Knockback Damage and Absorption

[quozaxx]

Can Knockback damage be Absorbed with an Absorption to physical attacks? If so, (which I think it does), how does that effect how much BODY the character can Absorb?

For example: Let’s say Absorber can Absorb 10 BODY vs. Physical attacks. He is then attacked with a physical attack that does 7 BODY, and knocked back for an additional 5 BODY. Does he Absorb 10 BODY (the maximum he can Absorb in with one Attack) or 12 BODY (since the max he can ultimately Absorb is twice the BODY of an attack)?

[Steve Long]

Re: Knockback Damage and Absorption

 

Good question — I’m surprised no one’s ever asked it before.

 

Physical Absorption can Absorb damage from Knockback. However, as noted on 6E1 166, the amount of BODY purchased is the amount the character can Absorb per Segment. Since Knockback by definition occurs in the same Segment when the attack that causes it hit the target, the combination of BODY damage from the attack causing the Knockback and BODY from the Knockback itself may reach the character’s threshhold and then “cut off.” For example, suppose a character has Absorption 10 BODY (physical, to STR). He’s hit by a Physical attack that does 7 BODY, and thus Absorbs 7 BODY. The Knockback from the attack then does 5 BODY to him. He can Absorb from that BODY, but since his maximum Absorption per Segment is 10 BODY, he only Absorbs 3 more BODY (to a total of 10), not the full 5 BODY (which would be a total of 12, exceeding his limit).