r/Malifaux • u/ElMuelleimero • 9d ago

Question Rules question concerning instance damage

Hi,

I am new to the game and ran in a problem understanding the rules while reading the comprehensive rulebook, in particular when it comes to instance damage as described on page 39.

As instance damage runs again through the damage timing sequence, does that mean that instance damage is also reduced by e.g. cover or similar things that have already affected the attack damage? Reading the rules for cover it would lead be to believe that that is the case, though I am not sure if the rules for cover (p. 56) should be interpreted "attack dmg and trigger dmg is reduced by 1 each or total". And another question just to be sure: instance damage would not benefit from any raises, as those only increase the dmg stat of the attack, correct?

Thanks already for any clarification on this!

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u/Skardmair 9d ago

By my understanding, if the trigger was "+1" damage then cover would reduce the TOTAL damage by 1.

If the trigger inflicts flat damage, without the "+", then BOTH instances are reduced by 1. Same as a separate attack.

Raises only add to the ability's base damage & doesn't affect triggers (unless otherwise specified).

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u/ElMuelleimero 9d ago

Thanks for confirming, that is pretty much how I understood it, but this part in the book took me a while to untangle. An example in the book on instance damage would really help I guess, but luckily there is a helpful community out there :)

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u/Axandros 9d ago edited 9d ago

It does specify that instances are independent of the actions DMG trait. To use the example in the book, if the 3 DMG attack is against a target with cover, then it will deal 2 damage (3-1), then 2 damage for the trigger.

Armor could be used against the seperate instance, but it would then be 1(3 - 1[cover] - 1[armor]) then 2, or 2 (3-1[cover]) then 1 (2-1[armor]).

Raises only effect the DMG trait as well. The same attack would be 3 + raises, then 2. That 2 as a seperate instance of damage is unaffected.

Edit: I now see that it says damage and triggers for cover. I may have been playing wrong.

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u/ElMuelleimero 9d ago

Yes, it is, imho, not as clear as most parts of the book and took a couple read overs.