Jedi Counseling #105

Welcome to the 105th installment of "Jedi Counseling," our regular column in which we answer your rules questions about the Star Wars Miniatures Game and the Star Wars Roleplaying Game. If you have a question, send it in through the link at the end of this column, and check back here for the official answer.

Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition
Saga Edition is out, and we have our first batch of questions about the new system.

Q: It seems to me that area attacks might be too good. Even if you miss, you're still dealing at least half damage unless the target has Evasion or improved cover. Doesn't this make things like autofire (which you can do even with a run-of-the-mill blaster rifle) a no-brainer unless your attack bonus greatly exceeds the target's Reflex Defense?

A: A few details were left out of the area attack rules. They're in the first set of errata, but they're worth covering here:

First, when making an area attack, your modified attack roll (after subtracting penalties for range, concealment, and so on) must be a 10 or higher for the attack to have any effect. If that condition is met, you compare the result to the Reflex Defense of everyone in the area for half or full damage. Given this, it's possible to make such a poor attack that no one is affected at all. In these cases, the idea is that your throw lands somewhere harmless, you shot over the target's heads (in the case of autofire), or maybe you even forgot to arm the grenade before throwing.

Second, if you make an area attack against a target that has cover (not just improved cover), the target takes no damage if the attack misses. Just as in real life, the best defense against explosives or bursts of autofire is to get in a trench or behind an obstacle. To determine if a target has cover, draw a line from the center of the burst or splash radius (for explosives and the like) or from the attacker (for autofire).

Third, you can't aim when making an area attack, so you never get to ignore the target's cover.

Together, these details make area attacks and autofire incredibly effective against a target at relatively close range on open terrain. Such a target is in big, big trouble. In contrast, area attacks and autofire are almost worthless against a target that has cover or concealment or that is at great range. For example, don't bother trying it against a hidden sniper shooting from hundreds of meters away.

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Q: The Deflect talent can reduce the damage from an autofire attack. Can Block reduce the damage from Whirlwind Attack (which is also resolved as an area attack)?

A: Block versus Whirlwind Attack (or any other melee area attack that might exist in the future) is supposed to work the same as Deflect versus autofire. If your Use the Force check equals or exceeds the attack roll, you take half damage if the attack was a hit, and you take no damage if the attack was a miss. If your Use the Force check is less than the attack roll, resolve the area attack normally.

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Q: I'm curious as to the perceived balance factor of Dual Weapon Mastery versus Double Attack. Dual Weapon Mastery I is available sooner, and you can offset its penalties by taking more feats. Double Attack works for only one type of weapon, and you can reduce its penalties only with prestige class talents. Since both grant an extra attack, why would you want Double Attack?

A: The balancing factor is that Dual Weapon Mastery works only with one-handed weapons (that is, weapons that do less damage), but Double/Triple Attack works with two-handed weapons (but only one type of them). For example:

A Dual Weapon Mastery specialist might use two heavy blaster pistols, which deal 3d8 points of damage per weapon, or a potential of 6d8 points from both.
A Double Attack specialist might use a heavy blaster rifle, which deals 3d10 points of damage but has a much better range. In addition, the weapon is capable of autofire, so it can deal up to 5d10 points of damage with Burst Fire.

This also means that Double Attack can be used with much larger weapons, such as those on a vehicle, while a pilot or gunner would have no particular reason to use Dual Weapon Mastery because such weapons can't be operated with one hand.

Finally, don't forget that someone can use both Dual Weapon Mastery and Double/Triple Attack. So even if Dual Weapon Mastery appears more attractive at first, you might want to take Double/Triple Attack later.

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Q: Can you use Double Attack or Triple Attack to attack the same target multiple times in the same round, or do you have to attack different targets?

A: The extra attacks from Double Attack, Triple Attack, and fighting with multiple weapons can be directed at the same target or at different targets, in any combination and any order that you choose.

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Q: It is possible to use Double Attack with Rapid Strike?

A: Yes. Rapid Strike, Rapid Shot, and Burst Fire all can be used when making multiple attacks, regardless of their source (Double Attack, Triple Attack, or fighting with multiple weapons).

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Q: I think the prerequisites for Rapid Shot and Rapid Strike were swapped accidentally. Wouldn't it make more sense for Rapid Strike, a melee feat, to have the Strength requirement, and for Rapid Shot, a ranged feat, to have the Dexterity requirement?

A: No, this is intentional. For Rapid Shot, you need the higher Strength to control the recoil of firing multiple shots so quickly. For Rapid Strike, you need the higher Dexterity to have the agility necessary to get two swings for the price of one -- catching your target a second time on the backswing, spinning to come around a second time, and so on.

For balance purposes, this also has the effect of giving characters some tough decisions. A ranged specialist won't always want to neglect his Strength, and a melee specialist won't want to neglect her Dexterity. (Sure, such a character could neglect Strength if he has Weapon Finesse, but he's spending an extra feat and restricting himself to certain weapons for that privilege.)