Side Effects and Partially Limited Powers

[BoloOfEarth]

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?

[Steve Long]

I think to properly and fully address this issue I would need to write a short essay, which I don’t have time to do write now. So I reserve the right to change this answer in APG3 or elsewhere.

 

In this case, since the character took the Limitation at its full -½ value (-¼ for a 15 Active Point Side Effect, doubled because it applies automatically), he takes the full 3d6 Side Effect for each portion of the power he uses. In your example, with a Blast 16d6, he’d thus take 3d6 twice:  once for the first +4d6, and once for the second +4d6.

 

However, you might be able to work with your GM to reduce the effect. Perhaps if you split the Limitation value (into -¼ for each additional bit of power), he’d let you split the damage into 1½d6 per additional bit of power. I’m sure other solutions will suggest themselves.