When is an enemy not an enemy?

[Diplomat123]

enemy only targets are suppose to be aimed powers...if the npc doesn't have a good reason to consider themselves an enemy they would not.

In reality in your example those NPCs are not enemies...by any streatch and I would be very upset as a player if one of my powers that targets enemies targeted people who are no threat...

That's exactly the answer i was looking for. I am happy that the rules say that anyone not your ally is your enemy. That is basically 99.9% of the world. What i was hoping for was a consensus on whether an enemies only blast was an unthinking enemy seeker, and thus potentially causes a lot of collateral damage or should really be read as "Target: As many of the available enemies in the effect area you choose".

 

[Thundershield]

I was under the impression that enemy/ally status was determined at the time of relevance. For instance, when the Cleric uses an enemy-targets-only close blast power, he can offer "alliance" to whoever in the blast he wants, and if they are willing to be allies, they're not considered enemies.

In other words, for someone to be an enemy only the attacker has to point them out as such. For someone to be an ally, both the attacker and defender have to be willing. Of course, that might be a problem with powers such as Caiphon's Abominable Melody which would harm allies (since the ally could then choose not to be considered an ally for that effect), but in most cases such powers have clauses to ensure at least some price is paid.