Seth and Nova Blast combo

[Gormash]

I played AQ with a friend for the first time today, and since I smoked one of his characters he decided to retaliate with Seth, using a Nova Blast.
Seth's natural ability is that the target doesn't get to roll any defense dice, while the Nova Bolt allows you to hit another close target if you roll a crit. Which he did. Three crits and two ranged, for a total of five hits.
We looked up the rulebook and the official FAQ, but nowhere did we see it the natural ability of a character works with extra targets. So we houseruled that it did, thus 5 wounds to my two remaining living characters, resulting in a total party-wipe. Had a lot of fun, but two things I want to clarify:

1 - Did the "no defense" apply to both targets, or just the original target?

2 - Does the ENTIRE damage from Nova Blast apply to the second target, or only the dice showing a crit after all dice have been thrown (3 in this example)?

 

[TechnicolorTaco]

You played it the exact way I would have.

My understanding is that with Nova Bolt (and the other attacks like it that let you choose additional targets) is that the attack is still one attack, just with multiple targets. So, to answer your questions specificly,

1- Yes, because it's a natural abilty and your friend chose to target additional heroes with nova bolt, and since the intitial attack is still coming from Seth, there would be no defense dice roll.

2- Yes, the entire damage applies to the additional target.

Additionally, I don't remember if Nova Bolt I has the capability to add more than one target, but all targets would roll separate defense (or payback reactions in the case of monsters).
Of course Seth's natural ability would override this defense roll.

 

[Neil googe]

Nova Bolts description is covered in the rules...

The nova bolt targets all close enemies for the full roll, so the five hits. BUT, other close figures would get to defend against that roll as usual... Seths ability specifically says "the target does not roll defence dice", while nova bolt itself can target other close figures, they were not the target of Seths ability, only the original character was. So that effect only applies to the original target of his attack, not the ability of the power he used...

 

[TechnicolorTaco]

I disagree. Nova bolt's wording is "If this rolls and (Crit), may target an additional enemy close to the target. It's not nova bolt that is targeting an additional close enemy, it would still be Seth as he's the one doing the attack. So it would be an additional target of Seth and therefore roll no defense dice.
This is probably another aspect of the game that should be house ruled if/when it comes up. I'd play no defense, it seems like Neil would play no defense for main target and defense roll for any additional. As long as you're having fun, I'd call it a good game.

 

[abraxus04]

Yeah I think I am with Taco on this one, but it is the sort of thing that could use some clarity in the future FAQs

 

[Gormash]

Thanks for your thoughts on this.
I think I'll keep on doing it the way I already have, at least until an official ruling says otherwise.
Really loving the game so far.


And loving the minis. They are so much fun to paint. Started on Seth last night and got him about halfway finished. ^_^