From: drew@snow.geology.wisc.edu (Drew Novick)
Subject: Re: Hero Question: focii 
Organization: Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 92 00:23:10 GMT

In article <1992Nov13.202821.16547@daffy.cs.wisc.edu> hague@cat20.cs.wisc.edu (Vince Hague) writes:
>  I'm currently involved in a Fantasy Hero game with the characters
>starting out with 150 pts (total). 
>
>  What I want to do is try to use some of the powers as special melee
>attacks. For instance:

Please note that this entire idea is very much subject to GM approval.
Unless specifically permitted I'd suspect your GM has some very specific
(if not articulated) ideas on the topic.

>  A) Missle deflection: this ability can only be done while using
>       a shield or an object much like a shield (silver serving plate,
>       metal table top, etc). Only missles like daggers and arrows
>       can be deflected (sorry, spears are just too powerful)
>
This idea might be allowed but a shield already provides additional DCV.
I'm unsure as to the effect _you_ want.  Special effects determine how
powers are bought in the HERO system.  

If you want additional protection from missiles, use a bigger shield.  If
you want to block all incoming missile attacks through an active defense,
missile deflection fits the bill.

>  B) Double strike: this attack does two very fast hits to an opponent
>       in the same phase. Here is how it is bought:
>
>       1/2 d6 HKA + 2d6 HKA (limitaion only usable with medium pole-like
>	 weapons: sword, staff; but not pole-arms). Again, what limitation
>	 could be suggested for only usable with a pole-like object?
>
>       What this says is that the warrior trys to hit his opponent with
>       the first strike and hopefully drawing blood (ego roll) and then
>       trying to come down hard on the second hit. The hope is that the
>       opponent trys to block the first hit instead of the second.
>
Several big caveats with this idea.  Attacking multiple times is a
tremendously powerful idea which is why SPD is so expensive.  

The effect you want here is definitely Autofire (with the limitation that
saves you no points) only two attacks.  Autofire is uncommon for most
conventional weapons in a fantasy setting, this is a darned powerful
advantage even with only two attacks.  

I'm not sure why the attacks are so different in size.  It appears that the
first one is some sort of opportunistic half-feint.  I don't see the
rationale behind it.

By the way, once blocking starts, the blocking character may continue to do
so.  It simply takes an additional -2 modifier per attack blocked.

>On an alternative question,
>  When attacking witha melee weapon, If I am using a Great Axe (2d6 HKA),
>  How much endurance do I expend when using a 2d6 attack? (3 END?)
>  Also, can I choose to strike lighter (a 1/2 d6 attack) for (1 END?)?
>
The amount of END used depends on the STR min for the weapon.  Usually it
is 1 END per 5 STR of the STR min.  (i. e. STR 5 weapon, 1END,  STR 13
weapon, 3 END;  STR 20 weapon, 4 END)  You must expend the END required for
the STR min of the weapon.  Those big weapons are heavy and take a lot of
energy to use.  

>Please, no flames.....only advice.....
>
>Vincent :)             Only shows how little I know...

Hope this is of help.

Drew Novick (drew@ice.geology.wisc.edu)