Psionics question - crystal shard

[NewJeffCT]

I just want to make sure I'm reading this power correctly and interpreting it right. This is a ranged touch attack that allows no save and no spell resistance. However, would the actual crystal shard be subject to damage reduction? So, if a creature was DR10/magic (or silver, or good, etc), would it then subtract 10 from the amount of crystal shard damage?

Thanks

 

[Runestar]

ignore - double post.

 

[Runestar]

Normally, a spell would automatically bypass dr even if it normally simulates a physical attack. For instance, ice storm deals piercing damage, which would ignore a barbarian's dr/-.

However, complete psionic has errata (see the tiny entry at the bottom of page 79) which states that such metacreavity powers no longer bypass dr automatically.

I am not so sure in the case of dr/magic (since it can technically be construed as a magical attack), but the crystal shard power would be stopped by any other sort of dr (eg: silver/adamantine/evil etc).

 

[NewJeffCT]

Normally, a spell would automatically bypass dr even if it normally simulates a physical attack. For instance, ice storm deals piercing damage, which would ignore a barbarian's dr/-.

However, complete psionic has errata (see the tiny entry at the bottom of page 79) which states that such metacreavity powers no longer bypass dr automatically.

I am not so sure in the case of dr/magic (since it can technically be construed as a magical attack), but the crystal shard power would be stopped by any other sort of dr (eg: silver/adamantine/evil etc).

Thanks - it seemed pretty powerful for a 1st level power, then augmented with 8/9 more points to do crazy damage.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Thanks - it seemed pretty powerful for a 1st level power, then augmented with 8/9 more points to do crazy damage.

Granted, he is paying the cost of a 5th level powers cost to do this "crazy" damage.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Granted, he is paying the cost of a 5th level powers cost to do this "crazy" damage.

True, but if you are fighting a few powerful bad guys with Spell Resistance, it is quite a handy power...

and, the guy playing the psion in my group has a 20 INT and a huge amount of power points at 9th level as it is.

 

[krupintupple]

i'd probably ignore the 'complete psion' errata. give it a few games and if it seems that it would've been a better thing to be included - because he's overshadowing the rest of the group - maybe reintroduce it?

my reasoning would be, from our own campaign, that yes, the psion is powerful and has some awesome "no SR" powers, however, by the time he can augment the power up to 9 power points, he's probably in dire need of that manner of damage, as the party relies upon him as the artillery.

additionally, one well-built, charging melee-machine that gets past the defensemen (knights, fighters, crusaders) with the right feats can easily drop him in a round or two, as psions aren't that sturdy, unless they spend their time buffing, which is less time blasting or area-effecting or controlling.

 

[NewJeffCT]

i'd probably ignore the 'complete psion' errata. give it a few games and if it seems that it would've been a better thing to be included - because he's overshadowing the rest of the group - maybe reintroduce it?

my reasoning would be, from our own campaign, that yes, the psion is powerful and has some awesome "no SR" powers, however, by the time he can augment the power up to 9 power points, he's probably in dire need of that manner of damage, as the party relies upon him as the artillery.

additionally, one well-built, charging melee-machine that gets past the defensemen (knights, fighters, crusaders) with the right feats can easily drop him in a round or two, as psions aren't that sturdy, unless they spend their time buffing, which is less time blasting or area-effecting or controlling.

My problem is that the psion already overshadows the group sorcerer with the psion having far more variety in powers vs spells, and the psion being able to change between types of energy for more damage (fire, cold, sonic, electrical)... now, with him more easily able to overcome SR than the sorcerer, it will be an even bigger deal.

Also, we played a point buy system and the guy playing the psion maxed out his INT and CON, but the rest of his stats are average to below average. So, he's got a lot of hit points...

 

[Starbuck_II]

My problem is that the psion already overshadows the group sorcerer with the psion having far more variety in powers vs spells, and the psion being able to change between types of energy for more damage (fire, cold, sonic, electrical)... now, with him more easily able to overcome SR than the sorcerer, it will be an even bigger deal.

Also, we played a point buy system and the guy playing the psion maxed out his INT and CON, but the rest of his stats are average to below average. So, he's got a lot of hit points...

True, but the Sorc can get Fly; the Psion can't unless he spends a feat on Expanded Knowledege (unless he is a Egoist I think as Fly isn't a general power list- power).

The Sorcerors benefit is he has more access to spells than the psion powers. Plus, the Sorc gets auto augmenting (caster level augments a fireball, magic missile, etc for free).
Almost ever power requires spend PP to augment.

 

[Runestar]

I don't see what is so good about crystal shard. Direct damage is generally inferior to battlefield control spells anyways. Is Xd6 damage at Xth lv such a big deal in your groups?