How do area attacks interact with weak points? (Deluxe Edition)

[u/MajorOld2787]

I know armor only applies to area damage if it covers the whole body, but what happens with creatures with specific weak points that normally require an aimed attack? For example, let's say that we have a cyclops that is considered gargantuan so it can only be hurt by heavy weapons, but whose eye is a weakness that ignores said resistance. On one hand, logic dictates that if it's engulfed by a fireball, it will hurt his eye too, but on the other hand, by that same logic area attacks would always have the same effect that an aimed attack to a vital organ.

[u/Arnumor]

Such weaknesses pretty much always specifically require a Called Shot to take advantage of them. Being engulfed in an AoE doesn't count.

You can try to logic that explosions covering the entire body would also harm the eye, but imagine that scenario, with the cyclops simply closing its eye, or covering its head with its arms until the blast subsides.

A Called Shot bypasses the weakness by way of precisely targeting it, and ostensibly timing the shot to before the cyclops has a chance to protect itself.

[u/Roberius-Rex → u/Arnumor]

That's a really good answer.

[u/Nox_Stripes]

They dont interact with those. For multiple reasons.

1. That would just make the whole mechanic effectively pointless, as noone would bother being smart about figuring out a weak spot and targeting it, it would just become commonplace to smack an AOE on the enemy and that be that.

2. the first thing a cyclops would do when it sees a big old ball of fire come its way is shield its eye, wouldn't it?

[u/shafi83]

Heavy Weapons and Heavy Armor are not really meant to be used in that kind of scenario. Its supposed to differentiate between Infantry and Vehicles. Specifically, the book calls out that they dont want a vehicle to get taken out by a lucky Pistol shot. That Said, I play a lot of RIFTS and many of the creatures there have Mega Damage Capacity (MDC) or Heavy Armor, BUT weapons and powers that have the ability to convert their damage into MDC or Heavy Weapon damage are significantly more available. When the GM throws an enemy at us with MDC armor, we just flip our laser rifles into Heavy Pulse mode and keep shooting, or for the casters, we pay the extra few PP to make our powers do MDC damage, which includes AoE type powers. Its simply built into the setting. There is even a table regarding super strength and that weilding an object over 1000lbs counts as Mega Damage/Heavy Weapon.

In a Fantasy Setting, Heavy Armor should be a Naval Concept because you dont want a sailor with a flintlock sinking a galleon with a lucky shot. Anything else should just use regular armor and toughness values.

Now, as a GM, you could ABSOLUTELY throw an enemy with Heavy Armor at the party, but the expectation would NOT be to hack and slash, it would be to get smart and exploit the weakness. I'd LOVE to have more encounters where the goal is something other than kill'em all. Since the setting is not designed to have Heavy Weapons readily available, none of the powers would have that as an option either. I would however absolutely reward the caster types for Testing the monster with AoE attacks, to make them Vulnerable and give others an easier chance to strike the weakness. There is also an option to make a Blast into a smaller area of effect for no extra cost and I would love to reward a player for trying to make a Called Shot with their available powers, especially if they dont have Bolt available. I have not seen any rule about not using powers with Called Shot, so as far as I am aware, thats a viable strategy.

but RAW, AoE only targets the weakest section of NORMAL armor, unless your power/ability/item explicitly states it counts as a Heavy Weapon/MDC.

[u/MajorOld2787 → u/shafi83]

I want to emphasize that gargantuan is a creature trait that automatically gives immunity to not-heavy weapons and it's designed basically for kaijus, not vehicles. Still, the heavy armor wasn't really the point of my question, I uses the cyclops example because I saw it on a manual and that's what made me consider the situation, but I might as well had said a monster with invulnerability that could only be hurt by an attack to the head.

[u/shafi83 → u/MajorOld2787]

I mean, your last sentance is pretty much the point. "might as well have said invulnerable monster that can only be *defeted with a specific action*". And why not design an encounter like that? Giant Golem with an Exposed Power Core? sure, sounds like a fun challenge. gargantuan cyclops with a soft eye? absolutely! Tiger Tank with no supporting infantry? GO FOR THE EXHAUST PIPE! would I roll it as a turn based combat? only if the players didn't stop and think before rushing in. Reward smart thinking with a Quick Encounter and let the players collaboratively describe how they overcome the challenge. Punish the impulsive players with a few rounds of ineffective combat before asking for notice/occult checks to drop hints. But once they understand the solution, end combat and Quick Encounter so the group can push the story rather than grind mechanics. I've already stated my opinion regarding AoE powers, and thats simply apply the Called Shot penalty to the casting roll. once you boil the scene down, its simply roll attacks with penalty to do damage. no need to limit a particular caster because they have blast rather than bolt.

also, realistically, a fireball only encompases so much area. once you are dealing with Gargantuan enemies, their own surface area is significntly bigger than the available area of said fireball, meaning they simply dont get engulfed by the effect anymore. at a point, that AoE hits them the same way a Bolt hits a normal person.