Malazan Book of the Fallen [Recruiting: M&M 2nd Ed]

[Voda Vosa]

I'll check your character first, then loot the bad guys bones.

 

[Voda Vosa]

Remember that you will not be able to use your full attack bonus (+10 with bows) if you don't reduce your toughness to +0. You can boost your attack with conditional feats like all out attack, master plan, tradeoffs etc; but your base attack can't be greater than the campaing's Power level.

 

[perrinmiller]

Eh?

Attack bonus with Specialization is +6. It trades off with Damage, not Toughness I thought. So Durzo's bow is +6 Attack, with +4 Damage (penetrating).

Defense and Toughness trade off with each other.

 

[Voda Vosa]

Sorry my mistake. Yes, damage.
But you have an attack specialization that gives you +4 with bows, and a dexterity of +4, plus a +2 attack bonus.

 

[perrinmiller]

Eh? Dex aids attacks? It's not listed on pg28 of the core rules. Is it something special found elsewhere for bows and thrown weapons?

If it does count then I can get 2 more PP for different feats. Also I will need to look at my other M&M character too.

 

[Voda Vosa]

I think dex adds to ranged attacks as Str adds to melee attacks.

 

[perrinmiller]

Originally I thought so too. It's a d20 standard. But under the Ability score explanations it doesn't say that. Strength only adds to damage for Melee and Thrown Weapons.

There is no mention of bonuses applied for Attack for either ability. Same thing for Dex bonuses adding to Dodge Defense, it's not there either. Other than skills and Reflex saves, Dexterity doesn't do as much as I am used to.

Where's WD? He might be able to clear this up.

 

[Walking Dad]

I think dex adds to ranged attacks as Str adds to melee attacks.

Originally I thought so too. It's a d20 standard. But under the Ability score explanations it doesn't say that. Strength only adds to damage for Melee and Thrown Weapons.

There is no mention of bonuses applied for Attack for either ability. Same thing for Dex bonuses adding to Dodge Defense, it's not there either. Other than skills and Reflex saves, Dexterity doesn't do as much as I am used to.

Where's WD? He might be able to clear this up.

Str doesn't add to melee attacks, neither does Dex to ranged. Sorry for absence much worse internet connection than expected. Will be back to normal in 48hrs.

 

[Friday]

But surely for you to be 'flat-footed' in a situation, you lose your Dex bonus to defence? That's how I've understood it.

Strength adds to melee and thrown weapons, but Dex adds to ranged weapons.

 

[perrinmiller]

OK. I finally found time to go through the Core Rules to verify. This is from pg 31.

CHANGES TO ABILITIES
• Strength and Dexterity: Strength and Dexterity in Mutants & Masterminds
do not directly influence a character’s chances to hit in combat, and
Dexterity doesn’t improve a character’s Defense score. These capabilities 
are purchased separately with attack and defense bonus. This brings the
value of Strength and Dexterity in line with the other abilities and allows 
players to fine-tune their characters’ combat abilities (so not all strong
heroes are good melee combatants, for example). If you want a character 
whose great Strength or Dexterity provides combat ability, simply buy the
character’s attack and defense bonus in proportion to those ability scores. 
On the other hand, you can also have a strong or dexterous character
who’s not especially good in a fight, if you prefer.
• Intelligence: Unlike other d20-based games, your Mutants & Masterminds 
character’s Intelligence modifier does not alter the number of skill points
your hero gets. In Mutants & Masterminds, skill ranks are purchased with 
power points, just like everything else.

Pretty much no confusion on that.

Regarding Dodge:

DODGE BONUS
Half your defense bonus (rounded down) is a dodge bonus, which is lost
under certain circumstances, such as when you are stunned, flat-footed,
surprise-attacked, or otherwise unable to defend yourself normally. Other
circumstances—such as when you are helpless—cause you to lose your
entire defense bonus, and may apply additional penalties to your defense.

So if you purchase Defense Bonus, part of that is considered Dodge and you can lose it.