Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
B/X didn't need psionics, and the 1981 Expert rulebook proves the omission was a decision — the book advertises the supplement that introduced them and never uses a single line.
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The word "psionics" appears exactly once across the B/X Basic and Expert rulebooks: in the TSR product catalogue in the Expert back matter, in the listing for Eldritch Wizardry, product 2005. Not in the classes, not in the monsters, not in an optional-rules sidebar. In an ad.
I ran AD&D psionics in a campaign that started in 1981. One character in a party of five rolled psionic, the powers ran on rules that looked nothing like the rest of the game, and inside a few months the whole table had forgotten they existed. This video makes the case that Cook was looking at the same problem and made the right call for a boxed set whose only job was teaching new players the game.
Then the part that reaches past B/X: the supplement problem everybody blames on the 90s started with the first OD&D supplement, and psionics is the clearest example of the shape.
DM Angelo: youtube.com/watch?v=UGuh0VskweY
Greyhawk Grognard: youtube.com/watch?v=lPG9mkm3WOM
The Tavern Rules: We’re here for B/X and OSR gaming. I use AI as a tool to help organize and format my notes, but every ruling and opinion is 100% Tenkar. Keep it civil, keep it old-school, or the bouncer will show you the door.
Basic Rules (Moldvay) PDF & Print - drivethrurpg.com/en/product/110274/d-d-basic-set-rulebook-b-x-ed-basic?src=newest_print&affiliate_id=1446
Expert Rules (Marsh/Cook) PDF & Print - drivethrurpg.com/en/product/110792/d-d-expert-set-rulebook-b-x-ed-basic?affiliate_id=1446
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Buy me a Beer!
ko-fi.com/tenkar
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Master Minion: mortgagemike77, Randt Chrockett, Eric Fox, The Veteran DM, Cathulhu17, Don Bakke, DoubleDeuce, skink, Kore44, Louis Feurino, Craig Aylward, Anthon Kron, Ijimisan, Terry Taylor, blahlbinoa, Arbiter's Archive, Dean Salsberry, DM Angelo, Douglas Pearson, James Spahn, Mathew Sherman, Agile Monk
Companion Minions: Andrey Zharinov, Brett C, Spode Racing, Tacoloco787, Adam Lovell, Plush Cthulhu, DM_Sahrenyth, Gabe Guerrero, Chris Charlton, Chris Blatnick, Nicodemus ShadowCaster, Christopher Beattie, No one, Stephen Klow, Mark the Shark, Eupolemos, Jay, Martin Penny, tim cafferty, Rubens Barrichello, Curt Gould, Estaban Vasquez, Glen K. Amo
youtube.com/channel/UCIdpAASpAI7vu-bZx6pP_mQ
#OSR #DnD #BXDnD #TTRPG #TenkarsTavern #Psionics
B/X didn't need psionics, and the 1981 Expert rulebook proves the omission was a decision — the book advertises the supplement that introduced them and never uses a single line.
🔥 JOIN THE MINIONS: youtube.com/@TenkarsTavern/join
The word "psionics" appears exactly once across the B/X Basic and Expert rulebooks: in the TSR product catalogue in the Expert back matter, in the listing for Eldritch Wizardry, product 2005. Not in the classes, not in the monsters, not in an optional-rules sidebar. In an ad.
I ran AD&D psionics in a campaign that started in 1981. One character in a party of five rolled psionic, the powers ran on rules that looked nothing like the rest of the game, and inside a few months the whole table had forgotten they existed. This video makes the case that Cook was looking at the same problem and made the right call for a boxed set whose only job was teaching new players the game.
Then the part that reaches past B/X: the supplement problem everybody blames on the 90s started with the first OD&D supplement, and psionics is the clearest example of the shape.
DM Angelo: youtube.com/watch?v=UGuh0VskweY
Greyhawk Grognard: youtube.com/watch?v=lPG9mkm3WOM
The Tavern Rules: We’re here for B/X and OSR gaming. I use AI as a tool to help organize and format my notes, but every ruling and opinion is 100% Tenkar. Keep it civil, keep it old-school, or the bouncer will show you the door.
Basic Rules (Moldvay) PDF & Print - drivethrurpg.com/en/product/110274/d-d-basic-set-rulebook-b-x-ed-basic?src=newest_print&affiliate_id=1446
Expert Rules (Marsh/Cook) PDF & Print - drivethrurpg.com/en/product/110792/d-d-expert-set-rulebook-b-x-ed-basic?affiliate_id=1446
Join The Tavern’s Discord Server (It's Free):
discord.gg/fReGmuD
Buy me a Beer!
ko-fi.com/tenkar
The Tavern uses affiliate links - using our affiliate links supports the channel without costing you anything extra.
Humble Bundle: humblebundleinc.sjv.io/da4WJ2
The Tavern’s Amazon Storefront: amzn.to/41Jm0oG
DriveThruRPG: drivethrurpg.com/en/?affiliate_id=1446
Fantasy Grounds VTT: affiliates.fantasygrounds.com/388855/15958
The Tavern uses Restream for its livestreams and its long-form videos. You can too! restream.io/join/g5Qpgr
The Tavern also uses VidIQ: vidiq.com/TenkarsTavern
Master Minion: mortgagemike77, Randt Chrockett, Eric Fox, The Veteran DM, Cathulhu17, Don Bakke, DoubleDeuce, skink, Kore44, Louis Feurino, Craig Aylward, Anthon Kron, Ijimisan, Terry Taylor, blahlbinoa, Arbiter's Archive, Dean Salsberry, DM Angelo, Douglas Pearson, James Spahn, Mathew Sherman, Agile Monk
Companion Minions: Andrey Zharinov, Brett C, Spode Racing, Tacoloco787, Adam Lovell, Plush Cthulhu, DM_Sahrenyth, Gabe Guerrero, Chris Charlton, Chris Blatnick, Nicodemus ShadowCaster, Christopher Beattie, No one, Stephen Klow, Mark the Shark, Eupolemos, Jay, Martin Penny, tim cafferty, Rubens Barrichello, Curt Gould, Estaban Vasquez, Glen K. Amo
youtube.com/channel/UCIdpAASpAI7vu-bZx6pP_mQ
#OSR #DnD #BXDnD #TTRPG #TenkarsTavern #Psionics
