Advantages on Hand Attack

[Kristopher]

I assume that any Advantages taken on Hand Attack only apply to the dice of damage from the Hand Attack itself, correct?

Example: +6d6 Hand Attack, Affects Desolid. When striking a Desolid target, only the 6 dice of damage would apply. Correct?

[Lord Liaden]

Well, only if the character didn't want to add any Strength damage to the HA.

According to the notes on Adding Damage to Advantaged attacks on FREd p. 272, a character can add damage up to double the unmodified Active Points in a HA with Advantages without having to have those Advantages on his Strength, as long as he doesn't use more Strength than those unmodified Active Points. (The only exception is "Invisible Power Effects," which must be bought for both HA and STR used with it.)

In other words, if the character with a +6d6 HA with "Affects Desolidified" has STR 30, he can use that Strength to increase the HA damage up to 12d6 as if the HA had no Advantages, and all 12d6 will affect a Desolid target. The character doesn't need to buy the AD Adv. for his own strength.

Now, he would have to buy it if the character wanted to use more than 30 STR, or else he wouldn't be able to increase the damage beyond 12d6.

Did that make sense?

[Kristopher]

Makes sense. I just hadn't noticed that passage. Thanks.

[Lord Liaden]

It's actually one of the more complicated elements of 5E HERO System to unravel. One of our fellow board members, Talon, posted a link to a document he created drawing together the diverse rules for adding damage to HA and HKA from Strength, Martial Maneuvers, Skill Levels etc. and trying to clarify them. The link's not active anymore, but I don't think Talon would mind my posting the document here:

[Talon]

No problem at all. This is IMO one of the most complicated areas of 5th Edition.

[pinecone]

I Think that the Faq has an special case for NND where you pro-rate STR...it's a wacky exception...but I totally agree...4D6 HA NND is very cheap and only a 20 ST would do 8D6 otherwise....I think anyway, if not it's a "house rule" ..:)

[trechriron]

Talon - that document is nothing less than brilliant. Well done, top notch, bob's your uncle, here here!!

And otherwise generally super cool.

Thanks! :D

[Greatwyrm]

Originally posted by trechriron
Talon - that document is nothing less than brilliant. Well done, top notch, bob's your uncle, here here!!


Agreed. This is one of the topics I've been the most confused about, but you lay it all out nicely.

[Talon]

Thanks for the kudos! Someday I'll get my site working again and repost it there...

[Kristopher]

One more kudo from me.

As for posting it, it's something I'd like to see posted on the same webpage as the FAQ, or someplace along those lines.

[Talon]

If Steve & crew wanted to, I'd be happy to say yes. :)

[zornwil]

Originally posted by Talon
If Steve & crew wanted to, I'd be happy to say yes. :)

I think it'd be useful, though they may wish to remove the "house rule" part just to keep it pure HERO. I do like the house rule at first glance.

[Talon]

The good Lord Liaden pointed out a tiny error in my document (namely, that it is possible to add any amount of STR to an Advantaged HA, but only if the STR has the same Advantages). A slightly updated version is posted here.

[zornwil]

Originally posted by Talon
The good Lord Liaden pointed out a tiny error in my document (namely, that it is possible to add any amount of STR to an Advantaged HA, but only if the STR has the same Advantages). A slightly updated version is posted here.

Thanks, Talon, you did some nice work with this, I appreciate you sharing it.

[Keneton]

Well kudos are being distributed, I must add my own thanks. Lord Liaden and Talon have always been of great help to the posters on this board.

I got to game once with Talon, but have yet to have the honor of gaming with LL. Maybe one day.

From one Herophile to another I say thanks!
:)