optional powers?

[RCNavratil]

if a power is optional, is it always considered to be on unless you turn it off? Like energy explosion for instance... do I have to declare that I'm not using the power before I attack? This is the way a judge ruled at a tourney I watched.

Ryan

[Jackalope]

I've never seen that but according to the rule book under super powers it says:

The colored squares on each figure’s combat dial are associated with specific values on the stat slot and represent your character’s super powers. Super powers come and go as your character takes clicks of damage and healing. Descriptions of all super powers appear on the Super Powers/Team Ability Card.
Super powers are in effect as long as they appear in the stat slot. If a super power is described as optional, it is assumed that the character is using that power unless the player controlling that character states that the power is being canceled. The owning player may cancel the effect at any time, in which case it is canceled until the end of the current turn. At the beginning of the next turn, it is assumed to be in effect again.

Will be interesting to see what others have to say about this. I guess when I say "I'm attacking <figure>" I assume I'm just attacking him. If I say "I'm using Energy Explosion" then thats what I'm doing.