04-02-2012, 08:08 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Japan
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[PU4, PP] Mental Defense Only vs. Malediction-Proof
A simple question. Assume that you've bought DR with Malediction-Proof enhancement (Psionic Powers, p. 14) and that you defined it as "mental defence" on character generation. When a foe attacks you with an Innate Attack enhanced with Mental Defense Only (PU4, p. 19), does it ignore your DR?
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Gurps Fan, a rules lawyer from the mysterious country of ninja, samurai, and magical girls, the inventor of M.U.N.C.H.K.I.N. |
04-02-2012, 08:18 PM | #2 |
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lynn, MA
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Re: [PU4, PP] Mental Defense Only vs. Malediction-Proof
I would say yes, it specifies "Maledictions Only"
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04-02-2012, 08:46 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Japan
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Re: [PU4, PP] Mental Defense Only vs. Malediction-Proof
Thanks. Then, it's clear that a telepath with a Mental Defense Only attack can easily defeat even antipsi villains who have invested a lot of points to Psychic Armor (Psionic Powers, p. 25). It's strange at first sight, but RAW is RAW.
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Gurps Fan, a rules lawyer from the mysterious country of ninja, samurai, and magical girls, the inventor of M.U.N.C.H.K.I.N. |
04-02-2012, 09:34 PM | #4 | |
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Yukon, OK
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Re: [PU4, PP] Mental Defense Only vs. Malediction-Proof
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I am not to sure that DR with enhanced against malediction wont work against attacks with Mental Defense only. I think there is room for both and would depend on special effect. Probably rule for though in most cases. |
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04-02-2012, 09:58 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Japan
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Re: [PU4, PP] Mental Defense Only vs. Malediction-Proof
It's true that Psionic Shield (actually a modified Mind Shield; see Psionic Powers, p. 24) is part of Antipsi power, but Psionic Shield and Psychic Armor is two different, separate abilities. The statement "All antipsi villains should have both Psionic Shield and Psychic Armor" sounds excessive, just like "All teleporters should have both Exoteleport and Innerportation" would sound.
The difference between "DR works" and "No DR" is crucial. This difference (if any) should be reflected on point cost but shoudn't depend on any zero-cost special effect.
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Gurps Fan, a rules lawyer from the mysterious country of ninja, samurai, and magical girls, the inventor of M.U.N.C.H.K.I.N. |
04-02-2012, 10:17 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Re: [PU4, PP] Mental Defense Only vs. Malediction-Proof
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04-02-2012, 10:36 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Japan
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Re: [PU4, PP] Mental Defense Only vs. Malediction-Proof
Sorry, but in this thread I'm not interested in what ability is suitable for villains in the light of genre convention. "What ability is 'essential' or not" is in the GM's jurisdiction. It depends on opinions, not facts.
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Gurps Fan, a rules lawyer from the mysterious country of ninja, samurai, and magical girls, the inventor of M.U.N.C.H.K.I.N. |
04-02-2012, 10:53 PM | #8 |
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lynn, MA
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Re: [PU4, PP] Mental Defense Only vs. Malediction-Proof
Regardless "Malediction-Proof" Protects against Maledicitions, regardless of if it is an enhanced Innate Attack or an Affliction. A very specific Penetration Modifier.
"Mental Defense only" Uses Mindshield instead of DR and is a Penetration Modifier that specifically cannot be combined with Malediction. I fail to see how they could interact. |
04-02-2012, 11:59 PM | #9 | |
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Japan
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Re: [PU4, PP] Mental Defense Only vs. Malediction-Proof
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However, if the character concept requires a large amount of DR against all the damaging psychic attacks, then the most natural candidate among the abilities listed in Psionic Powers will be a high level of Psychic Armor (which is actually a Malediction-Proof DR), rather than Psionic Shield (which is actually a limited Mind Shield). Psychic Armor is a typical "mental defense", so supposing that Mental Defense Only attacks should ignore this mental defense seems unintuitive, even if it's what follows from the RAW.
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Gurps Fan, a rules lawyer from the mysterious country of ninja, samurai, and magical girls, the inventor of M.U.N.C.H.K.I.N. |
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04-03-2012, 12:17 AM | #10 |
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Japan
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Re: [PU4, PP] Mental Defense Only vs. Malediction-Proof
Side question: If a Mental Defense Only attack is thrown on a inanimate object, does it inflict damage ignoring the object's DR? Or does it pass through the object harmlessly?
__________________
Gurps Fan, a rules lawyer from the mysterious country of ninja, samurai, and magical girls, the inventor of M.U.N.C.H.K.I.N. |
Tags |
malediction-proof, mental defense only |
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