I'm looking for some help regarding based flyers and ranged combat expert.

For example Hulk and Iron Man are in adjacent squares.

Am I right in thinking that Iron Man can only use Ranged Combat Expert if he is soaring. If he is hovering, he is considered non-ranged and unable to use Ranged Combat abilities?

Also If Iron Man is soaring, does that mean he is out of range of the Hulk if Hulks range is 0?

thanks in advance

From the Rule Book:
Hovering: Hovering characters can make ranged combat attacks against adjacent opposing characters; however, hovering characters may not make ranged attacks against nonadjacent characters when the hovering character is adjacent to an opposing character. A hovering character may be the target of a ranged attack by an adjacent non-flying character.

Soaring: characters can make ranged combat attacks against both adjacent and nonadjacent opposing soaring characters, giant characters, and big characters to which they have a clear line of fire, even when the soaring character is adjacent to opposing characters.

Kind of confusing, but I say you are correct, at least about the hovering/soaring part. I would say that Hulk or any grounded fig without a ranged attacked cannot hit a soaring character.

Like 1164 said, It can be very confusing. Here is a little clarification.

Soaring -

Iron Man can not attack attack a non-soaring character when he is soaring. Soaring characters can only attack soaring characters. Rarely, you will see a Feat which changes that (e.g. Divebomb), but that is an unlikely exception.

A character's range is cut in half when shooting fom non-soaring to soarning. The Hulk exception here would be if he had Leap / Climb. Leap / Climb allows a character to make close combat attacks from any elevation to any elevation from adjacent squares.

Hovering -

Iron Man can make a Ranged attack (using Range Combat Expert, Psychic Blast, Energy Explosion, or just to avoid powers like Combat Reflexes, etc) against the adjacent Hulk. If Hulk had range greater than 0, he could also range attack back at Iron Man. In this case, Hulk just has to punch Iron Man. Iron Man could not "shoot away" at another character while an enemy (Hulk) is adjacent to him.

Thanks for the help so far. I do have a follow-up.

In this instance, with Hulk and Iron Man in adjacent squares, would Hulk (with 0 range) be able to hit Iron Man while soaring and hovering (ignoring the fact he probably has leap/climp).

I would think that while hovering the close combat attack would be OK, but while soaring, Iron Man would not be considered in close combat.

Apololgies if I'm being a bit dim.....

Your thinking is correct.

While hovering, Iron Man would be on the same elevation as Hulk ("grounded" if they are on the ground, "elevated" if they are on a roof). As such, Hulk could make close combat attacks and vice versa.

If Iron was soaring, a grounded or elevated figure without leap/climb (and who is not a giant or colossal figure) could not make a close combat attack against him.

In this example, if Hulk was not on a L/C click, he would not be able to punch a soaring Iron Man.

He could throw an object at him, though. And you know Stark's not gonna see it coming.

Excellent.

thanks a lot for clearing that up.

Anytime....


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