Healing, END Usage and STUN Loss

[Steve]

A character has 2 END and 2 STUN but then activates a Healing power to recover some STUN. The END cost needed for the Healing power causes the character to take 2d6 STUN only damage, which would normally result in a self-KO.

 

In this case, would the Healing power go first and keep the character from ever falling unconscious, or would the KO happen before the Healing could occur? If the KO happens, does that interrupt the Healing effect from taking effect?

 

Would the result be any different if the Healing affected both END and STUN?

[Steve Long]

I don’t currently have access to all of my books and materials, which have been packed up as part of my home renovation project, so I reserve the right to edit or change this answer at a future time.

 

A character has to pay END for a power as soon as he uses it — it’s a prerequisite for being able to use the power, and thus for the power having any effect. So in the situation you describe, the END cost is incurred first. This results in STUN damage that immediately takes effect, Knocking Out the character before he can use the Healing (whether that Healing STUN or Healing STUN and END).

 

But as always, the GM’s free to change this in the interest of, among other things, dramatic sense. I can easily envision some scenes where a GM would want to let a character make the sacrifice of Knocking himself Out to get that one... last... crucial... bit of Healing effect.