Basic Action Super Heroes!

Played for the first time last night. Loved it. Came up with some questions.

1) Are there any rules for Flight gaining altitude, losing altitude, or should I just wing it?

2) Reach full speed is an action. Does that include a move action? A double move action? It seems silly that one would reach full speed while not actually moving.

3) Does anything else besides Knock Back knock someone down?

4) Is there a bonus to hit someone who is Knocked Down?

5) Is Knock Back damage against a wall calculated based on remaining knockback at the time of impact or the full knockback amount?

I think there was one more, but I can't remember it. Help me out please!

If you feel like it, maybe you could post a summary in the Actual Play forum? We'd love to see it!

As for the questions, here are my personal answers:

drkrash wrote:1) Are there any rules for Flight gaining altitude, losing altitude, or should I just wing it?

I just wing it.

2) Reach full speed is an action. Does that include a move action? A double move action? It seems silly that one would reach full speed while not actually moving.

Take a look at the sidebar on page 42, Top Speed for Super Movement. It clarifies that it is a full page action, how many squares you go, etc.

3) Does anything else besides Knock Back knock someone down?

Good question. I don't recall an explicit rule talking about knock downs, but I'd allow it with a wrestling maneuver or a called shot.

4) Is there a bonus to hit someone who is Knocked Down?

Not explicitly, that I recall. I think BASH encourages situational modifiers like that to be handled as judgment calls by the narrator. The situational modifier table on page 16 provides some suggestions and pseudo-benchmarks. In many cases, being prone wouldn't qualify as a moderate hindrance, in my opinion. A prone character might be a little more vulnerable to a kick, but unless the target is otherwise restrained he should still have some ability to block it, roll with it, etc. Is it worth a -2 dice penalty? That's where it is a judgment call. A prone character being shot with a ranged attack at close range probably does deserve a -2 dice penalty. At long ranges, though, you might even consider being prone a moderate benefit.

5) Is Knock Back damage against a wall calculated based on remaining knockback at the time of impact or the full knockback amount?

Not sure. I've been basing it on the full amount, but applying situational modifiers to the damage roll when that feels appropriate.

1. Not specifically ala DnD. Officially there is no change in rate of speed- but here is an easy optional rule if you want it: Each square you ascend counts as 2 squares of movement, each 2 squares you descend counts as 1 square of movement. How's that?

2. It is an entire page to reach full speed.

3. Sure- you can trip people (a called shot) which I would follow with a Brawn contest.

4. That is up to the Narrator to decide if they want to use a "Situational Modifier". Being prone on the ground may be beneficial if someone is shooting a rifle at you from 50 squares away.

5. It is based on the full knock-back ammount- but there is no reason you can't house-rule it to be based on the remaining KB. It depends on how much destroyed scenery you want in your game.

Alas, my Telepathy is on the fritz... so I'm afraid I can't help you remember that additional question you forgot

But I remembered it!

The rules for Body Slams are under the wrestling rules, but it seems they correspond to general "Move Throughs" (to use a Champions term). Am I right? Are they (sort of) misplaced? Or am I missing something?

Again, LOVED the game.

You are correct- see the Errata page- Body Slams should not be in the section of "what you do to a grabbed opponent" but their own seperate thing.