Ultimate Psionics)? Or just an add on pack to cover any new powers? As I have no packs yet, trying to figure out whether to buy them now or wait if there is going to be a newer pack(s) to cover any new powers in this book, or all-in-one after this book is released. Thanks in advance.

There will be an all-in-one, although there weren't many new powers added that weren't also in Unleashed + Expanded.

Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
Andrew Betts wrote:
How much is the PDF going to run?

The PDF will be $19.95.

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Jeremy Smith, do you have any intentions making this available as a herolab file? There are several other thrid party products on herolab, like Pathfinder Midgard. Psionic Classes and races would be a real nice thing to have there too.
Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
4 people marked this as a favorite.

We've got that underway, but it's primarily waiting for Lone Wolf to enable psionic support. Right now, psionics is disabled in Hero Lab for Pathfinder and there's nothing we can do to get around that without Lone Wolf's software team changing that.

Will those of us who perordered off the dreamscared press website also be getting the pdf or is that only for pazio.com preorders
Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
Wildmonsters wrote:
Will those of us who perordered off the dreamscared press website also be getting the pdf or is that only for pazio.com preorders

Yes, you will.

Sovereign Court

I'm looking forward to this book; will I be able to buy it my local game store?
Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
Knight_Druid wrote:
I'm looking forward to this book; will I be able to buy it my local game store?

It will be available through distribution, yes. Whether your local game store decides to carry it is another matter. :)

Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
1 person marked this as a favorite.

And on that note - the final chapter has been completed!

I'm now finishing up the Introduction and then will be getting the PDF sent to the printer!
1 person marked this as a favorite.

I posted a question about UP on the Lone Wolf Herolab Forum.

Everybody welcome to show some support^^
2 people marked this as a favorite.

The PDF was distributed to the KS backers yesterday.

'Twas a most awesome Christmas present.

One could say mind-blowing.
Webstore Gninja Minion

Print/PDF Bundles now available! If you've preordered either of the print versions, you will have the PDF version shortly.
Liz Courts wrote:
Print/PDF Bundles now available! If you've preordered either of the print versions, you will have the PDF version shortly.

:)

I have to say it looks realllllly good on first glance. I just have to get a chance to dive into it. :)
Liberty's Edge

Any tentative release dates for the print edition?
Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
memorax wrote:
Any tentative release dates for the print edition?

Ideally, January.

I should have the files to the printer tomorrow, then it's usually 2-3 days for file prep, then usually about a week for the proof.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook Subscriber

Glanced through my pdf a bit last night and it's making me very excited to finally learn about this new (to me) system. Hopefully I'll be able to read this book without interuptions when I get to it. :P
Liberty's Edge
Jeremy Smith wrote:
memorax wrote:
Any tentative release dates for the print edition?

Ideally, January.

I should have the files to the printer tomorrow, then it's usually 2-3 days for file prep, then usually about a week for the proof.

Thanks for the update. Gives me some time to start saving up again.

When should the PDF for the pre-orders be available for download thru paizo?
Grand Lodge

Just bought the PDF. Today is a good day.

Pre-ordered mine on the 17th with the free PDF thru Paizo. No PDF available yet in my downloads :(
Webstore Gninja Minion
Kainite311 wrote:
Pre-ordered mine on the 17th with the free PDF thru Paizo. No PDF available yet in my downloads :(

It looks like the report I ran skipped a few people (including you). I've re-ran it and you should have the PDF in your downloads.

Liz Courts wrote:
Kainite311 wrote:
Pre-ordered mine on the 17th with the free PDF thru Paizo. No PDF available yet in my downloads :(
It looks like the report I ran skipped a few people (including you). I've re-ran it and you should have the PDF in your downloads.

Thank you!

Liberty's Edge

My wife ordered this for me for Christmas. Very happy.

But the
PDF seems to lack a cover. Was that intentional?
Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
Jester David wrote:

My wife ordered this for me for Christmas. Very happy.

But the
PDF seems to lack a cover. Was that intentional?

I'm working on fixing that and a few other things right now.

Actually, that's really weird. I started proofing on an Android device using Repligo Reader and it does have the cover. On my desktop not so much. So the data's there, just hidden in specific readers. Weird.
Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
Anguish wrote:
Actually, that's really weird. I started proofing on an Android device using Repligo Reader and it does have the cover. On my desktop not so much. So the data's there, just hidden in specific readers. Weird.

actually, it depends when and where you downloaded it.

the copy through kickstarter and Dreamscarred got the cover updated earlier this week, since that's really easy for me to update, but initially it was inadvertently left out.
Sovereign Court

Any word on when Paizo will have the hardcover color book - I hope yo use my hoilday discount on it before then end of January (and I can't use it on a preorder).
Publisher, Dreamscarred Press

Unfortunately, I have been having technical problems with the printer getting the proof made. Given the time printing and shipping takes, I don't expect the books to arrive at the Paizo warehouses by the end of January.

While it's still technically possible, it's unlikely.
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Jeremy Smith wrote:
While it's still technically possible, it's unlikely.

