HERO System 6th Edition Rules Questions
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Please consider these as temporary, advisory answers until such time as Steve Long's health and personal circumstances permit him to resume answering rules questions himself.
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6,878 questions in this forum
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Multiple Attack, Combined Attack, Off Hand, Punch, and Autofire
Here are some questions about Multiple Attack, Combined Attack, etc. (possibly asked before but I couldn't find an answer): 1. In a Heroic level campaign, if someone wishes to punch a single foe once with each fist in a phase, can you confirm if that would be a Combined Attack with the Off Hand penalty applied to the off hand punch, i.e., not a Multiple Attack? (Presuming (a) the GM is applying the fairness/realism aspect of Off Hand to punches and ( the GM is not applying Multiple Attach rules to Combined Attack such that all attacks would be considered made with the character's good hand.) 2. Presumably the same rules would apply if a combatant was holding 2 …
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The cost of Multiform
On pages 80-81 of Champions Complete are the following sentences which totally seem to contradict each other. Please help me determine the cost of Multiform for a 350-point villain robot that can transform into an SUV (which I'm not counting as a regular Vehicle in game terms, but a character vehicle): "The player must choose one of the character's forms (depending on character concept) to be the true form, and the other forms are alternate forms. Only the true form pays the cost for Multiform, and the true form need not be the most expensive form." So, in math terms, Cost(True form) >= Cost(Alternate form) or Cost(Alternate form) <= Cost(True form) "A…
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Change Environment
The description of Change Environment includes discussion of an adder: Varying Combat Effects and an advantage: Varying Effect. From the way they are described it is difficult to know how they differ. My interpretation is this: The Varying Combat Effects Adder allows the user to vary effects after activating the power. Changing the effect is a half phase action and may be done in the ways described without the need to re-roll to hit (which is to say an equal number of levels of an effect of equal or lesser cost). The Varying Effect Advantage allows the user to vary the effects between different uses but may not alter the effect once it is established. The …
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Definition of "Spell" Limitation
I have tried and failed to locate in my 6th edition books any definition for the "Spell" Limitation. It appears as a Limitation on many spells in the HSG, but I can't locate info about it in the books -- 6E1 or 6E2, FH, or the Grimoire. Can I get an indication where to locate a definition for this Limitation? Thanks!
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Possession
Consider a ghost with Possession linked to Projection; they are thus Desolid when they are in control of their victim. Suppose the ghost wanted to enhance the characteristics of the victim, or grant new powers to it (for example, boosting the victim's STR, or giving them Flight). How should these enhancements be bought? In particular: - Does the victim need to be considered a separate character from the ghost? If not, then can the characteristics and powers just belong to the ghost with an "only while possessing victim" limit? - Since the ghost is desolid, do all of the powers need to have "Affects physical World"?
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Combat Luck
Hi Steve, I would like some clarification on what was intended to negate Combat Luck in a few example situations below. I would like to know if Combat Luck should apply to the following situations, in your opinion as the game designer. I know the GM has the final say and all that, but I would like some guidance. Sorry if this was the wrong place for this, here goes: Hit by a fireball blast area of effect. Grabbed and squeezed for damage in a bear hug by an Owlbear monster. Hit with an Acid Attack that is a constant damage power, does CL apply to the continuing damage? Crushed by a falling wall or between 2 walls closing in on you (like in a trap). Falling dama…
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VPP and Charges
A player proposed a loophole in a character that I felt uneasy with, and I'd like some confirmation of my initial knee-jerk reaction of "Hell no!" A character's only power as a VPP with a 50 point control limit, but a 200+ pool. The pool is meant to represent memorized spells, and each one has the -2 limitation 1 Charge. Said character would, with a cursory study of their spell book, be able to replace all expended spells. I felt this is probably a violation of the intent of the rules, which is that by and large a 1 charge limitation would translate to 1 per Day, and being able to replenish those memorized spells would require that the limitation be 1 Renewable charg…
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Follow-up on Combined Attack
