I’m Invulnerable (sort of)...

[kjandreano]

Here’s a question for you:

How do you defeat a villain that has abusive Blocking, Deflecting or Reflecting abilities? I’m talking about being effectively invulnerable by always stopping incoming attacks, ranged or hand-to-hand, by turning the rules into a GM-approved pretzel. For example: super high OCV (bonuses to block / deflect), maybe built on a trigger with extra Speed for it, AOE, etc. so the villain can still attack, or protect teammates who can, etc. Just wondering! ?

 

[zslane]

The only way to avoid an AOE attack is to get out of the area of effect. That requires Dive for Cover--which may or may not get the target out of the area in any event--or using a movement power as a defensive move (has to be allowed by the GM, if I recall). So AOE attacks should still be reasonably effective against a villain with high CV and CSLs in things like Block, Dodge, or Deflection/Reflection.

 

Another useful power set is mental powers. His body may be quick, but maybe his mind isn't so stout. If the villain's EGO isn't that high, there are lots of ways to bring him (or her) down. Along those lines, a PRE attack might also be effective, if you have a hero with a strong enough PRE.

[massey]

Hold action until the villain attacks.  If he just sits there blocking all day, he isn't doing anything else.  So hold action until he acts, then shoot him.  He can't take two actions in a single phase.  So if he attacks on Segment 3, and then you shoot him later on Segment 3, he can't abort to Missile Deflection.

[dsatow]

Use an invisible attack.  Triggers do not activate without the appropriate sense to trigger from.

 

RaW state if the villain does an attack action in a segment, they can't abort that segment.  Wait for an attack action and then attack.

 

Get an army.  If every person fires a 2d6N 2x penetrating AoE accurate attack with teamwork, eventually he'll fail his block.  Champions is about individual superheroes but don't underestimate the army.

 

AoE is the time honored way to stop high DCV.  

[dsatow]

Just one more thing, its easy in hero as the GM to create the unstoppable villain.  After all, you aren't constrained in points.  But the game shouldn't be about making an unstoppable villain.  It should be about heroes being heroes (possibly at cost) and villains cursing the heroes.  It should be about fun.

 

If you are trying to make a PC invulnerable (and I am not saying you are), don't.  Think back to your favorite comics/movies/books.  Your hero was probably flawed and failed a few times and this makes them interesting.  The Mary Sue of characters is usually not as interesting as the one who struggles and triumphs.

[clnicholsusa]

5 hours ago, kjandreano said:

...by turning the rules into a GM-approved pretzel...

You're out of luck. Assuming the GM would approve a rules pretzel, remember the GM has the authority to outright ignore any random act that breaks the story the GM is determined to tell.

So, your choices are limited to playing along and discovering what tale the GM is telling or not looking back on your way out the door. If it does turn out to be a tale told by an idiot (you know, sound, fury, nada) you'll need a new GM.

[BoloOfEarth]

First off, if the GM is allowing the villain to block / deflect / reflect AoE attacks, you're pretty much screwed regardless, as it's likely a case of "I Wanna Play" GM-PC on his part, and you can't beat the GM at his own game.  Though there are still options.

 

My first "f*** you" to the GM if he's allowing block / etc. on AoE attacks is to make an attack AoE 4m radius, No Range, Personal Immunity, and then just move in close enough so the villain is affected.  Make it NND (preferably the defense being something your teammates have but the villain doesn't) so you're not hurting any bystanders or hostages. 

 

Barrier.  Englobe the sucker, big enough so it's not just his hex. Sure, he's not down, but he's effectively neutralized.  (If the GM is allowing the villain to block / etc. AoE attacks he'll probably just rule that he can block / etc. this as well, so make sure to add Dismissable.)  Does the villain have Teleportation?  I'm guessing he does.  If so, make sure the Barrier has a few levels of Cannot Be Escaped With Teleportation on it.

 

Adding to zslane's mention, Extra PRE, usable only for Presence Attacks (-1).  AFAICT, there's no way to block, dodge, deflect, or otherwise ignore a Presence Attack.

 

A slight change from dsatow's Invisibility suggestion:  Darkness to all of the villain's senses, with Personal Immunity if you don't have an Enhanced Sense that he doesn't have.  Center it on yourself, so even the ability to block / etc. AoE attacks isn't an issue, and then move close to him.  Follow that up with attacks that he can't see to block / deflect / reflect.  If you have teammates that have Enhanced Senses the villain doesn't have, they can still attack him as well.

 

Situational:  find out what the villain is after and work at denying him that, without worrying about capturing him.  If possible, find a way to turn that into a trap.  "Mega-Munchkin is after the Plotzberg Royal Crown?  We'll create a realistic duplicate, swap it out, and add an NND electrical attack with a radio trigger.  He grabs the crown, we zap him."

[Pattern Ghost]

On 5/9/2018 at 4:10 PM, zslane said:

The only way to avoid an AOE attack is to get out of the area of effect.

 

Desolid, only vs. AOE damage. It'd be cheese to give to a brick, though. It's usually a speedster trick.

[zslane]

Desolid! That's a good one. Of course, that can be remedied by building the AOE with Affects Desolid, though I think the sfx of the Desol would be important here.

[BoloOfEarth]

It occurs to me that a damage shield on a brick would still affect a person blocking the brick's HtH attack, unless the target is using a weapon to block. 

[steriaca]

A "trigger" attack would always hit the target who triggered it.

[Cassandra]

Find out what he cares about and threaten to break it.