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Old 10-26-2020, 09:00 AM   #1
AlexanderHowl
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Default Avoidance versus Resistance [Supers]

When it comes to Supers characters in your campaigns, which strategy works best? Is it avoidance, where a character avoids detection before combat and avoids attacks during combat? Or is it resistance, where a character resists damage and resists death during combat?
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Old 10-26-2020, 09:05 AM   #2
zoncxs
 
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Default Re: Avoidance versus Resistance [Supers]

Depends on the character being played.

Are they bricks? Then they don't really care about stealth and simply walk in and fight, taking the damage because they can. Otherwise, it is best to avoid having a fair fight, though if you are a brick it is not fair to begin with, the enemy just doesn't know it yet.
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Old 10-26-2020, 09:10 AM   #3
Aldric
 
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Default Re: Avoidance versus Resistance [Supers]

Not being there is always the best answer, but you can't always count on that, so some resistance is always welcome.
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Old 10-26-2020, 09:46 AM   #4
AlexanderHowl
 
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Default Re: Avoidance versus Resistance [Supers]

Fair fights between supers tend to result in a lot of collateral damage. Of course, neither works very well against Maledictions.
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Old 10-26-2020, 10:17 AM   #5
Anthony
 
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Default Re: Avoidance versus Resistance [Supers]

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl View Post
When it comes to Supers characters in your campaigns, which strategy works best? Is it avoidance, where a character avoids detection before combat and avoids attacks during combat? Or is it resistance, where a character resists damage and resists death during combat?
Depends on the power level and the adversaries. It's a lot easier to avoid being hit by anti-tank weapons than to resist them, the reverse vs being attacked by guys with clubs.
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Old 10-26-2020, 05:14 PM   #6
RyanW
 
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Default Re: Avoidance versus Resistance [Supers]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aldric View Post
Not being there is always the best answer, but you can't always count on that, so some resistance is always welcome.
"Remember. Best block, no be there." - Miyagi Nariyoshi, 1986
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Old 10-26-2020, 10:37 PM   #7
AlexanderHowl
 
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Default Re: Avoidance versus Resistance [Supers]

Of course, though it does depend on the character. A 500 CP cinematic supernormal with DX 20, HT 12, Basic Speed 12.00, Combat Reflexes, and Luck (costing a total of 370 CP) possesses a Dodge 16+ (and can use Luck to counter critical failures/opponent critical successes). They are also phenomenally agile and healthy, but that is just a side benefit of moving like greased lightning. For around the same amount of points through, a 500 CP superhuman can get DR 50 (Super, -10%; Tough Skin, -40%), Immunity to Metabolic Hazards (Super, -10%), and Injury Tolerance /10 (Cosmic, Round down, +50%; Super, -10%). Of course, the later character is just a damage sponge, but they are an impressive one.
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Old 10-26-2020, 11:14 PM   #8
kirbwarrior
 
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Default Re: Avoidance versus Resistance [Supers]

In any campaign, it's always "don't let people know combat started" and "don't let combat happen". Once I learned that waaaaay back in That Other Game 3.5, the DM kicked me out. An unplugged Death Ray isn't killing anyone.

However, Supers is a genre where that often fails spectacularly and combat happens regardless of whether or not the heroes (and villains!) want it. The common Injury Divisor (Crushing Only) is a good place to start but really you want to assume you're going to get hit hard in the face at some point and work backwards to make it not kill you. Figure out how to make it work with your concept, then figure out if you want to brick through it or otherwise not get hit.
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Old 10-27-2020, 03:44 AM   #9
Aldric
 
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Default Re: Avoidance versus Resistance [Supers]

Danger Sense seems to be a must on any build focused on avoiding damage.
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Old 10-27-2020, 05:56 AM   #10
WingedKagouti
 
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Default Re: Avoidance versus Resistance [Supers]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aldric View Post
Not being there is always the best answer, but you can't always count on that, so some resistance is always welcome.
And dodging is not a good plan if you need to protect innocent bystanders from stray shots.
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