Energy Burst [Archive] - Wizards Community

Energy Burst [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Artector
10-15-07, 11:51 PM First off: No, I'm not saying psionics are broken.

Ok, so I've played in and DMed a game where a psion has a Energy Burst, and its hitting pretty damn hard. But I realy gotta ask, is it balanced?

The pros:
Good damage
General Power
Large area (40 foot radius!)

The cons:
Saves
Power Resistance
Centered on Caster
Large area means it sucks in cramped spaces.

I see the balance, in play it just isn't working out as well. Tell me what you think. (In more general terms, I know mostly what my problems are)
Deekin
10-16-07, 01:52 AM First off: No, I'm not saying psionics are broken.

Ok, so I've played in and DMed a game where a psion has a Energy Burst, and its hitting pretty damn hard. But I realy gotta ask, is it balanced?

The pros:
Good damage
General Power
Large area (40 foot radius!)

The cons:
Saves
Power Resistance
Centered on Caster
Large area means it sucks in cramped spaces.

I see the balance, in play it just isn't working out as well. Tell me what you think. (In more general terms, I know mostly what my problems are)

Con: you hit everything within 40 ft. That inculdes your allies.
Callix
10-16-07, 06:58 AM Energy Burst is a good nova power, and can be imbalanced when used as a suicide nova by a psion NPC, especially when it first becomes available. Most abilities that can be gained by PCs (within the area thought of by the developers, that is) are balanced when used with some form of survival instinct. Optimal placing for Energy Burst is a very bad place for a psion to be, though, so it balances out.

Look at other boards' opinions of the warlock's Eldritch Doom blast shape invocation if you want non-psionic examples. These sort of abilities give solo opponents options when surrounded, but are only really any good when you're at a disadvantage. Other powers, spells, invocations, etc are better at finishing things when you're at an advantage.
InkBlot
10-16-07, 08:18 AM Energy burst? It's a nerfed-to-hell-and-back fireball. Even the +1 damage per die and variable energy types doesn't make up for the lost range. Everything a psion can do with energy burst, a wizard can do with fireball from 520 feet away.
PhaedrusXY
10-16-07, 12:29 PM Everything a psion can do with energy burst, a wizard can do with fireball from 520 feet away.Except for changing the energy type on the fly (unless he's an archmage). Other than that, yeah.
vorpo
10-16-07, 02:33 PM Except for changing the energy type on the fly (unless he's an archmage). Other than that, yeah.

Then there comes the Energy Substitution/Admixture feats.
PhaedrusXY
10-16-07, 02:44 PM Then there comes the Energy Substitution/Admixture feats.Wizards can't change the energy types spontaneously (i.e. "on the fly") with those, though. Also, it costs 1 feat per energy type. The psion is just hands down much better at it, unless said wizard is an archmage, like I said earlier.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Artector 10-15-07, 11:51 PM	First off: No, I'm not saying psionics are broken. Ok, so I've played in and DMed a game where a psion has a Energy Burst, and its hitting pretty damn hard. But I realy gotta ask, is it balanced? The pros: Good damage General Power Large area (40 foot radius!) The cons: Saves Power Resistance Centered on Caster Large area means it sucks in cramped spaces. I see the balance, in play it just isn't working out as well. Tell me what you think. (In more general terms, I know mostly what my problems are)
Deekin 10-16-07, 01:52 AM	First off: No, I'm not saying psionics are broken. Ok, so I've played in and DMed a game where a psion has a Energy Burst, and its hitting pretty damn hard. But I realy gotta ask, is it balanced? The pros: Good damage General Power Large area (40 foot radius!) The cons: Saves Power Resistance Centered on Caster Large area means it sucks in cramped spaces. I see the balance, in play it just isn't working out as well. Tell me what you think. (In more general terms, I know mostly what my problems are) Con: you hit everything within 40 ft. That inculdes your allies.
Callix 10-16-07, 06:58 AM	Energy Burst is a good nova power, and can be imbalanced when used as a suicide nova by a psion NPC, especially when it first becomes available. Most abilities that can be gained by PCs (within the area thought of by the developers, that is) are balanced when used with some form of survival instinct. Optimal placing for Energy Burst is a very bad place for a psion to be, though, so it balances out. Look at other boards' opinions of the warlock's Eldritch Doom blast shape invocation if you want non-psionic examples. These sort of abilities give solo opponents options when surrounded, but are only really any good when you're at a disadvantage. Other powers, spells, invocations, etc are better at finishing things when you're at an advantage.
InkBlot 10-16-07, 08:18 AM	Energy burst? It's a nerfed-to-hell-and-back fireball. Even the +1 damage per die and variable energy types doesn't make up for the lost range. Everything a psion can do with energy burst, a wizard can do with fireball from 520 feet away.
PhaedrusXY 10-16-07, 12:29 PM	Everything a psion can do with energy burst, a wizard can do with fireball from 520 feet away.Except for changing the energy type on the fly (unless he's an archmage). Other than that, yeah.
vorpo 10-16-07, 02:33 PM	Except for changing the energy type on the fly (unless he's an archmage). Other than that, yeah. Then there comes the Energy Substitution/Admixture feats.
PhaedrusXY 10-16-07, 02:44 PM	Then there comes the Energy Substitution/Admixture feats.Wizards can't change the energy types spontaneously (i.e. "on the fly") with those, though. Also, it costs 1 feat per energy type. The psion is just hands down much better at it, unless said wizard is an archmage, like I said earlier.