In Check Required, the die roll actually determines the power level. So she makes the Deception roll, on a 10- she gets 6 ranks, on a 11, 7 ranks, on a 12, 8 ranks, etc. up to 15+ where she get the full 11 ranks. So 60% the time, she is below the PL requirement (10+7 or worse), 35% of the time she exceeds it (10+9 or better), and 5% of the time she is at the 18 limit.
If you want to change the percentages, I can do that by raising the DC of the check, but that just gives me more CP to play with for more abilities.
"If the check succeeds, the character gains the use of 1 effect rank per point the check exceeds the DC. Thus a check result of 14 allows the character to use up to 4 ranks of the effect. If a lesser rank of the effect doesn’t do anything, then it’s the same as failing the check"
I assume this applies to stuff like Immunity 10 all cold effects. If you had check required on it and the DC was 10 and you roll a 20, you are immune to all cold effects. If you roll a 19, you are not immune to all cold effects.
Damage does not have that all or nothing issue. You can use 1 rank of the effect as it still does something.
As for sun ray, that I will definitely adjust since I forgot about the no attack roll for AOE.