Mass Concussion errata?

[zoroaster100]

I can't find anything in the errata or FAQ files from Bruce Cordell on this power from the Psionics Handbook, but shouldn't it get a Fort saving throw for half damage? All other concussion powers get a save for half, even higher level ones that only affect one person. As written it does 7d4 damage, with no save, to anything in a 20' radius sphere within Long range! And its only 4th level.

 

[Victim]

There is no errata. There doesn't really need to be. Mass Concussion is the one damaging psionic power that is as powerful as a wizard's evocation of similar level.

That's right: Mass Concussion has all the power of the brutal evocation Ice Storm. The best psion forceblast is about as good - maybe a bit better - than one of the poor wiz/sor ones.

 

[zoroaster100]

Don't get me wrong, I know psions were underpowered if you use them straight out of the Psionics Handbook. But it seemed strange all the other psion powers are below the equivalent level wizard/sorcerer powers in terms of pure damage, except for this power which has the same average damage as the equivalent wizard spell (both mass concussion and ice storm do 17.5 average damage). The problem is that if it's out of whack with other psion powers, then fixes applied overall to psion damaging powers, such as the variant scaling damage rule, can make this power too powerful. Besides, it just seemed weird that a 7th level power in the concussion chain (True Concussion) would have a Fort save for half damage and only does 13d4 to one opponent, but this fourth level power skips the Fort save AND is an area effect spell.