Follow-up from this posted Q&A: http://www.herogames.com/forums/topic/89274-multiple-attack-combined-attack-off-hand-punch-and-autofire/ 6E2 74 says "COMBINED ATTACK Using two or more powers or similar abilities (but not Combat/Martial Maneuvers or the like) once against a single target isn’t a Multiple Attack. It’s a Combined Attack, and counts as type of Strike." (Strike is a Combat Maneuver and thefore noted not able to be used to make a Combined Attack, yet the combination of two powers/abilities counts as a type of Strike - that just seems a bit odd...) 6E2 80 says "STRIKE This is the basic attack Maneuver. It includes attacks such as punches, kicks, …
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Simplified Healing - Followup
Steve, Further questions about simplified Healing. Your answer only makes sense to me if it's supposed to be read that the halving only applies to the maximum you can heal. If it applies to the effect roll as well, I'm concerned. If I don't use simplified healing, and I'm healing body, here's what I get for healing amounts: 1 - 1 2 - 1 3 - 2 4 - 2 5 - 3 6 - 3 This implies to me that the maximum healing should be 3 per die. If I use Simplified Healing (without halving the effect roll), I would get: 1 - 0 2-5 - 1 6 - 2 This implies to me that the maximum healing should be 2 per die, but if I use the maximum as rolled, it would be 6. …
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Block Clarification
Drizzled Drowburden the Dark Elf ranger has a DEX of 23. Gnu Kiddondablok the barbarian Human of the Wildebeest Clan has a DEX of 14. Belanta Blockyerknockoff Human mercenary has a DEX of 8. All have SPD of 3. Voices have been raised, weapons have been drawn, and more than Combat Values are being found Offensive. Drizzled attacks with both swords, but Belanta aborts to Block. Gnu hits Drizzled for minimal damage. Next phase, because Belanta blocked Drizzled, Belanta gets to act before Drizzled. My question is, what will the order of actions be? First Hypothesis: 1. Gnu acts on DEX 14 2. Belanta acts on DEX 8 3. Drizzled acts last, because he was…
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Presence attacks & Initiative
Hello just some clarifications for presence attacks and one question about starting combat. 1) When an enemy(or enemies) hesitates and acts after because you have achieved this effect with a PRE attack how do you resolve that? The enemy's DEX or EGO gets yours + 1 for example for this phase? or your DEX or EGO climbs above theirs? i ask these especially on how this interacts with the other combatants. 2) In the example of 6E2 pg 138 with Arkelos, how Arkelos managed to use his Fire Bolt Spell to initiate a PRE attack before the Giants acting? and now about starting combat, this connects with question 2 above Lets say two hostile groups of combatants are…
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Unified, Linked, or Compound Power
I have been having trouble, lately, deciding whether to use Linked or Unified for certain powers - ones which require, as a result of their special effect, two power effects simultaneously. Can you clarify how they should be used? Examples below: 1. An attack power that does damage upfront (like a Blast 5d6) and has a percent chance to inflict a 'status condition' (like Flinched, say, as a Drain DCV). Is the Drain Linked to the Blast, because the effect of the Drain can only occur at the point of successful Blast attack (regardless of how you determine the "percent chance")? 2. An attack power that does damage over time (like a Blast 1d6+1, Damage Over Time), the …
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Two weapon fighting Clarification
Hello, just a quick clarification for Two weapon fighting. Using this skill in a multiple attack while holding and using two weapons, means that you get the cumulative -2 OCV penalty starting counting from the third attack instead from the second? For example in a multiple attack, using two weapons, without TWF to attack 4 times you get a -6 OCV in all your attacks(-2 x 3 attacks after the first) using the TWF for 4 attacks you would get -4 OCV to all your attacks (-2 x 2 attacks after the second) right? Thank you in advance!!!
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Magic VPP and Limitations
I'm a new player making my first Hero 6e character (Using HERO designer 6 for help) and I've run into an issue. How do Limitations on individual powers (Inside a VPP) work? To be more specific, I'm trying to put together some example spells (So I don't delay during the game) and have run into something where I'm not sure if the generator is wrong or if I've misunderstood VPPs I'm trying to make a big, scary ritual spell as part of my VPP. It takes multiple turns to cast and eats up a lot more endurance than normal. The final cost is below my Control Cost...but it says it isn't valid. Does the Control Cost of a VPP not care about the Limitations applied to indi…
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Combined Attack
I am having trouble determining when a combined attack is allowed. I understand that a combined attack is not possible with a focus based attack and an additional version of the same focus bought using the equipment rules. But what about two separately bought focus based attacks? For example, what about a power ring and a staff of power?
