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HERO System 6th Edition Rules Questions

Post here for answers to your HERO System 6th Edition rules questions.

This forum is a question and answer forum - only members of the Rules Mavens group can post answers.

 

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.

Posting Guidelines

1. All posts in this forum should be questions pertaining to the HERO System 6th Edition ruleset. 

2. How to build questions are better posted in the discussion forums.

 

3. As much as possible, try to keep posts to a single question.  If you have multiple questions, consider breaking them out into separate posts.

  1. Started by eepjr24,

    On 6e1, 142: "Any level of Expanded Effect allows a character can use an Adjustment Power to Adjust both the reserve/Pool and one or more slots in a Power Framework at once". This contradicts the text on 6e1, 140 and I think it is a cut and paste left over from Variable Effect in 5er on page 112 when it still was possible to apply such things to Elemental Controls? If so, should it be updated in the errata? - E

  2. After a mentalist succeeds on the Mind Scan Attack Roll and succeeds on the Effect Roll sufficient to achieve the desired result against the target, does the target make a Breakout Roll to end the Mind Scan effect before or after the mentalist gets a more precise indication of the target's location? Example: Cat takes a Half Phase Action to make an MOCV Attack Roll (at an appropriate penalty due to the size of the search area) against Freudroid's MDCV, desiring an EGO +20 result. She succeeds on the Attack Roll and learns Freudroid's general location and presence. Cat's Effect Roll equals Freudroid's EGO +20. Does Freudroid make a Breakout Roll before Cat can …

  3. Started by FancyCreb,

    There's a question with this same title, but it's for fifth edition, and while I don't think the rules on Martial Throw have meaningfully changed, there is one line of the text that makes me pause, namely 'that applies only to characters'. Now, this seems to be, contextually, about disallowing throwing things at characters, but I just want to make sure. I guess this is part of a broader question- are vehicles characters, or do they at least count as characters?

  4. Started by Sailboat,

    A character taking a recovery as an action is at 1/2 DCV. Is her MDCV affected?

  5. Given: 6e1 p.212: Sense Modifiers do not belong to any Sense Group — they improve Senses, either individually or by Sense Group. ... Sense Modifiers are not Adders. This series of questions functionally ignores the extras granted by Sense Groups; please do not bring them into the discussion. Part 1: Advantages and Disadvantages. When purchasing advantages -- Megascale comes to mind -- would the baseline detect/sense ('Detect Object', 10 pts) act as the base point value of the power, immaterial of Sense Modifiers that might be capable of enhancing the detect/sense? Or, perhaps, would the character only be able to use the Sense Modifier(s)…

  6. Started by Zarthose,

    Can you combine Teleport with passing strike? Allowing yourself to make a full move and to strike at a target somewhere along the path?

  7. I'm reading the Star HERO 6e Warship example (p. 250) and I'm a bit confused about the warp drive multipower. I see that the Costs Endurance limitation was put on the multipower reserve, and then applied to each power slot. But wait, flight already costs endurance as per the power. So this appears to me to be one of those "limitations that doesn't limit the character" situations. Wouldn't the Costs Endurance limitation be prohibited on the multipower reserve because not every power slot costs no endurance, and be applied only to the FTL travel power? This would mean the reserve costs the full 28 points, standard flight cost 2f, and FTL flight cost …

  8. My concept is to fight defensively by waiting for an opponent to attack and then using martial block with one weapon to set up a counterstrike with the other. I know that this is normally a two phase procedure but will two weapon fighting allow one "attack" to be allocated to the martial block and a second attack allocated to counterstrike? Thought?

  9. Hi Steve, I have a quick clarification to ask you. Allocating points of a MP or VPP (with the "Change Powers As A Zero-Phase Action" Advantage) is defined as a Zero Phase Action. But 6e also says things like "point reserve can be allocated only once", but then gives an example of what can't be done which would involve allocating points, using the activated power, and then taking those points and reallocating to a different power and using that one - all in the same Phase. Implying (to me) that the restriction is on "double-pumping" reserve points. So is there only a single opportunity at the start of a Phase to allocate one's framework(s) and if not taken then too…

  10. In Entangle under 'Mental Paralysis' (6e1 p217) it says one of the required Advantages is 'Takes No Damage From Attacks(+¾)'. But under 'Takes No Damage From Attacks' (6e1, p219), there is no +¾ option. What am I missing? Does making a Mental Paralysis follow the rules of the +1 level of TNDFA where I have to define "one reasonably common and obvious way to remove the Entangle"? And does it follow the +1 level that no outside help/attacks can free the target - only the target can free themselves?

  11. In the Advanced Player Guides, they mention the option of regenerating characteristics other than Body, which makes sense and is a useful concept. However, there is no real details on how to do this. There are three possibilities that I can think of that might be used: 1) You regenerate 1 (insert characteristic here) per time interim; 1 Body, 1 END, 1 Speed, etc 2) You regenerate 1 character point of (insert characteristic here) per time interim; 1 Body, 5 END, 1/10th Speed, etc 3) You regenerate your recovery worth of (insert characteristic here) per time interim (based on the rules on how to use regeneration to recover drained or otherwise lost p…

  12. Started by zombietots,

    I was doing a mock fight to prepare for this weekends game and came across a problem. Armadillo got knocked back and stood up to shoot his palm blasters. I can't find dual weilding or is it 2 attacks with one being the off hand and getting -3 or can you even shoot both blasters?

  13. I am looking at the Brick on pg. 252 of the Champions book, and one of the powers is "Super Tough Body 28pts." I went with this because I took the Basic Brick characteristics 28 PD/ 28 ED but I just don't get the math. First, I thought it was a power from 6E1 pg 275 and I did 3 x 28 = 84 (Because 3CP/ 2pts), so that wasn't right. Then I saw the advantage on 6E pg 147 where I find Resistant (+½) but I can't find how it adds up. Is it 28ED/28ED = 56 divided by 2 x 3 or 28 x 3 = 84 with advantage (+1/2) = 42. I don't understand how you get a point cost of 28 for 28PD/28ED

  14. When an Attack Power with the Advantage Fully Invisible (also conceals Source Effect; +1¼) (E61 338) is used in combat by an attacker who is visible to the defender, what is the impact (if any) on the characters' CVs? Example: The Cauthon has the Power Unlucky Break: Blast 10d6, Fully Invisible (also conceals Source Effect; +1¼). The Cauthon and King Caribou are fighting over who gets the last beer. The Cauthon's player says that the Cauthon is using Unlucky Break against King Caribou, who is right there and is familiar with the Cauthon's superpowers. Is the Cauthon's attack made normally against King Caribou? Does the Cauthon get a bonus to his OCV? Is King C…

  15. Started by Opale,

    Hello there ! I have quite a complex question around the use of Mental Powers and the Desolidification power combo. For the example I'm using a 5th edition book, but I guess there wasn't major changes in the rules around my point in the 6th. In Vibora Bay book, Dr Ka is defined with an Astral Form, which is Desolid. And has a bunch of mental powers to use, but without Affect Desolid adder. The Ultimate Mentalist book doesn't help in explaining that, just giving some tips on what happen when the target or the mentalist becomes Desolid AFTER a Mental Power has been used. I understand that EGO represents the "mind" of a person, and could be affected…

  16. Started by dagredhel,

    How would resistant defense with the charges limitation work? Say a character has 10 rPD purchased with 1 charge. He or she takes 5 killing damage from an attack. Does the character have 5 rPD left afterwards? It seems like this could be a useful construct to simulate armor that "ablates" point by point of damage taken instead of incurring an activation percentage.

