Mental Combat Levels and Mental Paralysis

[randian]

Can MCSLs be used to increase the damage done by EGO when attempting to break out of a Mental Paralysis? This is not obviously a "mental attack" for purposes of using an MCSL in this manner.

[Steve Long]

That depends on whether the GM considers EGO to qualify as “a Mental Power or attack,” which may in turn depend on the nature of the Mental Paralysis. For example, a GM might choose to allow this when a character tries to break out of a Psionic Paralysis power used on that character by a supervillain, but not when a character tries to exert his willpower enough to move his limbs after being struck by a Paralysis Drug-Tipped Dart shot at him by a blowgun wielded by a cannibalistic headhunter. I expect most GMs would allow it in most situations.