Energy Aura.

[Inscribed]

Why is it that Energy Aura doesn't require a Attack roll? I can see it makes sense, in a 'you touch fire you get burnt' way, but it's just Damage with the Reaction modifier. At some point, I actually thought that the Modifier was something like Perception in that it made it automatic, but after reading the modifier itself...

The reason this came up about now, for me, is that I intend to make a medusa like character, with snake hair that attack those who attack her. I was even thinking of adding Multiattack to it, kinda seemed appropriate, but then I thought I can't, because it was like Perception Damage. And so I read and discovered it wasn't so, leading to the above issue.

Edit: Emnergy, pfff...

[Murkglow]

Why is it that Energy Aura doesn't require a Attack roll?

You pretty much summed up the "reason" yourself (touch fire get burnt). Mechanically however it should (and to me does) require a roll. Reaction does not remove the requirement for there to be an attack roll so there is one. The only indication we have that it doesn't is in a sample power and frankly I consider those either often mistaken (the Shapeshifting power is another one were it gets *Bleh*) or outright ignorable (from a rules standpoint anyway).

[UnkindMirror]

As I see it, Close Reaction effects that are defined as auras (i.e. reacting to being touched) shift the attack component over to the attacker's side, as a handwave.

The effect still has the normal two failure chances (attack check and resistance check), it's just that they're split between attacker and target now. As I said, clearly a handwave, but one that I don't find all that unbalancing.

Now, if you wanted a Close Reaction effect that's not dependent on being touched (say, snake hair that bites people in Close range), that would require an attack check from you.

But yeah, I wish the sample powers had devoted more text - or, you know, any text - to pointing out and clarifying their handwaves.

[Inscribed]

Hm, well, so it is an issue, clearly. I think I will just stick to leaving the snakes with an attack roll. And if I can afford it, Multiattack. Kinda like the idea of tons of snakes actually doing some damage if they all get a bite out of you...

[Belial666]

Think of Energy Aura as Damage, Reaction: when the effect hits.

Someone with energy aura can make an attack roll normally for the effect to hit an enemy. But, because it is reaction, it also works if the enemy makes an attack roll to hit you. Essentially, the attack roll is still there. You're just paying extra so that both your attack rolls and your enemy's attack rolls count for when it hits.

If you got Damage, Perception Range, Reaction: when you're attacked, not only the reaction effect would automatically hit but it would also respond to ppl attacking you at range without them having to touch you. Hence the way higher cost.

[Inscribed]

Not sure what you mean there, in the second part. Sounds kinda like UnkindMirror's point, but not sure...

But I now have another question, on whether I ought to have Selective on the snakes. They react to the Medusa being 'attacked', not just touched, so it would rarely really attack someone I do not want it to attack. Only example I can think of there is someone Compelled or Controlled.

[Rabbitman]

Aura has the effect of specifically not being selective, which is why characters are glad to be able to turn it on or off to avoid damaging things/people they don't intend to damage, unless you want to be turning the snakes on or off (which I doubt you would) I can see a change in duration and the Selective extra being required.

[Murkglow]

I don't know about "required." If his trigger is being attacked then it wouldn't be especially odd for the snakes to attack a target that attacked you even if that target is a "friend" (especially if these are the kinda medusa snakes with heir own independent actions/thoughts as is sometimes the case in media). Of course this is all up to how the character is envisioned.

[FuzzyBoots]

Agreed that it's part of the trigger condition, not an Extra or Flaw. Specifically, the snakes attack if they think someone has attacked you. That means your teammate laying hands on you wouldn't be considered an attack. Your friend taking a swing at you would count. Someone using Insidious or Subtle Damage might not get attacked since the snakes wouldn't know to attack.

Compare that against the standard Energy Aura condition of "when touched". It goes off more often, but that's everyone from the guy who punched you, the guy who hit a pressure point from the shadows, and the toddler who just ran up and hugged your leg because he loves you. To be able to decide at the time of touching would require the Selective Extra.

[beepeearr]

But yeah, I wish the sample powers had devoted more text - or, you know, any text - to pointing out and clarifying their handwaves.

In the case of energy auras, I don't think it is a handwave though. Its an effect created by the pairing of reaction with a close damage effect. A close effect only requires you touch something, to touch an involuntary target requires an attack roll, but if the target touches you there not exactly involuntary anymore. The reason why the target doesn't take damage normally is because of the standard action required to inflict the damage.

Look at grab, it requires a standard action to inflict strength damage while grabbing, but no attack roll.

So not really a handwave, just a nuance hidden in the system.

[Doctor Devious]

Until somebody goes and adds the Extended Reach feat to the Aura, and all hell breaks loose...

[JetstreamGW]

But yeah, I wish the sample powers had devoted more text - or, you know, any text - to pointing out and clarifying their handwaves.

In the case of energy auras, I don't think it is a handwave though. Its an effect created by the pairing of reaction with a close damage effect. A close effect only requires you touch something, to touch an involuntary target requires an attack roll, but if the target touches you there not exactly involuntary anymore. The reason why the target doesn't take damage normally is because of the standard action required to inflict the damage.

Look at grab, it requires a standard action to inflict strength damage while grabbing, but no attack roll.

So not really a handwave, just a nuance hidden in the system.

That's... actually a pretty good perspective. Since THEY "touched" you, they get hit with the reactive close attack... You don't have to make an attack roll because they already did it. That's... weird, but it makes some sense.

[pawsplay]

Energy Aura is clearly a special case. How would you create a robot with a blade that shot out and stabbed you whenever you hit it? What about a ranged Damage, Reaction power, should that auto-hit, too?

The reason it's vaguely balanced is that the attacker has discretion as to whether to attack at all, and the inability to miss and compensated for by the inability to crit. In effect, you're a no-range Area that's only as big as yourself. It would have been better if there were a Area (Aura) modifier that cost +0 and made that explicit.

[ronyon]

I have some related questions,so I will ask them here.
I am trying to build a character who, as the the chosen avatar of a god of the forge, can force the obedience of all metal (Complication, since so many objects have metal in them) objects by his mere presence.
Nothing, from a paper clip to a skyscraper would dare do anything other than his will.
In essence this is a mind control power that works on objects.

If I have a Perception ranged,Affect Objects Only,Selective, Reaction(Object Is Perceived),Instant Recovery Affliction[(Entrance, Compelled,Transformed(Into Animated Objects under Attackers Control)], will that allow the character to Selectively Transform any object that he can perceive,as a Reaction?

If so, is this too good?

I chose Perception range because Area:Perception wouldn't work since objects perceive nothing until they are animate(Transformed). The character will have Detect Metal(Mental), with the Accurate, Acute, Analytically, Radius,Penetrate Concealment and Ranged qualities, so not much would go unnoticed, unless it were very fast or very small(bullets anyone?)
Clearly Construct PC's get a save , and there are some optional rules about give Dodge saves to objects in the hands of characters(Not sure if this is appropriate due to the perception range...) But most objects would automatically suffer the 3rd level of Affliction.
Obviously this is dominating over Equipment users, but that is mostly henchmen.
The minions that result from the Transformation will only have the points from their Toughness,so they will pretty weak.I don't expect to use them much, as ordering minions around costs Actions in combat, but being able to command elevators, door locks,cleavers,cars and cranes seems perfect for this character.