I am also a relatively new player, and "held objects are not on the map" slightly confuses me. I'm posting from my phone, so I can't really quote anything, but Cyborg Supes' trait says he can remove an object "held or not from the map" and then heal and stuff. My brain hurts.

That's an excellent question, actually.

MENTAL BACKUP: Give Cyborg Superman a free action and remove an object (held or not) within 6 squares from the map. Roll a d6 and heal Cyborg Superman equal to the half of that d6 roll.

So, that means that held objects, should be placed on the character's square that's holding them. Basically.

Where you put the held objects doesn't really matter as long as its clear for everybody that the object is being held and not just lying around in a certain square. This makes a big difference for those characters with Stealth and Super Strength on the same click, for example.

As to the other point about thrown objects: there are many characters without natural range, so for them it creates an extra option. Using an object on a character with natural range of 8 or higher can also be useful when opposing Perplex is used to "weaken" your figure. When you add special objects to the mix it also offers a whole new range of options for these guys. Sure, from there on the extra TK gets rather situational, but it can still be quite useful.

Just to clarify, characters with super strength and stealth aren't blocked from range when holding an object, right?

The object doesn't count as hindering when it's being held. Try to think of it visually if that helps, the object isn't rolling along in the same square as the character with super strength as they move, they are carrying it with them. Also helps with your TK question, Hulk isnt likely to let a little thing like TK rip an I-Beam that he's about to wallop some puny human with out of his hands is he?

I have my own question though, do you need to make a break away roll when you use TK (or the carry ability) to move a character that is adjacent to an opposing figure? My instincts say "No" but if there's one thing i can be, it's wrong..

I thought about the TK issue too, but I dunno... If it's metal, Magneto could rip it straight out!

Just sayin

I wouldn't think you'd need to roll for break-away since the character isn't moving of its own volition.

You don't have to roll because the passively moved figures are placed at the end and are - as you pointed out - not movig on their own volition.

(with the previous version of TK figures were moved and thus had to roll break away)

No breakaway necessary, as you don't move figures with TK, you place them.

Another way to use TK is with a character like DC75 Mera or GSX Psylocke. Imagine your opponent's surprise when they forget about the nearby light object that is suddenly getting flung at them from 8 squares away by a character with a Zero Range.

I also like the idea of tossing an object close to an enemy to set it up for an ally. Then, just have them charge, SS, smash them over the head with it. Seems like a decent idea if your TK piece has bad attack and dmg values.

That is why TK is one of the best powers in the game. It is versatile and lets you do all sorts of fun things with it.

On the topic of TK, I've got some players who are convinced that a figure holding an object can't be TK'd, but I can't find any justification for that. Am I missing something, or are they confused (thinking of carry, maybe?)

I would just read the TK ability, it says nothing about not being able to hold objects.

A figure holding an object can be placed. So TK works fine. They cannot be carried.

They are confused.

What I thought, but there are those occasions where I thought I knew something and there was some change that made me wrong. Always better to check.