When does an effect take place?

[Felon]

I noticed that one of the Warlock's powers, Dread Star, has an "Effect" entry that imposes a -2 to the target's Will defense. Since Dread Star itself is an attack is an attack against Will defense, does the target take the -2 defense against it?

 

[Kaelkatar]

No, the effect occurs at the same time damage is added, which is well after the hit/miss portion of combat.

 

[RigaMortus2]

(Some) Effects take place AFTER the attack roll is made...

Many powers produce effects that take place regardless of whether your attack roll succeeds, and other powers have effects that occur without an attack roll being required.

Since this power has an attack roll assigned to it, I'd say that the attack roll is at least required before the effect takes place, but it should still take place whether the attack roll succeeds or fails.

 

[fba827]

I'd say after the power finishes , so it would not take the -2 defense against the power that illicits the penalty.

 

[HenryBlatbugIII]

The attack and effect occur in the order they're printed in the power description. For example, compare Dread Star with "Come and Get It" (Fighter attack 7), in which the effect (pulling your enemies toward you) occurs before the attack (close burst 1)