OK, I'm aware that this has been asked before, but I'm failing to understand some of how this trait works. Quoting it first;

To assist, I've brought in Lieutenant Awesome. He used to be Captain Awesome, but times are tough and he got demoted.

Lieutenant Awesome
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 6

9 9 17 3

9 9 17 3

9 9 17 3

9 9 17 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Awesome! Lt. Awesome can use Energy Shield/Deflection and Probability Control.
I got Demoted, So What?: Lt. Awesome can use Invulnerability and Perplex.


The basic question is defining a defense power based on source. Clearly, the ES/D provided by the Defense SP is removed after a hit. Clearly, the Perplex in the Damage SP is left alone.

1. Because Probability Control is a Damage Power granted by a Defense Special Power, is it now unusable?

2. Because Invulnerability is a Defense Power granted by a Special Damage Power, is it now unusable?


I'm hoping to get to play this fella' tomorrow, so any help on finding the clear ruling would be appreciated. It's been asked before, but I haven't been able to determine how the circumstances in the question would pan out. Thanks in advance for any help on the subject.

Characters that are in the defense slot are defense powers. So only powers from that slot become unusable.

Any standard defense powers gained through other means are still usable.

VP is correct.

And just for the sake of argument, since you would lose the Prob anyway you would obviously use it to reroll Malekith's hit.

I would argue that Lieutenant Awesome couldn't use the Invulnerability from the Damage special. Invulnerability is a defense power, even if it's gained through another means. As such, he's be left with Perplex and that's it.

It's already been ruled elsewhere that when referring to defense powers it means any power showing in the defense slot on the dial. Which, admittedly, can be slightly confusing as the PAC defines "defense power(s)" in a very specific manner that seems to contradict the ruling.

So then it should be considered a bad ruling? Can it be "overturned"?

It's not a bad ruling, just a little convoluted based on how the game operates.

Defense power = anything in the defense slot on a dial

Standard defense power = the specific powers listed on the PAC under Defense

As it stands Malekith cannot trump Thor & Loki's Traited Invulnerability, but will shut down whatever special power they may have showing in defense. If Malekith said they could not use standard defense powers, he'd slice through that Invul but they'd still get their defense slot powers.