HERO System 6th Edition Rules Questions

6,880 questions in this forum

1. Force Wall resisting Knockback

   I don't know if this has been asked before, but here goes: If a Force Wall is in the area of effect of an attack that only does knockback, does the Force Wall take damage? If it does, how much damage would it take, the full "damage dice" worth, or do you roll to see how many "inches" it would take?

   Asked by SirViss, March 2, 2004

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2. ethics

   When making a character with no legs: After assigning him a large physical disadvantage for not having legs, would it be ethical to sell back his running? Thanks! The Mad Arab BTW Steve: The only thing better than your products, is the way you support them!

   Asked by mr_azrad, March 2, 2004

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3. Clairsentience & Infrared Perception

   I am a security camera. I buy the camera as Clairsentience. Since Clairsentience is by default bought for the Sight Group, does this mean that I get Infrared Perception with Clairsentience for no extra cost? What about Ultraviolent Perception?

   Asked by Edsel, March 1, 2004

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4. Leapin' Lizards!

   This one comes from the Bestiary, but it's more a "correct approach" question. In the Bestiary, many creatures sell back stats of all shapes and sizes. These come directly off their points, often resulting in negative points paid for stats. Of course, selling back senses has always been a disadvantage, and doesn't offset points spent in other aeas. A few creatures do that. A lot sell back Running and Swimming, which are treated as negative powers. But Leaping seems to be the odd man out. Unlike Running and Swimming, cannot leap (see the elephant, for example) is treated as a Physical Limitation, weith a val;ue equal to the cost of that many inches …

   Asked by Hugh Neilson, March 1, 2004

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5. Drain vs Armor (Battlesuits)

   If a hero uses Drain vs Armor on a villain wearing a battlesuit (his focus), and all the Armor points are drained, does the whole battlesuit therefore crumble to dust? Or is the battlesuit still intact, just with no Armor DEF and therefore subject to having it's associated powers "broken" by follow up attacks that do BODY above it's remaining DEF? Also, in the Drain vs Armor (focus) example above, is the battlesuit subject to the standard 5 Active Point return rate allowed by the Drain power or excluded because it is considered an object?

   Asked by Acroyear II, February 29, 2004

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6. Usable on others question

   I want to purchase a force field to protect other people (innocent bystanders and team mates mainly). I am use to the 4th edition rules and am now becoming familiar with the 5th edition rules. I envision this to be bought as the following: 12/12 force field, Usable as an attack (+1), Ranged (+1/2) (60 active points) I chose "Usable as an attack" because it would give me more freedom to protect people without their consent. Besides they might even be unconscious at the time they need additional defenses. I understand that "Usable as an attack" could be very deadly and powerful when attached to certain powers, as you mentioned in 5th edition rules. Ques…

   Asked by SullenSandman, February 29, 2004

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7. Does a Block maneuver stop an Autofire HTH attack?

   I couldn't find anything addressing this in the FAQ. This came up in our Champions game yesterday. The NH character Wong Fei Hong has an attack built thus: No Shadow Kick: HA +4d6, Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/2), Autofire (3 shots; +1) (50 Active Points); Hand-To-Hand Attack (-1/2), All Shots Versus Same Target (-1/4) My MA Zl'f attempted to Martial Block the attack, which led to a discussion amongst the group of whether a Block, if successful, would have stopped any subsequent attacks or if each individual Autofire attack should be considered separately. (The point proved to be moot, since she failed her Martial Block with a 17 roll and he KO'd her.) Howeve…

   Asked by Trebuchet, February 29, 2004

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8. Perception levels and Danger sense

   I am converting over one of my 5th edition characters Ghosthunter who is a master of the Ghost eye technique. I notice that in 5th Danger sense is now based on my percetion roll, instead of buying the roll seperatly.Is my Danger sense roll modified by my levels with all percetion that all good ghost eye masters have or is it based on my Base perception and thus I need to buy my roll up for 1 pt per plus as noted under Danger sense? Thanx in advance....

