Design: L. Richard Baker III

Editing: Matt Forbeck

Copy Editing: Bill Slavicsek

Project Coordination: Dori Jean Hein

Cover Art: Robh Ruppel

Interior Art: Tom Baxa

Graphics Coordination: Sarah Feggestad

Art Coordination: Peggy Cooper

Cartography: Diesel

Typography: Nancy J. Kerkstra

ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, AD&D, DUNGEON MASTER, DARK SUN, and MONSTROUS COMPENDIUM are registered trademarks owned by TSR, Inc.

The TSR logo is a trademark owned by TSR, Inc.

All TSR characters, character names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc.

Random House and its affiliate companies have worldwide distribution rights in the book trade for English language products of TSR, Inc.

Distributed to the toy and hobby trade by regional distributors. Distributed to the book and hobby trade in the United Kingdom by TSR, Ltd.

This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written consent of TSR, Inc.

Copyright © 1994 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Zeranna looked over the new class of students with an angry scowl. As the school’s Master of Psychokinesis, she should have been exempt from such basic instructional duties. She enjoyed working with the advanced students who had selected her discipline as their own, but these children had not even been taught the most basic modes of concentration!

Spoiled young nobles and wealthy merchants, she thought to herself. Well, one must begin somewhere. And their parents’ tuition kept the school open. “Good morning, students,” she began. “I am Master Zeranna. You will address me as such. Do any of you know why you are here today?”

The class fell silent. The children fidgeted under her gaze.

“You are here to learn how to harness the power of your mind through the Way, “ Zeranna continued. “All creatures possess the Will—the potential for psionic power—but without schooling in the way, they will never be able to use their hidden gifts. Some of you will listen and learn. Others of you will spend months here without comprehending a thing I say. The decision is up to you. Now, shall we begin?”

The Will and the Way explores psionics and psionicist characters in the Dark Sun^® campaign setting. In this book you’ll find psionicist character kits, an expanded psionic combat system, and guidelines for developing new psionic abilities. Dungeon Masters (DMs) will find information about psionics and Athasian society, NPC psionicist templates, and discussions of character advancement and research. This book also features more than 60 new psionic powers, with updated power listings and wild talent tables.

Although this product is part of the Dark Sun setting, it is suitable for any campaign with psionics. If this material will be used in games worlds besides Athas, the DM should review the new powers and guidelines before allowing their use.

The Will and the Way refers to material that appears in The Complete Psionics Handbook. If you do not have a copy, you should obtain one before you try to incorporate this material into your campaign. This book also assumes the reader has a copy of Dragon Kings. If you’re not using the psionic powers and rules for advancement from Dragon Kings, some charts and listings may refer to powers unavailable in your campaign.

Psionics are prevalent everywhere in the Dark Sun campaign. Every living creature on Athas will have contact with psionics during its lifetime. Creatures may possess talents that help them to hunt or survive, people with natural talents fill the cities, and even nonpsionic creatures and characters must deal with their psionic counterparts. Those who can’t adapt to these conditions will not survive beneath the crimson sun.

All living things are blessed with some psionic potential, even if they do not develop mental powers. This potential is the summation of three characteristics: physical strength, mental strength, and spiritual strength. Only by using all three aspects together can a creature call upon its psionic energies.

Physical strength does not refer to muscle mass or hardiness; a more accurate term would be physical self-awareness. Students of the Way strive to understand their bodies, their limits, and their strengths. Many people are not paragons of physical prowess, but still enjoy an aptitude for psionics simply by recognizing their weaknesses and compensating for them.

Mental strength refers to the one’s intellectual strength and mental quickness. As with physical strength, it’s not how much the characters possess but how well they use it. People of only average intelligence have achieved mastery of the Way by compensating for their lack of brilliance with perseverance and determination.

Spiritual strength is the summation of strength of will and character. While it is possible for physically weak or mentally weak characters to use psionics, it is very difficult for a weak-willed person to ever proceed far in the study of the Way.

When people learn to use psionics, they’re taught to create a nexus—a point in the center of their beings where physical, mental, and spiritual energy can be harnessed. It is the union of these powers that allows psionicist to perform the remarkable feats they’re capable of.