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Anaraxes · 01-03-2018, 07:10 AM

Smite is built with Emanation, which means it's an area attack that bursts out from the caster. There's no active defense roll when you attack an area; see Area-Effect Attacks, B413. That's a normal part of the rules for any AE attack, so the text for the Cosmic modifer No Die Roll Required doesn't apply. It comes as part the +100% Area Effect. Victims can still retreat out of the area, or Dodge and Drop (B377).

The build is paying for the +300% Irresistible Attack, which is what makes Smite bypass DR. (But that's all you get for that +300% -- not that bypassing DR and other resistance is something to be sneered at!)

Abilities don't all have an activation roll by default. (You could add one, if desired, with "Requires (Attr) Roll" (Powers 112), for which you can also substitute a Hard skill.) The base Innate Attack normally has a to-hit roll, because it's normally a ranged attack, but it doesn't have a roll to activate and then another to hit. The AE takes away the "to hit" part, and Emanation also means the attack loses its range. (That's why Emanation is a net Limitation; also notice that Emanation requires AE, which is really where the price increase comes from. A zero-range attack that you can target only on yourself without an AE would be pretty useless, eh?)

01-03-2018, 07:10 AM	#4
Anaraxes Join Date: Sep 2007	Re: Divine favor - Smite wrong cost or effect? Smite is built with Emanation, which means it's an area attack that bursts out from the caster. There's no active defense roll when you attack an area; see Area-Effect Attacks, B413. That's a normal part of the rules for any AE attack, so the text for the Cosmic modifer No Die Roll Required doesn't apply. It comes as part the +100% Area Effect. Victims can still retreat out of the area, or Dodge and Drop (B377). The build is paying for the +300% Irresistible Attack, which is what makes Smite bypass DR. (But that's all you get for that +300% -- not that bypassing DR and other resistance is something to be sneered at!) Abilities don't all have an activation roll by default. (You could add one, if desired, with "Requires (Attr) Roll" (Powers 112), for which you can also substitute a Hard skill.) The base Innate Attack normally has a to-hit roll, because it's normally a ranged attack, but it doesn't have a roll to activate and then another to hit. The AE takes away the "to hit" part, and Emanation also means the attack loses its range. (That's why Emanation is a net Limitation; also notice that Emanation requires AE, which is really where the price increase comes from. A zero-range attack that you can target only on yourself without an AE would be pretty useless, eh?) Last edited by Anaraxes; 01-03-2018 at 07:19 AM.