HERO System 6th Edition Rules Questions

6,881 questions in this forum

1. Side Effects and Partially Limited Powers

   If an attack is bought with automatic Side Effects, and it is partially limited, would the Side Effects be done for both parts separately, or just once? For example: Reagent has a Blast 8d6, +4d6 w/ Side Effects (3d6 automatically) and +4d6 w/ Extra Time (full Phase) & Side Effects (3d6 automatically). If he throws a 12d6 Blast, I know he takes 3d6 damage (without defenses - ouch!). But if he kicks out the full 16d6, does he still take 3d6, or 2x 3d6 damage?

   Asked by BoloOfEarth, September 1, 2017

   • Side Effects
   • Partially Limited
   0 votes
   1 answer
2. Obviousness of Characteristics.

   I only have Champions Complete, not the full blown 6th Edition rules, but there's something I can't find... The entry for Characteristics as Powers say Perceivability: Varies... But the info for individual Characteristics doesn't mention the quality at all... So what is the default Perceivability of Strength and other characteristics?

   Asked by Foxiekins, August 31, 2017

   0 votes
   1 answer
3. Duplication that costs END

   Hi Steve, If the base character takes the limitation 'costs endurance' on Duplication (to reflect a character who has to strain to maintain a duplicate) what happens to a duplicate when they no longer pay the endurance cost (willingly, via being stunned, out of end, etc)? I've ruled that the duplicate just ceases to exist - it doesn't recombine so the character doesn't get access to its memories but it doesn't 'die' so they can duplicate again later - but I'm not certain that's a fair interpretation: it seems a good way to get around taking stun/body on recombining with a combat damaged duplicate and seems to step on Ranged Recombination's toes a bit (a 1/2 advan…

   Asked by DasBroot, August 30, 2017

   0 votes
   1 answer
4. Follow-up to Constant Powers and LOS

   Thanks Steve for your answer to this question. One more for you? Potions: If LOS needs to be maintained on constant powers with an attack roll, when the creator of a potion gives the potion to another character to use as a one-shot use, who must maintain LOS? The creator of the potion, or the character who quaff's the potion? Example: Potion of Fire Spitting, Ranged Explosion, Continuing for a few phases/spittings, Trigger = Quaffing the Potion. If the creator is 'back home' and the one using the potion is in combat somewhere else, does the potion work? Thanks again! DC

   Asked by iamlibertarian, August 30, 2017

   0 votes
   1 answer
5. Multiple Attack: Mixing Mental Powers with HTH and/or Ranged Attacks

   Per 6e2 p73: Also, per 6e1 p129: I read the latter quoted RAW to mean that Mental Powers whose ranges are defined as 'LOS' ... are ranged (since they are not HTH and their ranges are not 'No Range') ... and therefore fall under the 'Ranged Combat' portion of the definition of the former quoted RAW. i.e. I read the above to mean that one can mix Mental Powers as part of a Multiple Attack since Mental Powers are, by definition, a subset of Ranged Combat -- regardless of the fact that Mental Powers typically operate using OMCV/DMCV instead of OCV/DCV. (I also take this to mean that the -2 OCV penalty associated with each attack after the first in the M…

   Asked by Surrealone, August 30, 2017

   0 votes
   1 answer
6. Constant Powers and Line of Sight

   Hi, What if the power used is beneficial? For example: A Constant Aid, with the Ranged advantage? There is an attack roll even for a friendly target. What if the target flies out of LOS? Compare this to: That Ranged advantage is not selected, and the Constant Aid is used on a willing target? Does LOS need to be maintained? What if that target flies out of sight? How about Darkness. Already Constant. If a character wants to make it more difficult for other characters chasing him to continue the chase, or to slow said chase down, he casts Darkness on a room the chasers must pass through. The character then continues running away and turns around a corner into a hallw…

   Asked by iamlibertarian, August 27, 2017

   0 votes
   1 answer
7. Prone and DCV against ranged attacks

   In the rules it states that characters who are prone are at half DCV regardless of whether they're defending against a ranged attack or a close attack. Being at half DCV for close attacks makes sense to me but why does the same penalty apply to ranged attacks? I was inspired to make this thread after seeing the thread below, searching through this subforum to see if a similar question had been asked and deciding to make my own thread after seeing that it hadn't. http://www.herogames.com/forums/topic/95837-prone-dcv-with-ranged-weapons/

