This seems silly to me and so I was hoping to take a look at the problem and see if there is a good suggestion moving forward.

I'LL FORGE YOUR WEAPON, YOU $#@*&%: Friendly characters can use free actions instead of power actions to make a relic roll and modify their roll by +1 if not already modified by this effect.

Now lets take out the illusion of choice.

I'LL FORGE YOUR WEAPON, YOU $#@*&%: Friendly characters use free actions instead of power actions to make a relic roll and modify their roll by +1 if not already modified by this effect.

To me this says the same thing that we already have but virtually eliminates the uncertainty that "can" brings to many if not most new players.

Can anyone think of a case where "can" is good, needed or crucial?

Shoprite has a Can Can sale every year. It is their biggest sale. Without "can" it would just be another sale

HA! those commercials are so are so cheesy it kinda makes me laugh sometimes. Seeing the dancing girls do there high kicks makes me glad that I live in a different age of entertainment.

It is needed insomuch as it differentiates "can use" vs "possess."

Great example. Thanks for that. I am not looking to eliminate it from all powers, just where it is used superfluously to a fault where instead of clarity it is confusing to those that aren't yet aware that can means must.

Speaking of confusing.... I had to read this four times before I understood it.

Yeah I tend to run on and on and...

Can Does NOT MEAN must. That was a short hand for misunderstanding a ruling.

A power you CAN USE means It is a power YOU ARE ALWAYS USING.

Seems like a funny hair to split but that isn't really what this is about.

Oh boy, sorry to be agreeable one day and then come back and argue the next but,

I still am not seeing the need for can in the given responses.

Crazy Blades: Sabretooth can use Blades, Claws, Fangs; When he does it does something awesome brah.

Now lets look again;

Crazy Blades: Sabretooth uses Blades, Claws, Fangs; When he does it does something awesome brah.

Looks like it still works fine with less illusion of option. Not sure why "use(s)", can't be used the same as "can use" but shorter and less confusing.

Well, what if I have a figure that I want to push? Then I don't want to use the relic roll as a free action. Especially if he was just carried to the relic and cant take a power action anyway.

I don't understand your question. Splitlip isn't optional. If you don't want the roll to be free you would need to leave him off the team.

In your blades example the "can" is absolutely necessary because activation of blades is optional.

Incorrect. The activation is not at all optional. You are ALWAYS using blades. The die roll is optional but you are still "USING" blades.

I've sort of always explained that "can" means "does" not "must" because the passive connotation of DOES is less confusing than the normally optional tone of "can".