Area effect vs Malediction ranges

[jbalarini]

So i wanted to make an affliction based on the voice of a character...

Hence the effect would be apparently not avoidable i decided to go with area effect + malediction so the attack now automatic hits but demands an quick contest where the target can resist.

But here i got stuck... malediction comes in 3 levels... and i made the attack emanate from the character... so the range penalties apply to the attack? or not? For attacks i know that everything in the area is hit with the full attack effect, unless you acquire bombardment or similars. But in this case something seems not right.

The 3 ranges of Malediction say
100% - Quick contest is at -1 per yard of distance from the character
150% - Quick contest is at range/speed penalties
200% - Quick contest uses long range table

[munin]

Malediction range penalties for an area attack are to the center of the attack (sort of like throwing a smoke/chemical grenade -- the ranged penalties are to land the grenade in the right place). There are then no penalties from the center of the attack to any targets within the effect -- all targets are affected equally within the area (the same penalties).

But if you want the area effect to be centered on the user, then you add the Emanation limitation or Aura enhancement (depending on whether you want a burst or constant effect), removing the ability to make a ranged attack (technically, with Aura, it's the required Melee limitation that does that). Obviously, with no ability to make a ranged attack, there would be no point in taking Malediction at any level higher than 1.

[jbalarini]

Thanks... was my exactly though but wanted to see if anyone else would agree without suggestion.

[PK]

Just stepping in to give official weight to munin's correct answer. Area Effect means that every target in the area is affected equally. (If you don't want that, add Dissipation.) So the combo of Area Effect + Emanation + Malediction 1 means you affect everyone within X yards of yourself at no range penalty. And no, there's no reason to go beyond Malediction 1.

[Terwin]

Originally Posted by jbalarini

So i wanted to make an affliction based on the voice of a character...

You may want to look at sense based as an alternative to malediction, that could make it a sound-based effect.

[Nereidalbel]

Originally Posted by Terwin

You may want to look at sense based as an alternative to malediction, that could make it a sound-based effect.

Sense-Based with Malediction isn't a terrible plan, really.