Pulp Alley: "Harmless" Ability

[Codsticker]

May a Character with the Harmless ability respond with to an attack with Shoot or Brawl or can they only Dodge?

[Panama]

If I remember rightly he can only dodge,but its a long time since I used that ability so I could be wrong.

[nandrin]

Text says "he can never shoot/brawl an opponent", but it´s not entirely clear if this counts only when he is active. In our group we rule he can only dodge.

Good question for the Pulp Alley forum.

[d phipps]

Short Answer: A Harmless character can never roll Brawl or Shoot dice.


Long Answer: Here is the new Second Edition version of Harmless --

Harmless: An enemy that is over 6” away cannot target, attack, or rush you. You can never target or attack an enemy. Reduce Brawl and Shoot to no-dice.

Basically, a Harmless character never rolls Shoot dice, never rolls Brawl dice, and never performs an action that creates a peril or targets an enemy.

Also, please note that throughout Pulp Alley we reserve the use of "never" to indicate when a rule has absolutely no exceptions. 


I hope this helps.


HAVE FUN

[Codsticker]

Ok thanks guys.

I am actually thinking of giving it a leader whose other abilities will be loaded to secure Plot Points; she would let others do the fighting. Not sure if this would actually be successful in game as it is nice to have a leader with some D10 combat abilities.

[WuZhuiQiu]

So, Grapple would be incompatible with Harmless, then?

[Alcide Nikopol]

So, Grapple would be incompatible with Harmless, then?

What is the rule for Grapple?

[Menelduir]

So, Grapple would be incompatible with Harmless, then?

I am sure Dave will answer, but my two cents says it is incompatible.
True grapple does say "instead of attacking" one may grapple. However grapple means the loser has to take 1 health check, which would suggest that some form of attack was done. I suspect "instead of attacking" just means instead of the normal procedure for a brawl attack, and that grapple is still an attack.

If it is allowed it would be like grappling with one or both arms tied behind your back. As you know, grapple is an opposed roll, both players using their brawl and might dice. With the clarification provided by second edition it now clearly states the character has no brawl.
Better be mighty mighty!

[ragsthetiger]

Basically, a Harmless character never rolls Shoot dice, never rolls Brawl dice, and never performs an action that creates a peril or targets an enemy.

Since a successful Grapple forces a Health check that might result in injury to an enemy, I would say it meets the criteria outlined above.  I think the intent is clearly that a Harmless character is not able to deliberately do anything that might injure someone.  Period.

[d phipps]

So, Grapple would be incompatible with Harmless, then?

Correct. A Harmless character cannot Grapple. In Second Edition, this will be clarified better -- Harmless and Grapple have both been adjusted slightly.

What is the rule for Grapple?

Grapple is an optional "weapon kit" found in Pulp Leagues. Grapple also appears in Second Edition.

... I think the intent is clearly that a Harmless character is not able to deliberately do anything that might injure someone.

Correct.