Basic Action Super Heroes!

while BASH is largely a simple system, having range determined by the cost of the power is an odd exception.

It makes more powerful powers better since they get a longer range. It makes ranges harder to calculate, and matching ranges harder for multiple powers.

For example daze is always 2 points, so its range multiple is x2. Linking that to a x5 damage attack is hard due to the different range multipliers.

why not just have ranged always have a fixed cost?
range 5
range 10
range 25
etc

instead of being a multiple of dmg or power?

I wholeheartedly agree with you on this!

In the Original edition range worked as follows:

1pt = 5sq
2pts = 10 sq
3pts = 20 sq
4pts = 40 sq

You could do that, as an option if you want.

For LINKED powers, I would let you use the longer range, so long as you put the same points for range to both. So if you have Daze (Mid range) LINKED with Special Attack (x4 Dmg, Mid Range) that would have a range of 20 squares.