The Effect of the Psionic Storm on Burrowed Units

[supersonic]

We had a big thread on this @ blizzforums: http://blizzforums.com/showthread.php?t=24044&page=4

We decided that psionic storm is a completely physical effect (but created via mental powers).

Just because you have more people agree with one thing, doesn't change the fact that it's a Psi attack, and not "lightning storm".

and only 4 pages long? Not much of a big thread ;]

[Gradius]

Just because you have more people agree with one thing, doesn't change the fact that it's a Psi attack, and not "lightning storm".

But it is a lightning storm; every example of it in lore involves physical destruction & a "lightning storm" that can be seen.

and only 4 pages long? Not much of a big thread ;]

True.

[supersonic]

But it is a lightning storm; every example of it in lore involves physical destruction & a "lightning storm" that can be seen.

Psionic Energy can take a lot of forms and as far as I know can also distort things. So it is entirely possible that the Psi Energy is taking the form of lightning as to look more aggressive/memorable or as a way to better channel currents of energy.

[0neder]

If it's not electricity, it shouldn't look like electricity.

[Norfindel]

psionic storm
psionic storm cost: 75 energy
range: 9

the protoss are such powerful psychics that they can inadvertently send out psychic "ripples" that are disruptive to other life forms. With careful training, high templar learn to focus these ripples into a storm of raw psychic energy that is capable of literally tearing apart the minds of lesser species.

a psionic storm that is unleashed will damage all units under it.

Psionic storm has no effect on buildings.

Psionic storm damages the templar when it casts it upon itself.

Psionic storm is not stackable so casting more than one on the same object at the same time does not cause more damage.

Psionic storm does not damage units under a stasis field.

/thread

[Kimera757]

IIRC, the original debate was whether psionic storm was a brain-damaging ability, or a zapping ability. The Dark Templar Saga made it clear it can blow up jungle, so physical.

[Pandonetho]

Personally, I like to believe that psionic storm takes both mental and physical manifestations.

First of all, it's physical because as you can see it can blow up a jungle as Kimera said. ALSO, if it was purely mental, then a battlecruiser should crash and burn just as easily as a marine.

My reasons for believing it's also mental? Well, the compendium says so itself, also, lesser beings (zerglings? hydralisks? marines?) they die VERY fast. Simply because they're mental abilities suck ass. IMO psionic storm first has to penetrate their physical defenses, and then the mental portion of it leaks through and wrecks havok on anyone it touches. This is why guys in tanks don't die as fast as marines.

Just my interpretation though, I'm probably completely wrong.

[Norfindel]

IIRC, the original debate was whether psionic storm was a brain-damaging ability, or a zapping ability. The Dark Templar Saga made it clear it can blow up jungle, so physical.

And you think than the amount of *Psionic* energy that can blow up a jungle won't affect the mind at all?

I think it has both effects. It's psionic energy. Any kind of energy in enough quantity damages stuff. Psionics can damage minds. And, it's Blizzard's site what i quoted up there in my last post.

Pandonetho's interpretation is interesting, but it's based on gameplay, which can or cannot match lore.

Even if they could destroy anybody inside a Battlecruiser with Psionic Storms, it won't be so easy to get so close to cast it in the first place, and High Templars aren't available in great numbers, nor can constantly cast Psi Storm. So, no matter how destructive is it, you cannot use it freely to destroy everything, you still need weapons and a conventional army.

[Gradius]

that is capable of literally tearing apart the minds of lesser species.

Note the "literally". This would be a physical effect. It's drawn as a lightning storm in-game in both SC1 and SC2. The storm tears up brains as easily as it does the landscape, therefore it's a physical lightning storm.

What's misleading is "the protoss are such powerful psychics that they can inadvertently send out psychic "ripples" that are disruptive to other life forms". It gives the impression that it's a purely mental ability, but it doesn't seem to have anything to do with an actual psionic storm.

My reasons for believing it's also mental? Well, the compendium says so itself, also, lesser beings (zerglings? hydralisks? marines?) they die VERY fast. Simply because they're mental abilities suck ass. IMO psionic storm first has to penetrate their physical defenses, and then the mental portion of it leaks through and wrecks havok on anyone it touches. This is why guys in tanks don't die as fast as marines.

If you're going to go with a gameplay perspective, then it's clear that it's physical. One thing that storm does though is ignore the armor. Combined with the misleading info from the manual, it makes for a confusing matter, hence the thread @ BF.

[DemolitionSquid]

Psionic storm is physical. Its telekinesis of a sort. It creates an actual storm.