Just had this happen the other night. We allowed the person to make the impervious roll (Which he failed), but I was just wondering what the correct rules are?


IMPERVIOUS (NON-OPTIONAL) When this character is dealt damage, roll a d6. On a result of 5 or 6, the damage dealt is reduced to 0. On a result of 1–4, the damage dealt is reduced by 2.

EXPLOIT WEAKNESS Give this character a close combat action. Damage from the attack is penetrating damage.

PENETRATING DAMAGE
Penetrating damage is damage dealt that can’t be reduced (such as by the Toughness power), but can be evaded, ignored, increased, or transferred to another character.

Thanks,

While the damage dealt will not be reduced, nothing indicates that Impervious should not be rolled. The character was dealt damage which is all that is required to roll Impervious. So roll that Impervious. Usually this makes no difference, but Dr. Manhattan and White Lantern Superman both like to make the roll for other effects.

Nothing in the penetrating damage description says you can't roll... it just doesn't really matter most of the time.

However, special versions of Impervious (like Superman's White Invicinibility and Dr. Manhattan's That Didn't Kill Osterman...) have other stuff, beyond damage reduction, that are activated by the die roll.

So, yes, you should be rolling with Impervious even if the damage can't be reduced.

So does that mean that if you make your impervious roll, you don't take any damage?

Never said that. In fact, I said the exact opposite

Against someone with exploit weakness:

You roll a 1-4. Damage would be reduced by 2. Damage can't be reduced, so you take full damage.

You roll a 5-6. Damage would be reduced to 0. Damage can't be reduced, so you take full damage.