Dual-Type Explosions....

[jkwleisemann]

I've got a character I'm occasionally plugging away at who has an ability that is (effectively) a massive explosion at the cost of the molecular integrity of the target (rubber science + basic grounding in quantum physics = fun).

Now, I want a KA for the target, because frankly I don't see any way of saying "I rip his molecules apart and use them as the fuel for an explosion" that doesn't sound like a KA (frankly, sounds more like an NND, Does Body KA to me).

But the explosion wouldn't have that same level of devastation, so I'm looking at normal damage for that.

Now, there are obviously ways to link things together so it'd work, but that's a pain in the tail. I'm thinking, possibly, of something more like a RKA Explosion with a +0 advantage/disadvantage that the Explosion DC's are Normal, not Killing.

Workable? Or do I need to go back to the drawing board?

[Duke Bushido]

Funny---

I had a villain for years who _claimed_ to have that very same power! ;)
The players never did figure out he was a fake. :D

Perhaps a clarification might help:
is he using this power on other characters, or his he using it on nearby objects in the hope of catching another character in the blast?

If he's using the power on other 'people,' then I'd think either a _massive_ killing attack or the NND would be fine (perhaps Density Increase or something similar would be the defense?) But the power seems to call for the total destruction of the target, ala the Disintegrator Ray thread in the Star Hero sub-forum. A peek there might help.

If he's 'destabilizing' nearby objects to create explosions that harm other characters, then I'd almost be tempted to build a regular explosion with a "Focus of Opportunity" Limitation, and include a further Limitation that the focus cannot have more than 'x' BODY, where X represents the average body done by the attack (thus, it would most likely be 'destabilized' and destroyed).

[Hyper-Man]

Better question:

What would happen if the character were englobed by an energy Force Wall (think Green Lantern)?

If the NND attack only works vs. matter and the sfx of the Force Wall in this case is solid energy it stands to reason that the secondary 'normal' explosion would not occur.

then you have:
power 1 (only vs. solid matter)
power 2 (only if power 1 has an effect)

[Old Man]

Can't you Link an EB Explosion to RKA, Only if RKA Does Damage?

[Erkenfresh]

Shadowpup seems to have it right. The only problem is the main target gets their defense twice, once for the explosion and once for the RKA.

[dstarfire]

Shadowpup seems to have it right. The only problem is the main target gets their defense twice, once for the explosion and once for the RKA.

Actually, the "main target" are the subjects caught in the explosion. The target of the RKA essentially becomes the bomb that causes the explosion.

[Robyn]

Actually, the "main target" are the subjects caught in the explosion. The target of the RKA essentially becomes the bomb that causes the explosion.

I'm seeing . . . Kimbly, the Crimson Alchemist.

[Killer Shrike]

Fission: Killing Attack - Ranged 8d6 (vs. ED) (120 Active Points); All Or Nothing (Either Attack Kills / Destroys Target Or Does Nothing) (-1), No Knockback (-1/4); Real Cost: 53

Fission Burn: Energy Blast 12d6 (vs. ED), Explosion (+1/2) (90 Active Points); Linked: Only If Fission Attack Works (Target of Fission Is Point of Origin; -3/4); Real Cost: 51

[Robyn]

All Or Nothing (Either Attack Kills / Destroys Target Or Does Nothing) (-1)

Excellent. I'd been wondering what value to assign a Limitation like that.


(Target of Fission Is Point of Origin; -3/4)

Hold on a moment, there. Isn't this basically a form of Indirect? Does the value take this into account?

I'm thinking it wouldn't come out to a -3/4 Limitation all told if this was done through Indirect/Ranged and "must cross intervening distance".

[Killer Shrike]

Its intended as a Linked variant. The fact that if the greater power fizzes the Explosion doesnt occur at all makes it more severe than a normal Linked.

[Killer Shrike]

The value of a Lim like Either Attack Kills / Destroys Target Or Does Nothing varies based on the probability of average use.

An 8d6 killing attack would be less limited than a 4d6 and more limited than a 12d6 by such a Limitation.

It would also vary by the campaign average for rDEF and BODY.

I settled on -1 as a middle of the road point, and trust in the individual GM's discretion to adapt as appropriate to their campaign if they want to use it. In some campaigns its going to be too much, in others not enough, and in some just right. The Goldilocks theory at work.

[Robyn]

Its intended as a Linked variant. The fact that if the greater power fizzes the Explosion doesnt occur at all makes it more severe than a normal Linked.

Got it. Hadn't noticed before that Linked was missing from the second power.

[jkwleisemann]

Thanks Shrike! That looks just about right... I was just trying to come up with a way to avoid mucking about with Linked (one of my least favorite, yet most commonly used, lim's.)