   Asked by pinecone, February 29, 2004

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9. Dispel against Special Effect

   Hey Steve, here's one of those obscure and esoteric questions that's not already covered in the FAQ : Can the "Expanded Effect" Advantage for Dispel work for a narrowly defined group of similar Powers which don't necessarily all have the same SFX? For example, I would like to build a "Light of Truth" power that would Dispel any Power that blocks or deceives the Sight Sense Group (Darkness, Invisibility, Images or Shape Shift), regardless of whether the Power is technological, magical, psionic, or whatever. I suppose the same question could be asked for Adjustment Powers as well. As always, thanks for your help.

   Asked by Lord Liaden, February 28, 2004

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10. Defense Manuver IV

    What exactly does persistent mean with reguards to Defense manuver IV and DCV levels? If a character has a 15 dex (CV 5) and 2 all combat levels, does that mean he's DCV 7 in his sleep? (Or DCV 2?) What if he uses his levels for OCV and is attacked from behind? Would he still get his levels for DCV if he had DefManIV?

    Asked by Dino, February 28, 2004

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11. Growth and reach

    Can't find this in the book or FAQ. If a character bought 75 pts of growth, he gets +16" reach, right? But he is also 16" wide, right? My question is, is the +16" reach calculated from his center hex, or from the outer most hex of his body? (which would be 8" to endge of body + 16" for reach) Thanks. Paul

    Asked by paul_runstedler, February 28, 2004

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12. radio sense group seeing around objects

    This may seem an odd question. Looked through the FAQ and it didn't mention anything (so either it hasn't been covered, or its common sense ) Does radar sense give the user the ability to see "around" objects. I.e. if someone is standing behind a pillar (hidden from sight), does radar sense give me the knowledge that the person is there? Thanks Paul

    Asked by paul_runstedler, February 27, 2004

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13. Rounding Speed followup

    So you are saying (In essence) that a character can buy factorial speed (Speed 3.7, etc) as base characteristic, rounding down for all effects (Functionaly Speed 3). But important for other effects (A power that adds +3 to dex will bring it to 4). Does this work the other way, in otherwords can you buy factorial Speed via the characteristics power to have it add to the character (Either because of Characteristic Power Dex, OR factorial speed on characteristics) PUT SIMPLY IS THIS LEGAL? 20 Dex, 3 speed character buys 10 +5 Dex OIF 03 +0.5 Speed OIF For a total of 25 Dex, 4 Speed with OIF?

    Asked by JmOz, February 26, 2004

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14. Rounding of SPD, etc

    Ok, I have looked through the posts, and though the FAQs, and I apologize if I missed something. A character has a base DEX of 10. He purchases +16 DEX through a focus (the only limitation), giving him a DEX 26. He spends 14 points on SPD. 1) Does this give him a SPD of 3 / 5 [ base / ring ] This would be calculated from: ( 10 / 10 + 1 ) + 1.4 = 3 [base] ( 10 / 10 + 16 / 10 + 1 ) + 1.4 = 5 [w/ ring] 2) Or, could he only pay the only the points on the base SPD to bring it to a whole number? (thus, spend only 10 on the SPD characteristic), and thus: ( 10 / 10 + 1 ) + 1.0 = 3 [base] ( 10 / 10 + 16 / 10 + 1 ) + 1.0 = 4 [w/ ring] Note: …

    Asked by Silbeg, February 26, 2004

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15. This will probably get moved...

    ...And that is fine with me This is about the Summons advantage on summoning a specific person When is it appropriate and when is it not? I have trouble beleiving that it is intended if you are able to summon Lobo the wolf, an average wolf who you just happen to be able to summon While on the other hand you definatly should pay points for being able to summon the greatest warrior in all the world If you want to be able to summon a specific vehicle, would you need the +1? Makes for a funny situation as the F/X of I have a dozen bikes and this makes one of them appear at random cheeper than I only have one bike ) PS I know about the +1 for Slav…

    Asked by JmOz, February 26, 2004

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16. Damage Shield and Multiple Attacks - Minor Quibble

    I think the FAQ only talks about an attacker using a Multiple Power attack or Sweep to attack a Damage Shield protected character. My question dealt with the reverse, an attacker with an Offensive DS using a MPA or Sweep to attack. But from your answer I gather the same priciple applies. I wasn't sure about Sweep, I thought that might be made an exception to avoid abuse. But I got it now. Thanks.

