Ambidexterity / Off Hand - Thoughts And Question

[ThothAmon]

Standard humans have 2 arms, one of which is the off hand arm. Attacks with the off hand have an OCV penalty that can be negated by the Ambidexterity ability.

Let's consider two Energy Projectors (Fry Guy and Bolt Thrower) who are standard humans. Their primary attacks powers are: Fry Guy projects heat beams from his eyes; Bolt Thrower tosses plasma bolts from his hands. Neither of the two have Inherent on their attack power.

If both these guys take an impairing hit to their good arm, what happens to their OCV when using their primary attack? Does Bolt Thrower suffer an OCV penalty? Does Fry Guy get out of jail for free because his concept states eye beams?

[Steve Long]

If the campaign uses Impairing rules, then yes, an attack made with an Impaired arm or hand, whether it's an innate power or a weapon, suffers that penalty, while attacks made with other parts of the body (head, legs, and the like) do not. OTOH, if a character with eyebeams and one with hand-fired beams both took Impairing wounds to the head, the guy with the eyebeams might be out of luck, whereas the other one wouldn't, or would suffer a lesser penalty. It all depends on how the GM chooses to interpret things in light of common sense, dramatic sense, and consideration for game balance.