Defense rolls vs. force-fielded enemies?

[Deecely]

Hello again!

I have some quick questions regarding attacking enemies who've put up a personal force field.

1) Is a personal force field (no range or area) mobile? Can a character move around while protected without any additional enhancements?

And, if so, 2) Would attacks against that character still have to overcome Agility-based defense rolls even to begin wearing down the force field?

Thanks!

[Baelor]

This is just my game. but I rule that unless you buy an enhancement-Mobile, a force field is stationary. After all, if you wanted a personal force field that you could run around with, you would have bought Armor.

I also rule that the FF can be targeted at Difficulty 10. The Agility of the owner not making the ff harder to hit.

It has worked for our group. I would like to hear about others, and an 'official' response though.

[MrJupiter]

Hi Deecely, great questions. I'm in agreement with Baelor regarding the "personal" Force Field (of the skin-tight, aura variety) as being better represented by the Armor power. There's nothing to say that you can't move about while protected in your own personal, force-bubble.

Still, the Force Field power is governed by the Concentration limitation, which means that your movement is cut in half. As a personal interpretation, I'd lean against letting your Agility making you, and your Force Field, a harder target (as your ability to move is somewhat hampered by using this power).

Hmmm. Now making a Force Field enhanced with Second Nature...

[BASHMAN]

While I prefer using it as "Armor" instead of "Extra Layer of Hits" I do allow people to do a personal Force Field. If it is an attack, it goes in a bubble around you and you cannot really move from the spot. If it is to protect yourself, though, I let it move with you.

HOWEVER...
You only need a 10 to hit a Force Field. If it is one with an Area, then you don't even roll to hit, just roll damage.

[Deecely]

That's very sensible. Thanks!

[BASHMAN]

If the player asks why, explain that a "skin of force that hovers less than an inch over your entire body and allows you full interaction with the world around you" is made with the Armor power. Using the Force Field power means that even if there is no Area of Effect, it is still like a box around you, just a much skinnier box; like standing in a phone-booth.

[Deecely]

Yeah, I think they got that part. I just didn't know if I was making the no-range, no-area force-field power unbalanced by also requiring the player to roll against the target's agility BEFORE even considering the damage taken by the force field.

(Hint: I was.)