"Quick Change" (Master Spy) Question

[functionciccio]

This question pertains to the "Quick Change" Utility Power (Master Spy Utility 12).
I hope someone can help me out.

What does "... the target considers you an ally for
the purpose of auras, opportunity attacks, and powers ..." actually mean?

My take: the character gains the benefits usually reserved to the target's allies (such as effects from auras [ex: "Any ally within the aura gains a +5 power bonus to damage rolls"] or effects related to attack powers [ex: "If the attack hits, one of the monster's allies can make a melee basic attack"]).

My player's take: the target cannot attack his character.

Which one is the correct interpretation of the power???
Maybe both?

 

[renau1g]

You can choose to attack an ally, blasts/bursts can affect allies, I see nothing preventing me from Twin Striking the fighter (well, except wanting to keep me protected)

 

[Larrin]

any power/ability/etc that specifies the word ally can now affect/benefit the player. Any power that targets a creature (like most attacks) can still affect the player. Any power that only affects enemies is where I think debate is possible. Is he still an enemy even though he is 'considered' an ally? Can you be both at once? Look up definitions of ally and enemy, play around with the idea in your head, maybe get input from here, and make a DM choice.

Personally, I'd vote for him being immune to enemy only attacks, it fits the flavor, its fun, and I'm pretty sure he'll still be hittable by most powers. its a pretty situational power anyway, most often you'll just be avoiding OA's, make sure it has as much versatility as is reasonable.

 

[Dausuul]

It's a silly power--trying to translate a roleplaying concept into a purely mechanical one, and doing so rather badly. However, as written, you are correct. The target can attack the PC normally. I would agree with Larrin that the PC is no longer considered an "enemy," but most attack powers just target creatures.

 

[mudlock]

Sounds like your player stopped reading after the word "ally" and before the phrase "for the purposes of...". He is NOT actually the enemy's ally, he is only considered as such for CERTAIN and SPECIFIC purposes, listed in the power. Your interpretation is the correct one (although I agree that a blast or burst power that effects only enemies would not effect his character.)

 

[Aulirophile]

Though if a power said "enemies only" as a target, and was single-target, your player could indeed not be attacked with that power.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

It is a rather nebulous effect. I think this is one of the rare cases where 4e really doesn't separate the mechanics from the fluff entirely. Think of it maybe as you pick up an enemy helmet and put it on, or some other action that for 1 round of 6 seconds confuses the target. Technically you could be targeted in that time by many powers, but if the DM is RPing the monsters consistently with the fluff of your character he probably won't do that. Mostly I'd be concerned to find out how the DM in a given game is going to handle it since the power's effect is mostly dependent on the monster's reactions.

 

[functionciccio]

Thank you guys.
I'm happy to know that I'm quite right.

But, as you have suggested, can be indeed "fun" (for the player) to be immune to the target's attacks (after all, it's a daily power, and it lasts for one turn basically).

In the end, I'm going to houserule the power as follows:
if the bluff check succeeds, the power grants the listed benefits (as written).
But if the bluff check also beats the target's Will defence, the "illusion" works better and the character is truly considered as one of the target's allies (thus "immune" to attacks).

What do you think?

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

I think that captures pretty much how it is supposed to work and given that it is a one round effect I don't think you can break things much See what your players think. They're the ones that really matter.