Here are the relevant effects:

Here is the scenario:
Character A wants to use Pulse Wave. Opposing character B has Great Size and is within range of that Pulse Wave. However, there is a piece of outdoors blocking terrain between characters A and B.

Here is my question:
Since Pulse Wave "turns off" all effects before targeting, can A target B, or is B's Great Size ignored first, causing the line of fire to be blocked?

Either way, I assume the same would apply, if instead there was elevated terrain (of a higher elevation) between them.

Size is not an ability. Character B's size (and related symbol) grants him abilities, but PW will not ignore his size.

Size is not an ability, but "Great Size" granted by the Giant and Colossal symbols is, specifically a Keyphrase Ability. And unless there is something in the rules that I'm not seeing, there's nothing that prevents Keyphrase Abilities from not being used. So I would say that Pulse Wave would prevent Great Size from being used, meaning that Elevated Terrain and Outdoor Blocking Terrain would block the line of fire.

In the last iteration of the rules it was the rule that Pulse Wave didn't create little infinite loops of targeting/ not targeting because abilities were ignored then not ignored. Probably best if we look to that ruling as streamlining the
rules is the goal these days.

The current wording on Pulse Wave prevents loops. There's no loop happening here.

Pg. 29 Core RB.

This is what you are looking for.

So does the great size get ignored and line to the colossal/ or giant sized figure now become blocked?

As much as I absolutely hate to admit it, after re-reading the powers and keyphrase over and over, I think that PW will not target the Giant Size character and that makes my head hurt, but so be it.

I am gonna ask on WIN and see what they say. I cannot imagine that the intent of the design team was to allow a player to use PW and not target a Great Size character within range because of blocking terrain and therefore give a boost to the opposing force.

But with the subtle changes to how blocking terrain now works, I may very well be wrong. We shall see what the great and mighty WIN says.

Question submitted