So far, I'm really enjoying the occult classes presented in the book. While I can't really do much in the way of playtesting due to work, school, and lack of a close FLGS or group, I figured I could at least drop some good ideas for the inevitable bestiary that comes with the book.
I know that much of the late 19th and early 20th century mysticism and spiritualism is being used as inspiration for Occult Adventures. Things like the Seven Rays, Gnosticism, Ki and other Eastern arts, and some pagan materials all fit in. I was wondering if the devs had ever read the Albion Mythos by William Blake? I feel like several things in there (like the Four Zoas and their emanations) would fit in with the idea of Occultism. Would be a good thing to check out and go over the ideas of spiritual archetypes.
Another idea I had was more for the bestiary in the actual rulebook. I think it would be a great idea to have creatures that are elementals of concepts and emotions that a psychic could summon (or fight). These could be primordial social atavisms like hate, love, sorrow, and what not that could dwell in the Ethereal Planes. You could summon these atavisms with the psychic spells (T and E components, of course) similar to elementals, and these atavisms could be incorporeal creatures that can infect enemies with fear, or rage, or whatever emotion spells you can imagine (like Compassionate Ally or Unnatural Lust).
Those are the ideas I have. Thoughts, comments, concerns? This would be a good topic for other ideas if inclined.
Essence would be an interesting name. I was thinking something that tied a bit into emotions or culture, like atavism, or anything else. Unsure if it'd be good to tie some emotions to alignments. Lkike love being good and obsession being evil, or something like that.
Tulpas are begging to included, although I don't think the playtest includes options for those.
*Crosses fingers for psychic Aboleth variant*
Tulpas are begging to included, although I don't think the playtest includes options for those.
Tulpas would be awesome
Mmm. Tulpas.
Voodoo loas might fit in here nicely.
I recall them having loas under Faith and Philosophies, though they went by a different name.
I assume at least we will get "psychic" versions of various aberrations and such, like intellect devourers, neothelids, etc
Psychic parasites and vampires, and some stuff like the Horla might also be interesting.
Im hoping for some expansion on ki and chakra, especially option of that for martial characters like the fighter and such. Would be the perfect spot for ki and chakra in this book,
Awesome. I was sad to see no new classes that use ki/chakra/prana /life energy in the playtest, but I'm happy to see it's being worked on.
I was hoping one of the classes would use chakra but maybe that will be for archetypes.
I thought we are only getting psychic versions of existing creatures and maybe some psychic and occult themed templates. Though I still want to see brain moles and thought eaters(platypus skeleton version).
Not to mention psychic/psionic versions of various fiends, etc.!
It really was a blast of nostalgia to see most of 1e's psionic attack/defence forms as Psychic spells, particularly the way in which they have varying effectiveness depending upon which attack is used against which defence.
I hope we get more original psychic monsters in the OA book. MA just having mythic versions of monsters only was kind of lame. I'd like to see a good mixture of both original psychic monsters and psychic versions of previous monsters and templates.