THE PSION RETURNS PT 2: Unearthed Arcana: Mind Over Matter... But Mostly Just Confusion

What happens when Dungeons & Dragons decides to give psionics another shot? The RPGBOT.Podcast dives headfirst into the Unearthed Arcana Psion Update: an experiment in psychic power, spell mechanics, and a whole lot of questionable design choices. From the disappointing Life Inversion Field to the glorious chaos of Psychic Scream , the crew breaks down what works, what doesn't, and what might just melt your brain. Join the RPGBOT Patreon Want to listen live as the RPGBOT.Podcast records new Masterclass episodes with tabletop legends like Keith Amman? Join the RPGBOT Patreon and get behind-the-scenes access to discussions, early content drops, and the chance to ask questions during live tapings. Patreon supporters help shape the future of RPGBOT's deep dives into D&D, Pathfinder, and other TTRPG systems. Show Notes In this second half of the RPGBOT.Podcast review of Wizards of the Coast's Unearthed Arcana Psion Update , the hosts dissect the expanded spell list and the mechanics that define the psionic experience. The conversation begins with casual banter (complete with birthday wishes for Randall's mom) before diving deep into D&D's psychic frontier. Each spell gets the RPGBOT treatment, with careful attention to balance, design, and playability. The hosts critique heavy hitters like Abidalzim's Horrid Wilting , explore new mechanics in Bleeding Darkness and Ectoplasmic Trail , and question whether Ego Whip deserves a spot in anyone's spellbook. They also highlight bright spots like Enemies Abound and Intellect Fortress , praising their clarity and efficiency. The discussion doesn't shy away from tough critiques: Life Inversion Field and Life Siphon both fall flat, while the nerf to Mental Prison earns collective groans. Yet, redemption arrives in the form of Psionic Blast and Psychic Scream , which the hosts hail as excellent examples of balanced, high-impact design. Along the way, they examine how intelligence saving throws affect game balance, the evolution of psionics in D&D 5e, and the potential for homebrew fixes. Whether you're a dungeon master looking to integrate psionics or a player hunting for the next big spell combo, this episode offers insight, humor, and deep-cut analysis that only RPGBOT can deliver. Key Takeaways Abidalzim's Horrid Wilting remains underwhelming, suffering from outdated mechanics. Bleeding Darkness and Ectoplasmic Trail raise confusion about their effects and visuals. Ego Whip is compared to Silvery Barbs but feels weaker in execution. Enemies Abound and Intellect Fortress stand out as clear, effective designs. Life Inversion Field and Life Siphon fail to live up to their thematic potential. Mental Prison has been toned down, losing much of its utility. Psionic Blast and Psychic Scream emerge as the strongest new spells. Rolotham's Psychic Lance remains a problematic favorite for DMs. Healing spells in combat continue to suffer from low efficiency. Intelligence saving throws risk skewing spell balance toward niche builds. Telekinetic Crush introduces a new dynamic for psychic damage dealers. The hosts explore spell synergy and suggest tweaks to improve design consistency across psionic abilities. Buy Keith Amman's New Book! Before you wrap your mind around psionics, grab something that's guaranteed to sharpen your tactical instincts—Keith Amman's new book, Making Enemies . It's the perfect gift for DMs, tacticians, and anyone who loves the art of monster strategy. Order it now and surprise your gamer friends this Christmas with the best tool a Game Master can have. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale ( affiliate link ) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati