Flash with Knockback

[ShadowEater]

If a Flash does knockback (because of the advantage), does the target need that sense in order to be knocked back? Like... a sonic pulse that can deafen someone, but also push them around a bit... would that only push people who could hear it?

 

Would the same be true for dispels with knockback? (IE: a dispel flight power with knockback wouldn't knockback someone who didn't have flight?)

[Steve Long]

Re: Flash with Knockback

 

As noted on APG 54, an Adjustment Power with a secondary effect (such as Does Knockback, which is specifically cited) does not have that secondary effect if the target doesn’t have the Characteristic/Power/whatever that the Adjustment Power affects. For example, a Drain Blast, Does Knockback, if used against a target with no Blast attack, has no effect at all — it doesn’t cause Knockback.

 

Generally speaking, this reasoning extends to other powers, including Dispel (which is similar to Adjustment Powers in many ways), Flash, and the like. If the target cannot be affected by the power because he lacks what it targets (e.g., a blind person hit with a Sight Group Flash; a person without Flight hit with Dispel Flight), then the secondary effect (such as Does Knockback) also cannot apply. Note, however, that having a lot of defense against an attack (e.g., enough Sight Group Flash Defense to totally block a Flash) or being temporarily immune to a power (e.g., a character being protected from Sight Group Flashes because he was just affected by one and is now temporarily blind) does not qualify as “cannot be affected” — as used above, that term generally means it’s impossible for the character ever to be affected, not just temporarily impossible.

 

As always, the GM should apply these rules with an eye toward common sense, dramatic sense, special effects, and game balance.