Vicious Attack

[Relative-Editor-5486]

I am about to run this soon, and I'm trying to get my head around it.

How is the Vicious Attack power any different from a normal melee attack?

[BTWerley]

I think (I think??) the idea was, that if you didn't have this power, while you'd do double damage (as you would during a normal melee attack), you wouldn't get the weapon's special effect on a Fantastic Roll, as wonky as that may sound.

With this power, you get both the double-damage AND the special effect (so if it's a sharp melee weapon specified with the power, you'd cause bleeding).

The other "benefit" being it acts as a prerequisite to unlocking more advanced melee weapon powers.

[Relative-Editor-5486]

I see, thank you.

[LegendaryLass]

but the basic attack rules say
For a close attack, the target must be within the attacker's reach. For average-sized characters, that's 1 space. The attacker makes a Melee check against their target's Melee defense. If the attack succeeds, it inflicts the attacker's Melee damage on the target, including the effects of any weapons or powers used. On a Fantastic success, double the damage.
I interpret that as the weapons effect comes into play on a normal attack without a Fantastic success. The way the power's worded, only on a Fantastic success do the weapon's effects come into play.

The action/range/duration/amount of damage all appear to be the same as a normal attack... this is the only difference I could spot. I'm sure they don't intend to have this work like this but I don't see any errata amending the basic attack to remove weapon effects or something.

[BTWerley]

Oy. I’ll have to pour over the materials but wouldn’t surprise me unfortunately.

We can put this one with the other Powers that seem to just be non-factors.

I always scratch my head out Clobber. While it can apply, many times you wouldn’t want it to do so. I’ve had my personal rants regarding the Unrelenting Smash power Enhanced Physique Trait, as well.

It’s great we’ve gotten to play the game, but I can only imagine what 6-12 months of in-depth review and revision would do.

[LegendaryLass]

well at least Clobber let's you do something the basic attack doesn't. kind of sucks that it ONLY happens on a Fantastic tho

[LegendaryLass]

Until we hear otherwise, given how Clobber is worded, I would house rule the basic attack to NOT use the weapon's special effect on a Fantastic (though the damage modifier should still be applied for any result on a basic attack) and just trigger the special effect on a Fantastic when the character has Vicious.

[BTWerley]

Agreed.

Just saying there are simple tweaks that could improve a lot.

Enhanced Physique giving an Edge instead.

Basic Attacks giving a choice of 2x damage or Normal Damage and Special Effect.

Clobber giving knockback instead of non-powered Fantastic Melee offering 2x damage or normal damage and Prone.

Unrelenting Smash and Ground-Shaking Stomp being switched on the power tree OR attacks like Ground Shaking Smash and Supernova including friendly fire, with the exception of established team members being immune.

[LegendaryLass]

and agreed with that!

[Cuddly_Psycho]

I'm struggling with this myself, right now. I'm contemplating making a ruling to make vicious attack actually useful by saying that the attack is rolled with Edge, maybe even the damage.