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Zephrosyne
Jan 20th, '06, 10:22 AM
I appreciate that fact that you don't use this board to answer "how to" questions but since this is based on an "official" build I was hoping that it was close enough to a rules question to be allowed. For the record, I have tried the FAQ and there wasn't anything there to help me.

If I am understanding the rules correctly on page 169, the Takes No Damage From Attacks Advantage means that a character who is entangled does not receive the benefits of the entangle's DEF and Body because the Entangle itself is transparent to attacks. However, the Entangle itself can be targeted at a -3 OCV.

Now, a BOECV Entangle (as per page 169) can be attacked by Ego Attacks and therefore has the +1/4 version of the Advantage. I have noted that on page 41 of the UNTIL Superpowers Database that the power Paralysis has the +1/2 version of the Advantage. What would you attack that with to break free? Healing? At first I thought that meant that you simply couldn't attack the Entangle until I realized that a pair of handcuffs (as per page 168), which are clearly attackable, are built with the same Advantage.

Lastly, I think that I am missing something with the rules for Entangle in general even after re-reading them. It doesn't seem logical that brute force such as physical strength or an energy blast could free a target from an effect such as the above Paralysis via body control example or the Dimensional Trap power (pg. 62 UNTIL Superpowers Database). Does the special effect specifically dictate what is and is not effective in damaging the Entangle itself? I am basing this assessment on the second to last paragraph on page 167. Thanks.

Steve Long
Jan 20th, '06, 11:05 AM
Except insofar as a specific rule indicates otherwise, special effects do not grant an Entangle any exemption from the rules about breaking out: STR or the like are still used, and the Entangle can still be targeted by outside persons using the rules for doing so. Whether or not that's "logical" is a matter for each GM to decide, but for game balance purposes that's the way things stand. One of my upcoming HEROglyphs columns discusses expanding the Takes No Damage From Attacks Advantage in ways that might be more what you're looking for, but even that's very much optional and laden with warnings. ;)