I needs it, precious!

Lilith wrote:
Jeremy Smith wrote:
While it's still technically possible, it's unlikely.
I needs it, precious!

We needs it, precious!

Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Just preordered the colore version (of course!) and got the PDF. Looks awesome!

Is there some small adventure availabe that uses these rules, so psionic PCs can actually interface with other psionic set-ups? By small adventure, I mean something other than the "From the Deep" AP.
Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
2 people marked this as a favorite.

We have an introductory psionic adventure in the works.

Unfortunately, the writer we had brought on to do it never finished it, so we've had to put it on the back burner while we finished up other parts of the Ultimate Psionics Kickstarter rewards.
Liberty's Edge
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

This came out in time for me to integrate it into a campaign I've been running; the main BBEG and its chief henchbeings use psionics, and can I just say that ego whip is a terrifyingly effective way to punish characters that dump CHA?
John Woodford wrote:
...and can I just say that ego whip is a terrifyingly effective way to punish characters that dump CHA?

It has always been thus, and always thus will be.

...at least in d20 derivatives. :D
Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
2 people marked this as a favorite.

So the good news is that Tuesday and Wednesday, I got the files to the printer, so the proof should arrive to me next week (if not sooner).

As long as it looks good, I order the print run!

Zaister, talk To Doug Limmer and Paul Shipley on the PCGen list. They are currently working on getting a PCGen set working.

Jeremy, going to be sending you an email shortly making sure PCGen still has permission to distribute said set. :)
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Nylanfs wrote:

Zaister, talk To Doug Limmer and Paul Shipley on the PCGen list. They are currently working on getting a PCGen set working.

Jeremy, going to be sending you an email shortly making sure PCGen still has permission to distribute said set. :)

I know, but you seem to have either misunderstood me or mistaken me for someone else. :)

No I thought you might want to give them a hand if you hadn't been following their discussion :)
Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
Nylanfs wrote:

Zaister, talk To Doug Limmer and Paul Shipley on the PCGen list. They are currently working on getting a PCGen set working.

Jeremy, going to be sending you an email shortly making sure PCGen still has permission to distribute said set. :)

Doug already did and I've been talking to him about it. :)

Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Nylanfs wrote:
No I thought you might want to give them a hand if you hadn't been following their discussion :)

Ah, I see. :)

Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
3 people marked this as a favorite.

The print proof arrived yesterday evening and I've been going over it to find anything that needs to be fixed before we order the full print run.

Good times!
Liberty's Edge
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Sweet!

I couldn't be more excited about this book! I've been waiting for a strong, all-in-one psionics book for my home table and I think this is going to be it. From what I've read, this is the psionics system we've been wading through the broken designs of the past for. With the new art and love that's gone into it (at least from what I've seen), it has object appeal as well as the content.

I don't think I'm alone when I say that I treasure my books as valuables in their own right, and I have often had trouble giving 3rd party stuff the attention it deserves because it just doesn't have "the look" of a quality product (sorry Dreamscarred, I didn't really give the first two releases that led to this a fair go). I guess that makes me somewhat superficial of a consumer, but there it is. But my judging a book by its cover has been assuaged with this gorgeous new tomb. And hopefully, any hypothetical insult is assuaged by me happily spending $80 on the book.

I hope that this release flourishes and brings psionics out of the dubious second cousin status it's had for so long. Psionics was one of the first additions to original D&D, and yet somehow it always seems to have a rep of being "new" and "untested". Now if they could just get the rights to update Darksun...

Will the upcoming Psionics Bestiary be available for pre-order on paizo.com? Will there be a free PDF with pre-order deal for it?

If you already have Psionics Unleashed, and Expanded, the Psioncis Augmented supplement is what covers everything new in the Psionics Ultimate book.

What you won't get in the augmented book is any incorporated errata (unless I'm mistaken) that changes anything in Unleashed/Expanded.
Publisher, Dreamscarred Press
Atavar wrote:
Will the upcoming Psionics Bestiary be available for pre-order on paizo.com? Will there be a free PDF with pre-order deal for it?

Yes, I'm just behind (as per usual)

Dark Archive
Quintain wrote:

If you already have Psionics Unleashed, and Expanded, the Psioncis Augmented supplement is what covers everything new in the Psionics Ultimate book.

What you won't get in the augmented book is any incorporated errata (unless I'm mistaken) that changes anything in Unleashed/Expanded.

It does include any changes to the other books. I asked this on the Psionics Augmented forum.

Richard

See:

richard develyn wrote:

I have Unleashed and Expanded.

As far as game content is concerned, is this the book I need to get to get me to the equivalent position of owning Ultimate?

I know you've answered a question almost the same as this! I'm just wanting to make sure I pick up any changes to Unleashed and Expanded that might have made their way into Ultimate, as well as the extra content.

What's the plan for Augmented Vol II, BTW?

Cheers

Richard

and

Jeremy Smith wrote:

Hi Richard!

yes, this book has all the new stuff from Ultimate.

Volume II is likely going to put mythic, seventh path, and alternate themes all together into one book.

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