Another solution is to just define when a power/ability/effect is actually 'used' in Heroclix. Though that one is going to be a lot trickier than it might seem because of all the passive powers (like Invulnerability) and powers that have both active and passive elements (Like Charge ignoring knockback).

It may just be easier to give erratum to the few cases that need them. Like instead of "from this/that use", it will just say "when/while using it in this way" meaning, in Batgirl's case, "as a free action".

All they have to do is add a line to the PG saying "When using passive effects of powers, you are not considered to be using that power".

Or something like that.

Right now there are Two States of "Use" in Heroclix.

1) The ability to Use - This is that all powers/abilities on a dial or card are available. It is what is checked for when meeting Prerequisites.

2) The Using of - This is when powers/abilities actually need something to trigger its effects. Such as giving a character an Action to specifically use a power.

It can be confusing at times, but if you look at it in these two categories it makes it much easier.

It does help to think of it in those two categories. Until you get to something like Super Strength. Picking up (and with the new PAC voluntarily dropping) and using the bonus granted by objects is definitely cases where the power is used. But what about the interim? Super Strength being used when you are simply holding an object? Nothing in the Super Strength (unless its in the new wording) states anything about being able to hold objects. Its just something that happens because Super Strength was used to pick up an object and has not been used to use the object in an attack.

So, just so I understand things, if a figure has a SP that grants a (soon to be) passive power like EE or FB, they get the passive effects if it states "can use X power, period." But, if it says something conditional like, "If ABCFigure has 1 token and hasn't been given an action this turn, they can use FB as a free action"... then they would not get the passive effects?

Is this correct?

That depends on the condition. Namor can use Invulnerability when occupying water terrain, so he would only meet prerequisites when in that terrain.

If she had a condition that states she can use it when she has 1 action token as a free action, then she would only be able to use the passive portion of the power when she has 1 action token.

Think of it like Leap/Climb and Charge. You cannot have both activate at the same time, one is a Move Action the other is a Power Action. But you could activate charge, move adjacent to Elevated Terrain and use the passive part of Leap/Climb to attack a character on that elevation.

Just think of Prerequisites when thinking of Passive abilities. If you could use it to meet a prerequisite then it is active for the passive effects.

Very interesting. I would not have thought that. Very helpful, thank you.

So, just so I'm doing it right, Batgirl, decides to punch someone with a close combat attack. She has a SP that says she "can use" force blast, so she takes the passive part of that and applied knock back to her punch. The character falls off of a building. Since she used the passive part of Force Blast, she "used" the power, even though she didn't take a specific action to "use" force blast. So, the hit character would NOT take knock back damage.

Do I have that right?

That is correct. Just remember that if she rules natural doubles, then that knock back would cause Knock Back Damage.

Right, because she didn't "use" force blast. Got it. Thanks.

But her power says May use and not Can use, so with may doesn't she have to make a choice to use it or not.

Yes, she has the choice twice actually. She May use Force Blast and when she hits with an attack She May choose to do Knock Back. If she does the Knock Back damage would be ignored.

She does not have a choice if she rolls natural doubles though.

I don't think it works this way, Natural FB would work this way so if you choose to use FB with her special all you get to do is roll a d6.

The passive ability of Force Blast itself is a may trigger. So you would need to announce with each non doubles roll if you want to generate knock back. With doubles you have no choice about it.

Batgirl has the full use of the new Force Blast regardless if she's activating it directly or using its passive trigger. The only difference with her FB and a regular one, is that any knock back resulting of using the passive portion of FB will not generate any knock back damage.