Curious questions that I had not encountered before:

Ex.1:

A-B-x
C-x-x
x-x-D

Since LOF is blocked from figure A to figure D by figures B and C (rulebook: A line of fire that passes between two characters, even on an exact diagonal, is considered blocked."), I had to rule that the following LOF from A to D was also blocked:

A-B-x
C-D-x

Figure A (Batman) tried to Outwit Figure B (Doomsday)'s defensive ability. Since adjacency is irrelevant to a power's LOF requirement, the figures B and C blocked the Outwit attempt.

I found this to have many implications.

If a figure is completely surrounded...

B-C-D
E-A-F
G-H-I

...then it can take no action requiring LOF to affect any of the figures in the four diagonally adjacent squares. No ranged attack actions, no Outwit, no Perplex, and no Telekinesis (since it could make the close combat roll, but not move it straight back because of the blocking diagonally adjacent figs.

And, this also prevents any of the diagonally adjacent figs from the same actions against the surrounded figure.

While this seemed a wrong conclusion, there is a precedent that makes it the correct one. If Figure A above were surrounded by a Barrier (placed in squares C,E,F,H) then it would be equally as blocked regarding actions to and from B,D,G,I.

Has anybody else noticed this problem with the LOF rules?

Yes. It's like Outwit on and adjacent Stealthed character in that even though they are adjacent and can participate in close combat the Outwitter could not Outwit the Stealther in hindering terrain since LOF is not present.

That's what I was afraid of. Does everybody play it that way, or do you folks ignore that technicality?

Follow-up: Anyone know if WK intended this loophole, or was it an unintended consequence of the wording?

I use the rule as it stands. I think it was totally intended and I don't think it to be a loophole. The rule actually makes sense.

In the example:

B-C-D
E-A-F
G-H-I

Not only is LOF blocked to and from figure A and figures B,D,G,I, but the blockage created by C,E,F,H also prohibits CLOSE COMBAT to and from those diagonally adjacent figures.

Under "Blocking Terrain", the rulebook says: "Characters on opposite sides of blocking terrain are not adjacent, may not target each other with close combat attacks, and do not need to roll to break away from each other."

Now, does anybody play the rules THAT way??? I'd be surprised to find many who do!

This dramatically reduces the usefulness of MOE and IL team abilities. Plus, it limits powers/TAs like Enhancement because A can't help B since they're on opposite sides of blocking terrain!

This revelation DRASTICALLY changes the rules for me. Although I can't yet say for better or worse.

ummm....Characters, while blocking LOF, are not considered terrain at any time, especially blocking terrain.

The rules get dumber all the time.

If I can't SEE past the two diagonally adjacent figures beside me, how in the heck can I PUNCH past them?

If they're that close together, I would have a vastly greater chance of shooting between them than engaging in melee between them.

On the other hand, range, Perplex, Outwit, and PC DOMINATE the clix battlefield already. Keeping this check in place is a good thing.

My problem with this scenario is that it allows an attacker a vastly unfair advantage.

If the attacker puts weak figs in the two diagonally adjacent squares, then puts a very powerful fig in the square diagonal from the defender, then the defender is cannot defend itself. It can't use PC to force a re-roll when attacked, nor can it use Outwit against, say, Exploit Weakness etc.

Doesn't seem fair to me.

But that doesn't mean I'm not going to use it!

After playing Warhammer, this actually makes sense because they have a rule that you cannot fire into melee or while you're in melee.

I thought you could still hit the diagonals for close combat actions. It was just things that requrie a LOF (Perplex, Outwit, etc) that were blocked.

You may not be able to shoot a Stealther, but you sure as heck can smack the snot out of him with a dumpster!

You are correct -- close combat only. No ranged attacks and no powers that require LoF can be used on someone in the corner between two figures on the diagonal.