The "Overlooked, underappreciated, magic items" thread got me thinking about underappreciated spells and powers.
I'll start off with the psionic power Ego Whip:
It is relatively easy to have a DC 14 or higher with this at third level where many opponents only have +0 to +3 to saves (except Divine types and Monks) and Cha <= 12 (and often <= 10).
Casting it twice at 7th level on some opponents will sometimes cause them to fall comotose and often be dazed after the first casting. Since Charisma is often a dump stat, this is very useful against PCs and NPCs who do that.
But the real power comes in at higher levels when it can be Empowered or Maximized. 2D4 Empowered for 9 PP with a save DC of 16+ (or 2D4 Maximized for 11 PP or 2D4 Empowered Maximized for 13 PP) is fairly nice and can sometimes take out an opponent with one casting without a save, two castings even if two saves are made.
Not only is it a fairly good anti-Rogue, anti-Barbarian, and anti-Fighter power, but it is also a fairly good anti-Sorcerer and anti-Bard power (and a limited Psion in league with Necromancer anti-Cleric and anti-Paladin power) due to it doing half damage on a save.
Granted, it has power resistance, but that can often be overcome and for some opponents (like the main targets of most Fighters, Rogues, and Barbarians) not even an issue.
PS. The 8th level NPC re-occuring Psion Villain in our game took out the 5th level PC Barbarian by casting the 7 PP version of it twice two weeks ago. After the Cleric got the Barbarian back up (in 3 rounds) with Lesser Restoration, the Psion took him right back out the very next round with a third use of it.
I'll start off with the psionic power Ego Whip:
It is relatively easy to have a DC 14 or higher with this at third level where many opponents only have +0 to +3 to saves (except Divine types and Monks) and Cha <= 12 (and often <= 10).
Casting it twice at 7th level on some opponents will sometimes cause them to fall comotose and often be dazed after the first casting. Since Charisma is often a dump stat, this is very useful against PCs and NPCs who do that.
But the real power comes in at higher levels when it can be Empowered or Maximized. 2D4 Empowered for 9 PP with a save DC of 16+ (or 2D4 Maximized for 11 PP or 2D4 Empowered Maximized for 13 PP) is fairly nice and can sometimes take out an opponent with one casting without a save, two castings even if two saves are made.
Not only is it a fairly good anti-Rogue, anti-Barbarian, and anti-Fighter power, but it is also a fairly good anti-Sorcerer and anti-Bard power (and a limited Psion in league with Necromancer anti-Cleric and anti-Paladin power) due to it doing half damage on a save.
Granted, it has power resistance, but that can often be overcome and for some opponents (like the main targets of most Fighters, Rogues, and Barbarians) not even an issue.
PS. The 8th level NPC re-occuring Psion Villain in our game took out the 5th level PC Barbarian by casting the 7 PP version of it twice two weeks ago. After the Cleric got the Barbarian back up (in 3 rounds) with Lesser Restoration, the Psion took him right back out the very next round with a third use of it.
this wilder could use a fully augmented and wild-surged Ego Whip to do 6d4 damage with a DC 29 save. That would spoil most characters day quite nicely!
