Indeed!
However: as has been said, many of us are DMs, how should
we adjudicate it? hence, discussion
You seem to have neatly dodged my comment
Delayed Blast Fireball
You use the power (minor action). How do you actually fire it? You can't use the secondary power, else that would be using the power again, and you've already said that's not possible. Or does the power then create other powers?
When a power creates a secondary power, then you'd be using that second power. Secondary powers have their own usages, parameters etc. The action taking with a secondary power is, in fact, the Use a Power action listed in the rules.
Secondary Attacks, however, are not secondary powers. They do not use the Use a Power action, but use an action unique to that secondary attack. If the attack is ranged or area, however, it will provoke OAs, because OAs are provoked by ranged or area powers OR attacks.
Remember: exception based. Normally, using is indeed all you do with a power. but in this case, you have to use the power again (in it's second power form) to actually attack.
No, you're using a second power. This is actually covered in the essentials rules, but even in previous powers that did it (warden's guardian forms) it tells you flat out that you're able to use a seperate distinct power. If the primary power says you can use a second power, it's obvious you can use a second power, cause it says that directly.
And then, the power is no longer a personal power, it is an Area burst power, which provokes. but - we've already used it, and it didn't provoke! Oh noes, what happens?
Secondary powers are themselves powers, according to the rules, and according to the power that creates them. You're using an Area power. It provokes. You're making an area attack. It provokes. You have two reasons why it provokes.
So, once again - some powers have further parts that should still provoke OAs. It is not, as you have suggested, a nice black-and-white situation, and it is, as Matt James has suggested, left up to the DM to decide.
Sure it is. Delayed Blast Fireball follows the template of 'does this trigger' to a T.
The acid test is:
Did an enemy leave an adjacent space?
Did an enemy use an area or ranged power?
Did an enemy make an area or ranged attack?
So long as it satisfies one, it provokes. Delayed Blast Fireball satisfies two. Or are you suggesting a secondary power is not a power?
When I'm a DM, DBF will provoke when someone attacks with it. When I'm using the power, I will expect it to provoke, too.
I don't disagree with that, as if you apply the rule correctly, it's clear as day it provokes.
And indeed, if sustaining a spell causes more attacks, there may well be cause for that to provoke, too. I'll see when it happens.
I don't disagree with that either, but it is not the act of sustaining that provokes, it is the act of making those ranged or area attacks. No attacks, no provoke. Yes attacks, yes provoke. This is why moving a conjuration does not provoke, because it is not an enemy leaving a square, you're not using a power, and you're not making an attack.
It is actually very cut and dry: IF A or B or C, then D.
Also, let's not pretend Use a Power isn't a distinct action listed in the rules. It is as defined an action as Charge, Delay, Walk, or what have you.