  17. Started by Lambprey,

    Hello, new to 6th edition of Champions, and to forums for that matter. A player has a multi-power with 60 pts. Several of the slots have 15 pts. Their intention is to use both as required, basically combining two attacks into one. The Hero System Combat Handbook, pg 19, says "...a character may not combine two or more slots form a single attack, even if (they have) sufficient reserve or base points to use both slots at once." I do not see a similar restriction in Champions Complete. In first edition there were examples of characters shifting points between blast, flight and force field, but not more than one attack.

  18. Started by Ninja-Bear,

    Hello Y’all, Quick question. I’m writing up the Dragon Staff from Resplendent Dragon. Since it says it basically a Staff though it is a Multipower due to its claws. I’m using a quarter staff stats as a basis. A quarter staff is listed as having a +1 OCV. I noticed that a 2pt CLS will work BUT I don’t add any modifiers on it. Do I just buy the CSL separately? IOW, not in each slot?

  19. So here's the power: Blast 3d6, Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/4), AVAD (Mental Defense; NND; +1/2), Damage Over Time, Lock out (cannot be applied multiple times) (5-6 damage increments, damage occurs every Segment, +2) (56 Active Points) Now, let's add Basic (or Quick) Shot as a ranged martial maneuver, and +1 Ranged DC. So the net is +3 DCs. Assuming the attack hits and is allowed to run its course: 1. What's the damage in the initial segment? 2. What's the damage in the following segments? I can't find anything on this. My feeling: The martial DCs apply only to the first segment; anything else feels grossly overpowered. If t…

  20. If a character has Duplication and/or Summon (expendable duplicates) in a Multipower, what happens to the additional bodies if the Multipower slot changes to something else? I checked the rules for Multipower, Summon and Duplication and didn't see a concrete answer. The Duplication and Summon notes on Adjustment Powers seemed to indicate they would vanish, but an Entangle doesn't vanish if its Multipower slot is switched. If there are specific rules covering this, please let me know where. Chris.

  21. Started by eepjr24,

    Hopefully a simple question that I think I know the answer to but want to confirm. Does the Area of Effect: Cone advantage extend the power into a 3 dimensional or 2 dimensional cone. IE: Does the above image accurately depict an AoE: Cone (at the end of the effect, would the cone extend R hexes upward and downward from the axis plane of the original target hex)? - E

  22. Started by C-Note,

    6E1 92 states: "Two-Weapon Fighting is the ability to use the Combat Maneuver Multiple Attack (6E2 73) with greater skill and accuracy than normal when using two weapons (one in each hand)." 6E2 73 states: "Multiple Attack allows a character to: make multiple strikes against a single target with a single attack make multiple strikes against a single target with multiple forms of attack make multiple strikes against multiple targets with a single attack make multiple strikes against multiple targets with multiple forms of attack" If you look at the bold highlighted conditions, does this mean the the second (offhand) we…

  23. Started by Elrikk,

    Hi! I want my character to be able to look at physical object and be able to analyze its properties, what is made of how much it weighs, etc...Do I have to buy detect physical objects or is that implied with normal sight? thanks!

  24. Started by eepjr24,

    If you buy a barrier, by default, it sticks around until destroyed, dismissed or the GM says it disappears (6e1, p170): Summon also has its own rules for how long it lingers (6e1, p289): And summon addresses Charges tangentially on 6e1, 291: These seem to be contradicted by the Charges text (6e1, 367): My guess here is that the intent of the wording above is to lay out the general case for Constant or Persistent powers and not powers that are Instant and have lingering effects such as Barrier, Entangle, Mind Control and Summon? Am I correct on that? - E

  25. Started by Sicarius,

    I sometimes see in the rules something like "the player could be allowed to take a -0 perceivable Limitation", or "not worth more than a +0 Advantage". Other than being a descriptor of the power or a function of the special effect does this have any other in game effect? I am interpreting it as flavor text rather than something which alters the rules. Truth is I'm confused because I'm thinking of it as follows and I'm betting I'm wrong. Example: The Torch could have a -0 Limitation that his flames are perceivable or a +0 Advantage that his flames can provide light in the dark.

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