What does Energy Adaptation actually protect from?

[Goddess FallenAngel]

The following is the Energy Adaptation power from the SRD, emphasis mine:

Energy Adaptation
Psychometabolism [see text]
Level: Psion/wilder 4, psychic warrior 4
Display: Visual; see text
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 10 min./level
Power Points: 7
Your body assimilates some of the effect of an energy attack and converts it to harmless light. You gain resistance 10 against any attack that deals acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic damage.
When you absorb damage, you can choose to radiate visible light that illuminates a 60-foot radius for a number of rounds equal to the points of damage you successfully resisted, or merely dissipate the energy without giving off a visual display.
The energy resistance provided by this power increases to 20 points at 9th manifester level and to a maximum of 30 points at 13th level. The power protects your equipment as well.
The resistance provided by this power does not stack with other forms of energy resistance.
This power’s subtype is the same as the type of damage it protects against.
Augment: If you spend 4 additional power points, you can manifest this power as an immediate action.

This seems to indicate that the power protects against all 5 energy types listed, but at the same time, seems to indicate that it only protects against one, because of the 2nd bolded sentence.

Does anyone know if there is any errata or clarifications on this? I have checked the errata on WOTC's website, as well as the 3.5 FAQ. Help please?....

 

[Notmousse]

As it protects against all five of these energy types it likewise is of all five of these subtypes. This means you can't cast it if there's some reason you can't manifest a power of any of those subtypes, and that you get a bonus to manifester level if you would have a bonus to manifesting any of those subtypes (though I doubt such bonuses would stack).

 

[Alzrius]

My understanding of the first emboldened sentence was that you picked a type of energy from those listed. "You gain resistance 10 against any attack that deals acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic damage." The last "or" indicates (I thought) that it wasn't in addition to the previously-mentioned types, but rather that you picked from one among them.

 

[pawsplay]

NVM, that's a nasty writeup. I'm bowing out.

 

[Notmousse]

That's most likely how it's meant to be run, but given the RAW mentality found among so many around here it would protect you from any of the energy types. You're protected from X amount of damage if it's type is A b C D or R, rather than you can choose to be protected from A B C D or E.

I'll have to agree with Pawsplay though, someone should've been smacked with an English book.

 

[wildstarsreach]

My understanding of the first emboldened sentence was that you picked a type of energy from those listed. "You gain resistance 10 against any attack that deals acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic damage." The last "or" indicates (I thought) that it wasn't in addition to the previously-mentioned types, but rather that you picked from one among them.

You know I hadn't thought of that. You put it up and designate when an attack comes that type of energy. From that point on it only protects against that type. This would make what I thought previously was an overpowering power for a 4th level power. With one manifestation, you get the effect of 5 2nd level spells cast at once. This was not the intention with the reading of 'or'.

 

[wildstarsreach]

That's most likely how it's meant to be run, but given the RAW mentality found among so many around here it would protect you from any of the energy types. You're protected from X amount of damage if it's type is A b C D or R, rather than you can choose to be protected from A B C D or E.

I'll have to agree with Pawsplay though, someone should've been smacked with an English book.

That's what EA specified is for. EA gives you the flexibility to wait to choose which type untill the first attack comes in.

 

[Bacris]

Wow, I was going to disagree, but after reviewing both powers, I'd agree - it's like Energy Adaptation, Specified (or Resist Energy), except you choose which energy type when needed, as opposed to Specified, where you choose it up front.

I'm not sure that's really worth it, given that EA,S can be manifested as an immediate action for the cost of EA...

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

So, what happens if you have this power up and running, and you are hit with, say, both fire and cold in the same round? It protects against both? Or does it just protect from the first energy type you are hit with in each round, and it has the capability to switch from round to round? My DM is just having a hard time running this in the game, and asked me if I could find suggestions....

 

[takasi]

You gain resistance 10 against any attack that deals acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic damage.

I think the power protects you from all energy types. They could not use an 'and' in this case, because if they did it would imply that you only gain resistance against any attack that deals all energy types.

If you're going by semantics, however, I would strongly argue that this power only works for one attack. In both cases the description refers to the singular, which would make this power much weaker (and possibly more balanced).

Why couldn't they make it simple and just say the following?

You gain resistance 10 to acid, col, electricity, fire and sonic damage.

If that was the intent of the power then it seems like it would be much easier to word it.

I also don't see anything in here that implies you choose the energy type or that you have to wait until the attack before a type is "chosen" for you. And if this power is limited to one energy type then it seems like it isn't worth a 4th level slot, especially with "Energy Adapation, Specified".

This post is also on the WotC Psionics boards (with same OP I imagine):

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=717618