My understanding of Nanobots is that you can use it multiple times per turn because it is a free action, and not specifically restricted as some other free actions are (eg, Perplex and Outwit).

However, one of the players at our venue insists that you can only use it once per turn. He's not going to budge unless I show it to him in black and white.

I've just looked through the most recent FAQ and clarifications, and I can't find anything germaine (one way or the other). Have I missed something?

Tell him to read about free actions in the rulebook and prove to you that Nanobots can't be done multiple times in a round.

Slap this guy upside the head and tell him to read the rulebook.

I did that! But he seems almost emotionally invested in this misconception now, simple logic may be insufficient - I was looking for incontrovertable proof.

Unfortunately he's basing his opinion on the supposed precedents of Outwit and Perplex, rather than determining the answer based on general principles.

It's possible that I could convince him with a structured argument and lots of time, but I don't find that fun. In the past when a person or group have become fixed on an erroneous understanding of the rules, I've printed the FAQ or E&C and pointed them to the relevent section. Showing somebody the ruling in black and white is so much easier than arguing a point over and over...

Even then folks tend to say things like "They must have just changed that" rather than admit to an error. I know better than to press the issue, I just want everybody to be playing with the same (fair) rules...

The other way to tackle this is to put the burden on him. He can't prove to you Nanobots can be done once per turn. he can prove Perplex and Outwit, but not Nanobots.

Enhancment is a free action that can be used Multiple times in a single round.
And yes, nanobots is a free action, and can be used more than once by a single character in a single round. Just not during another action. But that character can , absorb a token, then move, than absorb another token.
Other free actions, state how many times they can be used, like Outwit, it says "Once per turn" just as Auto Regen, "Once at the begning of your turn"
If nanobots stated, once per turn, then he would be correct, but it does not. It simply says "As a free action" there for can be used multiple times.

Enhancement isn't described as a free action on the Danger Room PAC.

That's okay! I will try to use logic...

This is really the key right here. You shouldn't have to disprove an assumption he's making.

He says that Outwit and Perplex set the precedent of only being allowed once per turn, but those two powers specifically say "once per turn." So if anything, the precedent being set is that if a free action can only be used once per turn, the text will say so.

Is he the judge?

If not, what's the problem?

If it's the judge, then he is F-Ing up.

Have him email WizKids. The RA is usually very prompt when answering rules questions (or at least Hair10 was). He won't be able to argue with that.

The player is wrong. You can use Nanobots multiple times in a turn as long as there are sufficient objects available.


Nope. I never included it because there wasn't a need to. Unless otherwise specified by a power, ability, or feat, a free action can be used whenever and however often that it's needed.

We had the same problem, I like the clarifications. Thanks guys.

A little offshoot of the topic....

Can you use Nanobots any time (since it's a free action)? For example, say I'm pouncing and I pass an object, can I nanobot it on the way? Or the same for HSS? I would think you can - I haven't found anything that specifically says you can't - but like Zero Cochrane, I'd like to see ti in Black and White just to make sure.

No. You can not use any action (free or otherwise) during another action, unless the description of the action currently being used specifically says so (free close combat action during Charge's power action, for example).

Hmm. Thanks normalview... I'm actually glad to hear that, it makes Nanobots much less abuseable. (although it hurts my sinister Syn. pounce tam quite a bit.)