So the temptation was too strong and that little Ψ symbol in the A35 page header just had to be clicked. That capital Greek letter “psi” is indeed the link to this index to the long-avoided section on psionics.
Yes, it was said that this would be the last subject covered in A35 because “nobody used it”. However, so many references are made to it throughout Dungeons & Dragons (version 3.5) that the impetus to build this section became too great to ignore. Now shut up.
As much as possible, the psionic rules—largely drawn from the Expanded Psionics Handbook and the Complete Psionic books—are isolated here so those that would like to continue to ignore them may continue to do so.
Here is the psionics index.
Simply put, psionics is the art of tapping the mind’s potential. A psionic character is blessed with a form of innate ability that enables him or her to use mental power to achieve goals or perform tasks that nonpsionic characters can accomplish—if they’re even capable of doing them at all—only by using gross physical skills such as brute strength or raw agility, or by using intellect or force of will distinct from the natural power of the mind itself.
Your character’s mind is an infinite metaphorical plane, where all things are possible. It may be that all characters have within them the potential for harnessing the energy of the mind, but only those who succeed in tapping into that potential can become psionic characters. A psionic character knows the mental pathways that lead to amazing edifices of thought and energy. Knowing the path, the psionic character walks it. Like a flare being thrown off a star, a power is manifested from a psionic character’s energy of consciousness.
If this is your first exposure to psionics in the D&D® game, the following information will serve as a brief explanation of how psionic powers work.
A psionic power is a one-time psionic effect (similar in this respect to a spell). Activating a power’s effect is known as manifesting that power (the psionic version of spellcasting). Every psionic character or creature has a daily supply power points that he or she can spend to manifest powers the character has learned. A power known to a psionic character can be used as many times as he or she has power points to pay for it.
A power is manifested when a psionic character pays its power point cost. Some psionic creatures automatically manifest powers, called psi-like abilities, without paying a power point cost.