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Message: <blockquote data-quote="KarinsDad" data-source="post: 3477718" data-attributes="member: 2011">I agree with you that for the short term (i.e. as long as they do not run out of Quickened spells), higher level Wizards can Nova slightly better than Psions.But, it is not a large advantage and it cannot be done without having a bunch of Quickened spells prepared. An Empowered Scorching Ray and a Quickened Scorching Ray at 11th level is a 4th and a 6th level spell for 100 points of damage. An Empowered Energy Ray and a Schismed Energy Ray at 11th level is 83 points of damage for 23 PP. Each consecutive round is another 83 points of damge for 16 more PP. An Empowered Overchanneled Energy Ray and a Schismed Overchanneled Energy Ray at 11th level is 106 points of damage for 28 PP.The Wizard used up his 6th level spell. How many consecutive rounds does he have left to Nova as strong as he did the first time? The Psion has 6 more such Nova rounds.I also do not think Wizards can survive as easily at lower levels in order to get to higher level where they can out Nova. Psions just have too many defensive options. And they have spontaneous options as opposed to prepared ones.Schism isn't often used by Psions to Nova. It is used for defense and miscellaneous manifesting. For example, using Vigor to set up Overchannel on Novas (or setting up a Vigor any time the previous one goes down or mostly down). Or in Eberron, the Warforged Psion using Share Pain (typically before combat) to share damage with a Psicrystal and then using a Shared Psionic Repair Damage to heal both simultaneously. Or putting up any defensive power appropriate to the situation or throwing a little extra offensive power at an opponent.But the advantage of Schism is that it does provide minor Quickened powers at a reduced cost so that a Psion can pick and choose to do the equivalent of a minor Energy Ray at NPC #3 because the Barbarian has wounded him so much already that a full blown one is not necessary or put up an AC boosting power or whatever he needs. The Wizard does not have this option. If he did not Quicken Mirror Image, he is stuck either casting (or reading from a scroll) a normal Mirror Image or not having it up at all.To Nova, a Psion uses Overchannel and Empower. Or Overchannel and Split Ray. Yes, a Psion needs Psionic Meditation to do this more than once per combat. But, a Psion does not need Schism to Nova. Schism is used to just flat out pump two powers out each round. One greater, one lesser. And most combats, that is not even needed. It is needed for the challenging combats, not the mook ones.Wizards have this option if they take the Quickened Spell feat (shy of a metamagic rod) and if they Quickened the proper spells, but it is more costly for them than Psions. Their Quickened slots are slots not being used for something else. Psions can choose not to Quicken or not to Schism. Nova is not required, even for a Nova specialist.</blockquote>

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