That Psion Scalability Thing Again

[Azure Trance]

One of the reviews @ D20 Reviews for the Psionics Handbook had a reply email from Bruce R. Cordell explaining some of the rules of the books.

One of them was the non-scaling of the psionic powers. Link here: http://www.enworld.org/d20reviews.asp?sub=yes&where=active&reviewer=Nexx&product=PsiHB.

Another spot that bugged me were powers, specifically those that did or repaired damage. There was no scalability with these. A first level psion throwing Firefall or Dissipating Touch is going to do the same damage as a 20th level psion. While the argument was, during the playtesting stages, that it kept a psion from using cheap, low-level powers to completely destroy someone, the same goal was achieved with wizard spells by putting level caps on damage dice. As it is, one power is made obsolete by the next one up the line; there is little reason to cast... whoops, "manifest" Concussion when you have Greater Concussion, because they're both doing 1d6 per power point; you just put more of them into Greater Concussion.

BRC: Though you point it out as a flaw, in fact not allowing psionic powers that do damage or heal to ramp is the saving grace of the system. Playtest after playtest showed the folly of the first rule set where powers ramped like spells-a power point system is too fluid to allow it. If I can pay 1 power point for a 1st level power that does 5d6 damage because I'm a 5th level caster, why the heck would I ever, ever spend 5 power points for a 3rd level power that does the same thing? Power points and ramping damage/healing really do not go together, and I have my playtesters, in and out of house, to thank for bringing this fact to light.

I've also remember reading several threads back on the UBB abuot people allowing scalability. Is it better to do that then go by the book? What are some ways to modify the non-scalability of the psion powers and what would be the obvious pros/cons? Any links?

 

[Piratecat]

For darn good scalabiliy rules, spend $5 on Cordell's "If Thoughts Could Kill" (www.montecook.com). In addition to a good adventure, it has useful psionic rules additions in back.

Interestingly enough, I believe I was actually the first playtester who figured out how broken non-scaling damage was. I was sitting on a plane going over the playtest docs and I had an epiphany; quick calculation showed how horribly powerful psions were when their powers scaled. That explanation was an interesting email to write; it mostly said "how did we miss this so far?!?"

- PCat