Question about Higher Purpose

[Anders]

Today the group fought the toxifier from I Smell A Rat. It's Diffuse, so normally you can only do 2 HP of damage. Now, that thing is a demon so it triggered the Holy Warrior's Higher Purpose. Can he still only do 2 HP or does Higher Purpose add to this? I decided it did, because it's a holy power, but it would be nice to have an official ruling.

[Balor Patch]

Logically no, since hitting harder doesn't help against a diffuse target and the extra from Higher Purpose is damage, not follow-up.

On the other hand, if it was awesome then you did it right.

[LokRobster]

Originally Posted by Balor Patch

...if it was awesome then you did it right.

The Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything!

That’s the best GM advice I’ve run across in a while :)

[whswhs]

At least in GURPS, Higher Purpose is not a theological or mystical advantage like Blessed or True Faith, but a psychological or narrative one like Daredevil. So I wouldn't treat assume that it overcomes supernatural advantages, or even simply physical ones like Diffuse.

On the other hand, I can't deny that Balor Patch's comment is fitting to certain styles of campaign and play.

[ArchonShiva]

Diffuse is terrible and you should welcome any excuse to mitigate its effect. Add Higher Purpose after the cap; Have Flaming Weapon count as a separate source for another +2, anything to make the players feel like their ideas matter rather than a long slog to -5xHP.

[Tinman]

Originally Posted by Anders

Today the group fought the toxifier from I Smell A Rat. It's Diffuse, so normally you can only do 2 HP of damage. Now, that thing is a demon so it triggered the Holy Warrior's Higher Purpose. Can he still only do 2 HP or does Higher Purpose add to this? I decided it did, because it's a holy power, but it would be nice to have an official ruling.

Sounds fine to me. Especially if you don't have a mage with AoE.

[Balor Patch]

Originally Posted by ArchonShiva

Have Flaming Weapon count as a separate source for another +2

Death to the diffuse, definitely!

Flaming Weapon does injury rather than damage so the RAW has this baked in. Likewise Icy Weapon, Lightning Weapon, Deathtouch, Dehydrate, Frostbite, Explosive <anything>, and whatever I've forgotten.

Icy Weapon is even a Magery 0 spell that any elf can learn.

[ArchonShiva]

Unfortunately, no, unless there was errata:
“ Other attacks never inflict more than 2 HP of injury. Area effects, cones, and explosions cause normal injury.”

Striking with a flaming sword is an attack, and the attack as a whole is limited to 2 injury total.

It’s still a highly recommended house rule.

[Kalzazz]

Great Haste someone with lots of Extra Attack and slowly whittle it down

I'd let Higher Purpose add, Holy Warriors need be fabulous

[Anders]

Originally Posted by ArchonShiva

Diffuse is terrible and you should welcome any excuse to mitigate its effect. Add Higher Purpose after the cap; Have Flaming Weapon count as a separate source for another +2, anything to make the players feel like their ideas matter rather than a long slog to -5xHP.

I usually only take it to -HP, because everything else just drags. And the players were doing everything right - they are learning the system.

Here's what they did:
Surround creature, All-Out Attack (Double) with all they have - the toxifier doesn't attack per se so defenses are pointless, and they can't do more than 2 points per attack, so making as many attacks as possible is the way to go