Questions regarding multiple-attack Powers (part two)

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This is a continuation to a posting I placed in the general discussions forum. I received a lot of helpful responses, but for total clarification’s sake I thought I’d take my questions straight to the source.

If both powers are area-affecting do you roll against the target’s DCV or the area’s? Can you do a multiple-power attack on an area? The general consensus seems to be that you can—is this how you would rule it?

If one of the attacks will reduce or affect of the targets defenses or CV (for example, a Drain PD or a Flash) the other attack is applied first, but what if they both affect the targets defenses?

The Different Powers section (p. 359 Revised) has left me most unclear. I guess the source of my confusion is determining what is “reasonably distinguishable”

STR-based weapon combat, Martial Maneuvers and the like count as distinct attacks (distinct meaning separate I assume) provided that their effects are reasonably distinguishable.

Then there’s the optional rule that allows characters to fight with melee weapons in each hand as a multiple-power attack even though this involves using two similar or even identical attacks that both do damage with STR, which to me doesn’t seem distinguishable. My confusion is further compounded by the sentence (The same applies to using two Ranged weapons, such as two pistols or thrown daggers). Not only does the same weapon in each hand not seem distinguishable, but why differentiate attacks that are STR-based from ones that are not (the two pistols mentioned above)?

I’m taking this to mean that un-armed STR-based attacks must be distinguishable, but with weapons it is optional.

Since Off Hand penalties do not apply to multiple-power attacks (even if the special effect of the attack is that the PC fires an attack with each hand) I’m concerned that allowing a character to fight with a melee weapon in each hand as a multiple-power attack might upset the rule balance. Correct me if I’m wrong (and I confess that I probably am, considering that I don’t know how to play this game yet) but wouldn’t this be unfair for players that spend character points so their PCs can fight two-handed without off-hand penalties?

I hope I’m making sense.

Thanks.

[Steve Long]

First, as a general point, if you’re going to ask this many questions at once, it would be helpful to me, you, and everyone else if you’d number ’em. Otherwise, someone’s likely to get confused. ;)

1. See 5ER 358, top right, re: area-affecting attacks in multiple-power attacks. If that doesn’t fully answer your question, please post a follow-up.

2. The rule about applying a damaging power before a defense-reducing power isn’t relevant if both powers used are defense-reducing. If neither power causes any damage, but just reduces defenses, it doesn’t matter which one applies first.

3-4. I’m sorry, but I don’t answer game design/philosophy questions, nor ambigious issues like “fairness” or “game balance.” If you’re concerned about the “fairness” or “balance” of something, it’s an issue you need to address for your own games when GMing (or ask the GM for clarification on when you’re playing). In fact, the rule you’re asking about specifically indicates that it’s at the GM’s option.