The ''Expanded Psionics Handbook'' is a

sourcebook A sourcebook is a collection of writings on a subject that is intended to be a basic introduction to the topic presented. Academic use In American universities, a sourcebook, either a standard one or a custom collection, may function as a supplem ...

written by

Bruce Cordell Bruce Robert Cordell (born 1968) is an American author of roleplaying games and fantasy novels. He has worked on ''Dungeons & Dragons'' games for Wizards of the Coast. He won the Origins Award for ''Return to the Tomb of Horrors'' and has also wo ...

for the 3.5 edition of the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy

roleplaying game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal ac ...

that contains rules and options for integrating psychic powers (also known as

psionics In American science fiction of the 1950s and 1960s, psionics was a proposed discipline that applied principles of engineering (especially electronics) to the study (and employment) of paranormal or psychic phenomena, such as telepathy and psychok ...

) into the game. Along with its predecessor, the ''

Psionics Handbook The ''Psionics Handbook'' is a sourcebook published by Wizards of the Coast in 2001 for the 3rd edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game. It contains a multitude of rules and options for integrating psionic powers into th ...

'', the ''Expanded Psionics Handbook'' expands and adapts the psionics concept with a new emphasis on balance and playability.

The ''Expanded Psionics Handbook'' contains a system for adding psionics to Dungeons and Dragons. Psionics use a different system from traditional D&D spellcasting, using a point pool to track a character's power usage. The ''Expanded Psionics Handbook'' introduces four Base Classes, several prestige classes alters some rules and includes a new system for becoming psionically focused. The base classes are the psion and psychic warrior (both of which are reprints from the

), the wilder, and the Soulknife. The prestige classes are the Cerebremancer,

Elocater A character class is a fundamental part of the identity and nature of characters in the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game. A character's capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses are largely defined by their class; choosing a class is one ...

, Fist of Zuoken, Illithid Slayer, Metamind, Psion Uncarnate, Pyrokineticist, Thrallherd and the War Mind. The ''Handbook'' also contains four new psionic races—the dromites, elan, maenads, and xelphs—provides psionic versions of dwarves,

githyanki This is the list of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition monsters, an important element of that role-playing game. This list only includes monsters from official ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd Edition supplements published by TSR, ...

githzerai This is the list of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition Monsters in Dungeons & Dragons, monsters, an important element of that role-playing game. This list only includes monsters from official Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, ''Ad ...

, and yuan-ti. It adds several new psionic monsters, including the intellect devourer and temporal filcher, and adds the phrenic template, which can make any Dungeons and Dragons creature a psionic creature.

Publication history

The ''Expanded Psionics Handbook'' was published in 2004. Cover art was by

Henry Higginbotham Henry Higginbotham is a working artist who specializes in non-primitive art, steampunk, sculpture and more. Education Higginbotham has a master's degree in fine arts from the University of Iowa. Works Henry G. Higginbotham has produced interior a ...

, with interior art by

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, Brian Despain,

Wayne England Wayne England (d. 9 February 2016) was an English artist whose work regularly appeared in role-playing games, wargaming rulebooks and magazines and was used on cards for collectible card games such as '' Magic: The Gathering''. He died on 9 F ...

Lars Grant-West Lars Grant-West is an American artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games. He currently teaches illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design. Early life and education Lars Grant-West was born in Brooklyn. He attended New York Ci ...

, Heather Hudson,

Jeremy Jarvis Jeremy Jarvis is an artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games. Early life and education Jeremy Jarvis grew up in a small town in Alabama, and moved to New York City right after high school just before his eighteenth birthday. There, he ...

Chuck Lukacs Chuck Lukacs is an artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games. Career His first published '' Dungeons & Dragons'' work was in '' Dragon'' magazine while Paizo was its publisher. His ''Dungeons & Dragons'' work includes interior art fo ...

David Martin David or Dave Martin may refer to: Entertainment *David Martin (artist) (1737–1797), Scottish painter and engraver *David Stone Martin (1913–1992), American artist *David Martin (poet) (1915–1997), Hungarian-Australian poet and novelist *Dav ...

, Monte Moore,

Jim Pavelec James Pavelec is an artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games. Career His ''Dungeons & Dragons'' work includes interior art for '' Races of Faerûn'' (2003), '' Unapproachable East'' (2003), ''Underdark'' (2003), ''Unearthed Arcana'' ...

Wayne Reynolds Wayne Reynolds is a British artist whose work has appeared in comics and role-playing games. Early life and education Wayne Reynolds was born in Leeds, UK. He attended art college in Dewsbury and Middlesbrough. Games Wayne Reynolds has continu ...

Arnie Swekel Arnie Swekel is an artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games. Background Swekel was born May 2, 1964, and grew up in River Rouge, Michigan. After graduating high school he briefly attended The Center for Creative Studies (now called Coll ...

and

Sam Wood Samuel Grosvenor Wood (July 10, 1883 – September 22, 1949) was an American film director and producer who is best known for having directed such Hollywood hits as '' A Night at the Opera'', '' A Day at the Races'', '' Goodbye, Mr. Chips'', '' ...

. This book is intended as a 3.5 adaptation and revision of the ''

'' for 3rd Edition, which was released in 2001. It was adapted for several reasons, including changes to the core D20 system and balance concerns. Some players considered psions to be weaker than wizards and sorcerers.

Reception

The reviewer from ''

Pyramid A pyramid (from el, πυραμίς ') is a structure whose outer surfaces are triangular and converge to a single step at the top, making the shape roughly a pyramid in the geometric sense. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilate ...

'' found the book's prestige classes "more imaginative, with beings who leave their physical form behind for a life of mental existence, hunters who kill illithids, and the irresistibly heroic Fist of Zuoken". Other reviewers, such as

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, were less positive. Reviewer Jesse Heinig said, "As an expansion for all manner of psionic-themed characters, the Complete Psionic book provides more depth and more unusual powers. Sadly, it lacks a little in breadth and some of its last-minute changes are evident around the frayed edges."

References

{{D&D topics Dungeons & Dragons sourcebooks Role-playing game supplements introduced in 2004

Contents

Publication history

Reception

References