I have a question that came up during a sealed tourney. It concerns Mr. Unknown's steal energy granting trait. It states:
"Give Mr. Unknown a free action and choose a friendly adjacent character. This character can use steal energy this turn and when it does and heals give Mr. Unknown an action token."

My question is can Mr. Unknown use this trait if he has 2 action tokens, or does he have to be able to take a token?

Yes he can use it.

Free is Free.

He's talking about the back part of the power.

Mr. Unknown can give a character Steal Energy if he has 2 tokens. But the Steal Energy would be ignored if he has 2 tokens.

Incorrect...

Only the part which places the token is ignored, not the entire power.

By that logic you can give a character with 1 action token a double power action. (Or the case of some one like IM/WM, a power action that gives 2 tokens). You can not give anyone an action, power, or effect that will result in a character receiving more than 2 token.

Yes you could, by that logic... except...

"A character with two action tokens cannot be given any non-free actions."

"In order to use a double power action as a non-free action, a figure must be able to be given two action tokens."

The same ruling applies to things like Blue Beetle's Scarab. If he is already pushed when you take more than three damage, you still ignore the damage, but he doesn't gain a third action token.

"THE SCARAB: The first time in a game when Blue Beetle would take 3 or more damage from an attack, instead he does not take damage and is given an action token."

Protected is worded differently:

"If the character does not already have two action tokens on it, damage dealt to the character as a result of a single attack is ignored. After that action is resolved, give the character an action token and remove this feat from the game."

The difference is when an action token is a cost, as in the normal use of an action, and when it is an effect, as in Incapacitate.

You can Incapacitate someone with two action tokens; You simply ignore the part that places a token on the target. Any other effects due from your attack would still apply. Similarly, placing a token on Mr. Unknown for this power is an effect. If you can't do it, it is ignored.

Good explanation of a concept many have issues with.

yes, thank you for explaining that. my Mr Unknown is looking better all the time

Interesting.

Good explanation.
A lot of people assume because you can't place the token you can't Incap, but you can: it just isn't usually of any value. But for figures like Wasp or Silver Banshee the after effects make it worthwhile.

Thanx I thought you could use it since it doesn't say you cannot. Wanted to make sure.