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Changing Area of Effect size and Instant Powers
Hi, Steve. Now, I want to be sure I get this right. On 6e1 319: "The character must choose the type and size of Area Of Effect he wants when he purchases the Power, and cannot change it thereafter (or alter it from use to use during the game)." Okay, that makes sense. You can't decide you want a Cone now, and a Line later. Got it. And on 6e1 128: "At the GM’s option, a character can buy a +5 Character Point Adder, Alterable Size, that allows him to change the size of an Area-affecting Constant Power this way." So, you can shift the size of a Constant AoE power; this makes sense to me, as Constant powers simulate a thing that you set off and they keep g…
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Granting Damage Shield
As per 6E1 321, to build a Damage Shield you need to buy an attack power with AoE personal surface and No Range limitation, and this shield is personal of the power owner. But usually a No Range attack power is also a power you can use touching the target. So, a DS built by the book would also be a DS you can grant to another character or spread over a surface, unless I limit it with Self Only or the like. Am I missing something or there's a contradiction here?
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Summons and Shadows
Several questions. I'm guiding my players through the initial processes of creating characters, and I've hit some snags. "Jake" and "Rick" are making a tech based minion master and a shadowmancer, respectively. Jake wants to make little hover-drones that work as multi-function allies- he can summon up to 16 of them, and I've placed a (-0) limitation that they can only be summoned 1 at a time, given that each one is a modular vpp automaton, (OAF, only changeable between scenes specifically in his laboratory) and being able to dump 16 of them in one phase strikes me as ludicrously broken, even if they ARE only 100 point automatons. Since they only hover and have no limbs,…
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Partially Cosmic Variable Power Pool
A fantasy priest character has a variable Power Pool representing his ability to channel his deity's power. Divine Magic: Variable Power Pool, 30 base + 60 control cost, (60 Active Points); all slots Requires A Roll (Faith Power Skill roll; -1/2), Only When Serving The God's Purposes (-1/2), Concentration (1/2 DCV; -1/4). Total cost: 43 points. It's a standard VPP; changing powers requires a Full Phase and a Skill Roll, in addition to the Skill Roll needed to actually cast the spells. The character also has an ability based on 3.5 D&D's spontaneous healing. He can dump powers from the VPP and replace them with Simplified Healing as a 0-Phase Action …
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Defensive Throw Question
In the description of the defensive throw, it states that the actions that take place are "Block, opponent falls". The question is, should this manuver be used as a block ( OCV vs OCV ) or like an attack? Or can this manuver be used in both instances in which it can be used as a block that results in a throw or just as an attack? Thanks for any help. Gith
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telepathy and mental darkness
OK, I know 1) Darkness doesn't block an attack, it just affects perception. So a laser blast in a darkness area still does damage if it hits something in the darkness field. 2) A continual attack continues to damage a character even if the target can no longer target the target so long as they keep paying end. 3) While in a darkness field that block that type of communication, you can not communicate in that way. Morse code light signals will not pass through a darkness field. Question: 1) If someone hits a person with telepathy before enshrouded in psionic darkness, can you still read their mind? 2) If you telepathically mind control someone in constant mod…
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Instant STR
Hey, Steve, working on a duplicator. The effect I want to represent is two alts that overlap each other for a moment, increasing STR. At first I went with HA. Then it occurred to me that maybe I should buy extra STR with the Instant limitation. This would allow lifting or exertion that isn't strictly for damage. Or would it? Is Instant STR a kosher purchase? I fear that I might be recreating a wheel, because the more I think about it, it's so close to HA it might not be legit. Thoughts?
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NND vs Damage Negation.
Damage Negation says it works against AVAD. So say I have 6 levels of Negation, my opponent has a 3d6 NND attack and I do not otherwise have the defence for the NND. Do I take the 3d6 nnd attack or does my Negation handle it?
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Presence Attack
Been playing Champions almost from the beginning of the game and never had this come up until now. Can a character attack using say a HTH attack preforming a presence attack at the same time? Say a Tiger is build with a roar that is a presence attack and uses it as it attacks with its claws. Would this be considered two attack?
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Environmental Fire Damage Rate
Hello, in 6E2 pg 150 the details about damage for large fires in the environment gives the damage per 1m traveled in the fire, but what about just staying in the fire? In what rate is the damage applied? What about fast characters that could get out from the fire in little time despite traveling the whole distance? Thank you in advance!
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