    Asked by JamesG, February 25, 2004

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17. END question

    Steve, I have a question on END, specifically mixing Increased and Reduced END. I know the rules state you can't have both in the same power, and on the surface that seems obvious. Applying 1/2 END and x3 END just doesn't make any sense. But, using the train model, it takes a LOT of energy (END) to get the thing started, but much less to maintain its speed. Similarly, I have spells that are CONTINUOUS that as converted to HERO should cost x3 END only during the casting phase (the initially high effort) and 1 END per turn (maintenance) thereafter to maintain. From a rules standpoint, should this be a Reduced Endurance advantage with a GM fiat that the first pha…

    Asked by Eodin, February 25, 2004

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18. Damage Shield and Multiple Attacks

    If a character has an Offensive Damage Shield and performs a Multiple Power attack on someone where each power involves touching/striking the target, does the target take the Damage Shield damage multiple times? What about if instead of a Multiple Power attack, the attacker is Sweeping a punch to hit the same target multiple times? How about if character A, with an Offensive Damage Shield, punches and is punched by Character B in the same segment. Does B take the DS damage twice? Lastly, what if 6 agents surround Damage Shield man and strike him in the same segment, maybe even at the exact same time by coordinating. Do all 6 take the full DS damage? …

    Asked by JamesG, February 25, 2004

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19. Area Effect question

    Steve, I'm converting spells from another game system to HERO, and one of the spells is a Globe of Regeneration. In effect, everyone in the globe (centered on the caster) heals 1 BODY per Minute for as long as they remain in the field and the caster maintains the globe. I know that you've said that Regeneration is basicly 'self-only', but is this one of those circumstances you mentioned in FH (your example was an air bubble Life Support Area Effect) where the normal prohibitions can be ignored?

    Asked by Eodin, February 25, 2004

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20. Change Envionment Radius Question

    I'm building a CE power and want it to have a 10" radius. Since CE goes the x2/5 points route instead of +1" radius for so many points, do I pay the cost for an 8" radius or a 16" radius? Thanks.

    Asked by Wormhole, February 23, 2004

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21. Transfer Followup

    On the question immediately below. Assume the character has 1d6 END transfer and, as described in the question, transfers 5 points of END (10 END). He then spends 10 END, which eliminates the Transferred END. He hits another target with the Transfer, and rolls a 6. Does he receive 12 END (since he's used up the END transferred before), or 2 END (since he previously transferred 10 and his maximum is 12)?

    Asked by Hugh Neilson, February 23, 2004

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22. another adjustment power question Transfer

    character A has 1d6 transfer (end to end) Character A transfers 5 character points (10 end) from Character B in phase 1 Character A spends 10 end on phase 6 Post 12 Does character A still lose(fade) 10 points of endurance from the transfer or can he claim he spent those endurance points already (phase 6)? Thanks

    Asked by mr_azrad, February 22, 2004

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23. Question about MP and PI

    If a character has a power that has Personal Immunity (PI) on it in a MP can the character change slots and still have his PI? Example Smoke arrow with continuing charges and PI, can he fire the arrow, and still see through it untill it clears? I don't know if it will let me change the header, if not just know that I had a different question but decided that it was to minor of a detail to really care about (it has to do with using a mask to provide the PI Above, and wether or not it should be constructed with the multi foci rules, partialy limited powers rule, how the partialy limited power rule interacts with two foci at the same level, and wether or not i…

    Asked by JmOz, February 22, 2004

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24. Okay, Multiple Foci Example question

    Steve I need this explained to me: Character has a Magic Sword and a Magic Shield that gives him Missile Deflection & Reflection, as it is written in the book: The shield does Missile deflection, The Shield & Sword does Missile Deflection/Reflection The character gets a -3/4 lim because of it's duel foci nature HOWEVER wouldn't the character loose both powers if he lost the shield (We will assume that is a -1 lim). So in essence the character gets penalised for a creative character design, instead of just taking the whole power in the Shield to begin with? (I'm seeing a Magic Shield that absorbs a spell and then projects it through a sword a…

    Asked by JmOz, February 22, 2004

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25. Dive for Cover Follow-Up

    Just to clarify, is the "in the air" a condition only for the attack the character attempted to Dive away from, or until the character's next action (and so applies to subsiquent attacks)? If the character isn't hit at all, is he considered standing in his starting hex on his next action (meaning he doesn't need to spend that half phase standing up)?

    Asked by Dust Raven, February 21, 2004

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