   Asked by Blazmo, August 24, 2017

   0 votes
   1 answer
8. +5 for double quantity questions

   So, if you have a +5 for a backup power, does this mean: The back up power is immediately available for use? (IE: Prowler has a crossbow and +5 for a second backup crossbow. Spoilsport destroys Prowler's crossbow. Does Prowler immediately draw out their second crossbow or do they have to go get it from somewhere.) If a character uses some finite resource in the power, does the backup get a full charge or is it too at reduced resource. (IE: Prowler's original crossbow had 16 bolts but they've used 7 of them before the crossbow was destroyed. Does the backup crossbow have 9 charges or 16?) If it has 16 charges, can Prowler, once they have used up all 16 charges, can…

   Asked by dsatow, August 21, 2017

   0 votes
   1 answer
9. Drains on Defense Powers in Unified Power Suite

   Under Unified Power, it says: However, if a Defense Power (e.g. Power Defense) is Drained, the Drain has only half effect. If a Defense Power is part of a Unified Power suite and it was Drained (at half effect), would the affect on all Unified Powers be similarly halved, or would it affect them at full power. For example: PowerSucker hits FireMan with a 6d6 Drain on Resistant Protection, rolling 20 points of effect. FireMan has his Fire Shield (Resistant Protection) in a Unified Power suite with his Flame Blast and Flame Flight. Due to halving, PS only Drains 10 points of Resistant Protection, but would he also Drain only 10 points of Blast and …

   Asked by BoloOfEarth, August 18, 2017

   • Unified power
   • Adjustment
   • Defense Powers
   0 votes
   1 answer
10. Modifier values

    I'm having a little understanding the values of modifiers. I get that a -1/2 means it costs half as much. But what about -1? Does that mean it costs one less? Or one less per rank?

    Asked by Basiritz, August 12, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer
11. Escaping an Entangle built as a Mental Paralysis

    Per 6e1 p216 (w/ red emphasis added by me): As I read this, reducing an Entangle's BODY to 0 is, alone, not good enough to escape it, since one must both: 1. exceed the Entangle's defenses AND 2. reduce its BODY to 0. I raise the fine point over the use of 'and', here, because there appears to be no minimum BODY requirement for Entangle ... and there are times it would seem to make logical sense to build an Entangle using nothing but defense. As an example: a non-corporeal, fully-invisible Entangle built as a Mental Paralysis is something I believe would make sense to build with no physical form/BODY to destroy ... so that there'd be: nothing at which one…

    Asked by Surrealone, August 11, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer
12. Does breakfall allow flying characters to right themselves quickly?

    Some of the wording in the breakfall skill description make it appear to apply only to people who are standing up on the ground. After being knocked back in flight and being disoriented, can a flying character use breakfall to right themselves as a 0 phase action instead of a half phase action?

    Asked by Penthau, August 8, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer
13. Unified Power as an advantage

    Would Unified power as an advantage (all powers aided together) be worth +1/4?

    Asked by dsatow, August 5, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer
14. Adjusting Power Frameworks Follow up.

    Hello, i have a further clarification question about the above,is it mandatory to aid the Multipower Reserve before aiding a slot/slots? Or you have to do it only to make it possible for Aided slot to fit in the reserve if needed? For example if i have a Multipower with a 50 pt reserve and a slot with 15 Active Points, if i am going to Aid the slot for 2d6 do i have to Aid the reserve first even if the new slot AP will still surely fit in the reserve? What about Aiding just the reserve and not any slot to make it easier to use more slots? Thank you very much in advance!

    Asked by jdounis, August 1, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer
15. Penetrating and Impenetrable

    Does the amount of an Impenetrable defense matter in regard to the amount of a Penetrating attack? For instance, GI Jones has 15 PD, 15 ED, and a Duraweave uniform (6 rPD / 6 rED Impenetrable). He's shot by Kobra Kai with a 10d6 Blast Penetrating blaster rifle. Kobra rolls poorly -- 9 BODY and 21 STUN. Without regard to the Penetrating, all of this would bounce. Does the Impenetrable defense stop all of the 9 STUN of Penetrating damage? Or would the 6rED Impenetrable only stop 6 of the 9 Penetrating STUN?

    Asked by BoloOfEarth, July 28, 2017

    • Penetrating
    • Impenetrable
    0 votes
    1 answer
16. Cumulative Flash

    Can the cumulative advantage be applied to flash?

    Asked by dsatow, July 27, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer
17. Penetrating Attacks

    Hi Steve, For the "Penetrating" advantage, there is an option in the rules (6E1 342) that states "At the GM’s option, the target may take a minimum of 1 point of effect for every Damage Class in the Penetrating power." Does this mean that: A. "1 point of effect" is absolute, so a 2DC Penetrating attack will do either 2 STUN minimum (for a Normal attack) or 2 BODY minimum (for a Killing Attack). or B. "1 point of effect" refers to Character Points, so a 2DC Penetrating attack will do either 4 STUN minimum (for a Normal attack) or 2 BODY minimum (for a Killing attack). Thanks, Steve.

