Energy Explosion
Give this character a ranged combat action; this attack can target only characters. For each target successfully hit, compare the attack roll to the defense value of each character adjacent to that target to determine if the attack also succeeds against it. Each character hit is dealt damage equal to the number of times it was hit by this attack (characters adjacent to multiple targets might be hit more than once).

A critical hit automatically hits all targets and all characters adjacent to the targets and deals 1 additional damage to all characters hit. If a character evades the attack, it evades all hits by this attack.

If a character has a special power that allows it to "use" Energy Explosion, can you choose not to activate at all when making a ranged combat attack. I understand that if the character possesses EE, it is "always on" and the player has the option to activate the AoE.

That is how I have been using that ability. There are a lot of times where an energy explosion would ruin your strategy (like when you are using Highfather). Nobody seems to have any problems letting me NOT use Energy explosion during my attacks at my venue, but we could be wrong.

I should point out that that's not the current wording of Energy Explosion. Here's the current one:

In this, the relevant phrase is, "an area of effect may include." As such, while it is technically, "always on," when you make a ranged combat attack activated via a ranged combat action, you don't have to apply the effect if you don't want to.

Can you create the area of effect at one location but not another? By aiming at two or more targets?

Also if Precision Strike or Psychic Blast or combined with Energy Explosion, do the un targeted figures get hit with those powers?

No. You either choose to activate this effect, or you don't. You can't get it both ways.

PENETRATING/PSYCHIC BLAST
Give this character a ranged combat action. Damage from the attack is penetrating damage.

PRECISION STRIKE
When this character makes an attack, it can’t be evaded, and the damage dealt can’t be reduced below 1 or transferred.

Neither effect requires a target. So, yes, the area of effect would also deal penetrating damage and/or can't be evaded, transferred, or reduced below 1.

Ok, so I wasn't really clear so I apologize. It has also come up that I may not have clarified something that should have been made clear first, so let me ask a different question, then re-ask my original question in the context of the first question.....yea, I think that made sense.

WoS Firestar has this power:

ABSORB AND RE-CHANNEL RADIATION: Whenever Firestar would take damage from Energy Explosion or Pulse Wave, ignore the damage dealt, heal her of 1 damage, and modify her damage value by +1 until end of turn. This power can't be ignored.

Question #1: If a character with energy explosion showing on it's dial hits Firestar with a ranged combat attack, can Firestar ignore that damage via Absorb and Re-Channel Radiation?

Question #2: Under the assumption that the answer to Question #1 is "yes, because a character with EE showing on the dial is always using it when making a ranged combat attack.", consider WoS Noh-Varr, who has the special attack power:

TRANSFORMING GAUNTLET GUN: Noh-Varr can use Energy Explosion, Penetrating/Psychic Blast, and Pulse Wave.

If Noh-Varr hits Firestar with a ranged combat attack with Transforming Gauntlet Gun showing on his dial, does Firestar ignore the damage via Absorb and Re-Channel Radiation?

Hope that makes more sense :-/

Only if the character was using EE (AKA creating the area of effect).

Again, no. He can simply choose not to use EE.


From the PG:

When game effects are triggered from using a power or ability
(typically using a phrasing like “When he does…”), it refers to when
you are given an action to activate it if there is an action option for
the power (ie, Charge or Force Blast) or when you choose to utilize
an effect when the effect works in conjunction with an action (ie,
Blades/Claws/Fangs or Carry).


So even though EE will potentially activate with any ranged combat action, you have to actively decide to use it.

Can you help me understand your reasoning here?

ENERGY EXPLOSION When this character is given a ranged combat action and deals damage, an area of effect may include all untargeted characters that are adjacent to one or more hit targets. Hit targets are dealt damage normally, other hit characters are dealt 1 damage for each printed on this character’s base.

From the heroclix website (http://heroclix.com/heroclix/a-whole...xzz3PW6HkBk7):

"Right up front, there is a major change to how Energy Explosion activates. Energy Explosion now activates any time you are given a ranged combat action; it doesn’t require its own action for activation."

ABSORB AND RE-CHANNEL RADIATION: Whenever Firestar would take damage from Energy Explosion or Pulse Wave, ignore the damage dealt, heal her of 1 damage, and modify her damage value by +1 until end of turn. This power can't be ignored.

Assuming EE is on the characters slot, it activates every time that character is given a ranged combat action. Why would it matter if the character created the area of effect or not for Absorbe and Re-Channel... to activate?

He quoted that part, too.

From the PG:
If you don't opt to create the optional area of effect of EE, then you have not used the power.

I get it now. Thanks guys. The text in their explanation should read:

"Right up front, there is a major change to how Energy Explosion activates. Energy Explosion can now activate any time you are given a ranged combat action; it doesn’t require its own action for activation."

I don't know why I'm even surprised anymore.

Actually, it shouldn't. It does activate with every ranged combat action. For game purposes, however, it is only considered to have been used if you choose to perform the optional effect.