targetting objects

[ChromeWeasel]

Is there a rules clarification for targetting objects? You can destroy one by doing 3 points of damage in one attack. This must mean you can target an object. Can you try and destroy an object whether you do 3 points of damage or not? If a stealthed figure is hiding on an object you could target the object for energy explosion and still hit the stealthed figure.

[Xanth]

Destroying an object requires the character to be able to inflict 3 clicks of damage. This means the character can do it if they have a damage value of 3 or have Range Combat Expert etc. to get them to the 3. The tricky part is using Blades/Claws/Fangs or Hypersonic Speed attack. B/C/F requires you to roll a damage die and if you roll less than 3 the action failed. HSS attack requires you to roll 2 attack dice 3 times and if one of them is a critical miss then the attempt failed. These objects can be destroyed if there is a figure in the same square as the object. An object cannot be destroyed if a character is holding it.

Energy Explosion cannot be used to target an object as per the PAC.

Hope this helps.

[Tsannik]

Targetting objects pretty much happens automatically...

Let me explain...

Object can be destroyed as per the rules for destroying Blocking terrain.

Characters can destroy a single square of blocking terrain by making an attack and inflicting 3 clicks of damage in a single attack (the character must have a damage value of 3, or a super power that will allow him to inflict 3 clicks of damage in a single attack). A character attacking blocking terrain hits automatically.
The blocking terrain is reduced to hindering terrain. Place a broken wall terrain marker in the squares on both sides of the damaged blocking terrain.

There is no roll to see if this happens. It is an automatic success. The figure MUST be able to do at least 3 or more damage regularly, roll 3 or higher on a B/C/F attack or not rolling a 2 with HSS three times in a row (the latter two are the only times a roll will be used).

It was ruled that Energy Explosion cannot be used to target Blocking terrain or Objects.

[azhael]

From the FAQ on Energy Explosion:

Energy Explosion does not affect objects or terrain it only affects characters. A character with the Energy Explosion power that wishes to destroy a square of terrain or an object must turn off Energy Explosion in order to affect it.

So you could not target the object to hit a Stealthed character.

In order to destroy an object you must have the ability to do at least 3 damage to it. Since there is no roll involved to hit the object you can not have a 2 damage and count on a critical hit. So Experienced Blastaar on his first click could have a SHIELD team member help him destroy an object. Wolverine could try B/C/F on teh object and hopefully roll high enough on his damage to destroy it. Hypersonic speed could theoretically be used to destroy an object (though I vaugely remeber reading something about this so I could be wrong).

[Funky Jett]

Xanth, wouldn't ANY roll of doubles end the HSS attack on an object?

[Tsannik]

Since Blocking terrain cannot be knocked back...

Then only a roll of 2 would end the attack.

I'm not sure about objects though...

[Funky Jett]

When a figure is against a wall and is the target of a HSS attack, the attack ends with any roll of doubles (that hits) even though the figure can't move away.

I see no difference here. Since potentially every roll hits on an attack of an object, I would think any roll of doubles should end an attack.

[ChromeWeasel]

I went through the FAQ and it's not clear that you can't use energy explosion on an object. You can't destroy the object but it doesnt say you can't target it.

"Energy Explosion does not affect objects or terrain it only affects characters. A character with the Energy Explosion power that wishes to destroy a square of terrain or an object must turn off Energy Explosion in order to affect it. "

That's fine because you don't want to destroy the object, you want to use it as a center for the energy explosion. You can't hurt a character with invulnerability either unless you do 3 points of damage, but you can still target him at all times.

It's clear that you cant use SHIELD agents to blow big holes in walls with EE. It would make sense though that if Batman is shooting you from inside a bush you could blow up the bush and be confident you'll do some damage to Batman.

[Tsannik]

I see what you mean...

I guess a better clarification would be something like:

Energy Explosion can only be used to target opposing figures.

[Xanth]

The rule book states objects are destroyed using the same rules as blocking terrain so they are not subject to knockback. Only the critical miss will end the HSS attack prematurely.

Hope this helps.

[Tsannik]

Alrighty... I'll accept that....

What had me guessing was the fact that they could be moved via Force Blast (a form of knockback).

[Xanth]

Chromeweasel, splash happens only if you successfully hit the target character. EE (per the PAC and the FAQ) only affects characters. Since the object or terrain doesn't qualify as a target there can be no splash to affect a Stealthed character.

Funky, think of it this way. An object is just sitting there as a lump and if it were "knocked back" the character could easily move up to it to maintain the attack easier than following up a 'live' character who is reacting while being knocked back. I know, it doesn't sound very good but if that fails, check the Walls section of the DC FAQ where it states that it fails on critical misses.

Hope this helps.

[Funky Jett]

Thanks for the help. I know it seemed like I was trying to make it more complicated, but in reality I was trying to make it consistant in my mind.

I should realize that things are rarely consistant in HC. ;)