    Asked by C-Note, July 26, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer
18. Adjusting defensive powers/chars and Power Defense

    I thought this was answered somewhere, but heck if I can find it. So my apologies in advance if my Search Fu is faulty. I know that Adjustment Powers that affect Defense Powers or defensive Characteristics (e.g. STUN) are halved However, is this halving done before or after subtracting Power Defense? For example: Leech buys a 6d6 Drain CON, and uses it on Defender. Leech rolls 20 points of effect, and Defender (luckily) just added 10 points of Power Defense to his armor. Does Leech's Drain do nothing (20 / 2 = 10 - 10 Power Defense = 0), or cause Defender to lose 5 CON (20 - 10 Power Defense = 10 / 2 = 5) Thanks!

    Asked by BoloOfEarth, July 24, 2017

    • Drain
    • Power Defense
    • Halving
    0 votes
    1 answer
19. Aiding VPPs

    Hello, There is a point of confusion for me regarding adjusting VPPs, in 6E1 pg 140 says that if you Adjust a VPP you must adjust both the Pool and the Control Cost based on their Character Points Cost Ratio, But the example of pg 2, 01-16-2017 ERRATA(Medic affecting only the Pool of a VPP) contradicts that without correcting or even referring to this rule.Is there something i am missing? Thank you in advance

    Asked by jdounis, July 24, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer
20. Piercing question APG page 113

    Hi Steve Question regarding piercing. Say I have a normal energy blast bought as 8d6 with 8 points of piercing (bought as normal PD since the attack uses normal PD) Total cost 56 points. Now assume the character is blasting an automation that has 16 res ED and no normal ED (Everything upgraded to resistant. Do I get to apply the 8 points of piercing to reduce the defence against the attack to 8? The attack still affects resistant defense, it just counts as PD. Does the Peircing bought with it count as well or does the automation get the full 16 res PD against the attack because the Piercing was bought at the 2 point level for nonresistant PD? If t…

    Asked by indy523, July 23, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer
21. Adjusting Power Frameworks.

    Hello, I have two question about using adjustment powers on power frameworks. Q1) Per 6E1 139, Positively Adjusting a multipower needs adjusting both The reserve and the slot(s), what does that exactly mean? a) I can adjust the reserve or a slot/slots individually, this rule just implies that positively affecting the reserve wont affect the slots. i can't adjust the reserve or slots individually i must do both(at once or with many uses). for example if Mr. Flexible has a multipower of 50 points Reserve can i just Aid the Reserve to 70 points to help him use more of his multipower slots simultaneously? can i just Aid one of his slots to make it more pow…

    Asked by jdounis, July 23, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer
22. Time Limit and Charges II

    Looking to the prior question, my understanding of that build is that the character now hits his opponent with the HKA, and Constant takes over, so the target takes damage on each of the attacker's phases for a turn. Assuming the character has a 4 SPD, he could use one charge in each of Phase 3, 6 and 9 and, assuming he hits each time, the target would take the KA damage once on Phase 3, twice on Phase 6, 3 times on each of Ph 9 and 12, twice on next Ph 3 and once on Phase 6. SECONDARY QUESTION: 1 turn means a 4 SPD attacker would do damage 4 time, not 5 (being once on the initial phase of the attack, plus one for each phase in the following turn, including the phase…

    Asked by Hugh Neilson, July 9, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer
23. Time Limit and Charges

    This came up on another thread. Continuing Charges are not allowed to be used with Instant powers, so I though of combining Charges with Time Limit (as an advantage) to get the effect of three one-turn uses for a power per day. I built: 2D6 HKA, 1 Turn Time Limit (+3/4), 3 Charges (-1 1/4). 23 points. The question I would like clarified is END use; does the above build require END, or is that covered by the Charges?

    Asked by mrinku, July 7, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer
24. Question on protects carried object

    Hi Steve, Herodude has a base PD of 25. He also has a multipower pool. In this pool he has a slot dedicated to providing +5 PD and Protects Carried Objects (15 AP). if he uses this slot to protect a civilian (as per the text stating it can even protect carried characters) from an AOE hitting them how do these effects combine? He clearly gets 30 PD. How much does the civilian get? The full 30 or the 5 from the slot? If he'd used usable on others - simultaneously - the civilian would clearly add 5 pd but this isn't doing that, exactly - it's adding to his existing PD and putting an adder on it which allows him to use his PD to protect carried object…

    Asked by DasBroot, July 5, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer
25. Linked question

    So I am trying to find the value of the modifier to a linked power that ends when the constant power it is linked to ends. Example a Barrier that has a Change Environment linked to it. Am I missing it? Thanks for the advice.

    Asked by L0rd_Magg0t, June 30, 2017

    0 votes
    1 answer