Post/Author/DateTime	Post
metatheurgist 08-25-07, 10:13 AM	Just reading this power in consideration for a final fight where the BBEG has a bunch of psions willing to participate in a metaconcert. I seem to be missing some things from the mechanics of this power from my reading of it. It says that the participants can move. Does that mean that the participants can continue to take actions while the power is running (including the conductor)? The power describes a mental entity being created under the mental command of the conductor. Is this mental entity considered a seperate creature that can take actions independant of the conductor? The power says the mental entity has knowledge of all the powers of the participants and can manifest powers, but it doesn't mention the effective manifester level of this mental entity. I've looked in the errata and searched but found no satisfactory answers.
Jaid 08-25-07, 02:27 PM	yeah, you've pretty much hit the nail on the head there. i believe tempest posted a fix on the boards a long while back, and a polished version of that made it's way into untapped potential... a quick search may very well find what you're looking for (i think you'll have to use a google domain search, though). but basically, yes, metaconcert has some fairly noteworthy problems.
Tempest Stormwind 08-25-07, 03:32 PM	This was touched upon in the FAQ at the top of the forum. Yes, though, as written it's extremely confusing and almost unusable, for most of the same reasons you picked up on. I wrote up a fix to this, passed it around here for revisions, and then polished it up and put it in Untapped Potential (with expanded society mind support; the harmonizer (a set of society-mind-geared sub levels for the thrallherd) even focuses on it!). Feedback on it has been generally positive; there's a few minor nits but by and large it's been reviewed as a good change with a clear effect and incentive to be used. This is, however, third-party.
AntiDjinn 08-25-07, 07:41 PM	It says that the participants can move. Does that mean that the participants can continue to take actions while the power is running (including the conductor)? The conductor's action is to direct the output of the metaconcert. While the conductor can do whatever he likes, on rounds where he does something other than manifest a power, the metaconcert is just counting down a round and not getting anything done. As written, other participants are free to do as they like except for the fact that they need to stay in range. The other participants don't have to manifest Metaconcert and they don't need to concentrate or take any other action to maintain the effect, keep their powers known on the metaconcert's menu, and continue their contribution to the DC boost. In fact, it seems not only can they take actions, but they are each responsible for their own armor class and defense. The power does not say that when the conductor manifests Evade Burst it affects the entire group, so when an Energy Ball is coming (they are all within a 20 foot radius. How convenient.) each participant had better be able to respond or get toasted. The participants can walk slowly as a group, but it take a while to cover any ground. In combat most of them will have to hold their action to wait for the one with the lowest initiative so they can move together, otherwise slowpokes will be left behind and their contribution will be lost.
metatheurgist 08-26-07, 12:52 AM	Thanks for the input. I'll probably just revise how I see the final fight going.