I know. Still, that requires some luck with your rolls - there's always the chance that you'll roll 1 or 2. Endurance is dead certain, though it may come back later on.

Who best determines the spirit of the game?

The question was taken to the game designers. They said that it works. If it was against the spirit of the game, then it would have been changed.

It was House-ruled at my venue that Nova Blast causes the character using it to take two clix of unavoidable damage, which in my opinion, is in the spirit of the game.

So you know better than GD what GD meant for the game to do, Steadfast?

I think the rules, feats and assorted printed material for HeroClix will be considered classic literature in 20 odd years. Why? Because like today's "classics" we will still be spending hours trying to figure out what the author really meant in his writing. Even if, in some cases, we have the authors word on it.

First off, thank you for the snide remark. It shows the level of maturity of the author.

Second, no, I do not think I know better than the GD, I think I am keeping things in the spirit of what the GD set up.

Novablast came out in the Fantastic Forces set and was retired by the time that Endurance and Indomitable were introduced to the game. Heroclix had evolved since Novablast was introduced and as the feat was not re-printed, the language of the feat was not updated to reflect the changes to the game.

The House-rule was created to update the feat.

I think calling that remark "snide" (in response to an ignorant post) is pushing it. But now that you have been educated, as to what the Game Developers said on the matter, continuing to argue your case is starting to get, well, ridiculous...to say the least.

But the point is that if GD truly felt that it was going against the spirit of the game, they would have done that via errata. Retired or not is really not the issue.

As an example, the Fantastic Four feat card from the very same set as Nova Blast received errata in the most recent players guide.

The point is that your venue is free to house rule it, but to try and justify that house rule by saying that it is in the spirit of the game is not a good argument.

What about Odin? He can use outwit and has pulsewayve on his first few clix? and he has 3 targets. Does this mean he can outwit 3 characters then use Nova Blast and not take the damage?

He can only Outwit a single target. his number of lightning bolts is irrelevant.
But yeah, he can NB without feedback damage per the rules.

I believe GD has not made any kid of ruling on how Novablast works or does not work in conjunction with a figure who has pulse wave and indomitable so how is your speculation any better then his? The card does seem to unbalance the game when used in that manner. I certainly wouldn't blame a venue for house ruling it to give two unavoidable damage.

Thanks Q! Appreciate the help and I promise I won't cause anymore trouble, for the time being.

On this issue specifically I cannot recall if it was confirmed, but it most definitely was confirmed on a more general scale.

It was first ruled that Endurance was perfectly fine to use for ignoring the damage with things like Nova Blast and Haymaker.

It was then confirmed that Indomitable figures would not be penalized when using feats that give a push click ignoring powers and TAs. Since Nova Blast is one of those feats, the ruling stands. And as I recall, the issue was brought to GD's attention for Indomitable and Haymaker (PM&IF) as well as Nova Blast (Magus). In other words, we do have conclusive word from game design that the combo is valid.

Actually, it's the best argument.

The players discover what the designers do not.

Because it isn't speculation

Did GD provide a ruling with Nova Blast specifically?

To the best of my knowledge, no, GD never even said "Boo" on the subject.

Did they rule on feats that cause pusing damage in general (Haymaker, Darkness Within, Pounce prior to the reprint, etc)?

Yes, they ruled that Endurance and Indomitable and E-2 Supes trait (and anything else you care to mention that isn't a power or team ability) work just fine at preventing feat-caused pusing damage.