So the Individual Field Disruptor from Disciples of Harmony is a bit potent, and highly annoying when used against someone with a lightsaber. Or really, just any powered weapon. From the description: "If the field enters engaged range with any other electronic device, the device shorts out and becomes inactive for the remainder of the encounter."

Is it just me or is that a bit over the top for a gadget like that? Of course, this should preclude the character using the IFD from using anything with a power cell, but for someone who doesn't use such weapons it's pretty insane. And it can be abused by a character by giving someone else his weapon, enter engaged range with the baddie, then turn off the device and catch the lightsaber/vibrosword/random weapon tossed by the near-by friend and go to town.

I wouldn't allow you to do this. First off, I wouldn't treat a lightsaber (or any other weapon) as an "electronic device" for the purposes of being affected by this piece of gear.

Secondly, you don't enter engaged range with wielded weapons or held devices; you engage with their wielder. I would only allow this effect on unattended objects and larger, standing devices, like a power generator or a computer station. Or if you were able to actually grab a datapad or some handheld device away from someone.

But having it work against all electronics that happen to be on a person's body is completely antithetical to how the rest of the game works. Ion & electrical damage doesn't short out all your stuff. The Burn quality doesn't set all your gear on fire. Lightsaber attacks don't wreck your armor, and Parrying a lightsaber with a normal melee weapon doesn't render your sword useless.

If this field worked on lightsabers, then I'd say it would only work if you were somehow able to wrest the weapon away from its owner.

I doubt it was the intention that someone with such a device could just walk up to a destroyer droid, or an AT-AT for that matter, and nuke it.

True, and for my parts I think Away put it nicely. For the record, there is a special note about droids (they take 5 Stun Damage when engaged by someone with this gizmo) but there is nothing about vehicles. Are they electronic devices? I will use GM fiat to say "no, no you don't" to my players if they want to abuse this thing, that's for sure.

31 minutes ago, Kymrel said:

True, and for my parts I think Away put it nicely. For the record, there is a special note about droids (they take 5 Stun Damage when engaged by someone with this gizmo) but there is nothing about vehicles. Are they electronic devices? I will use GM fiat to say "no, no you don't" to my players if they want to abuse this thing, that's for sure.

The device's text talks about vehicles—it sounds to me as if the thing is a bit too small to affect a vehicle or starship.

I think this one needs a clarification from the Devs as to what constitutes an "electronic device" in this case as this setting can be a bit obtuse when it comes to technology. I don't have DoH yet to see the wording, anyone here want to bug the Devs on this?

10 hours ago, FuriousGreg said:

I think this one needs a clarification from the Devs as to what constitutes an "electronic device" in this case as this setting can be a bit obtuse when it comes to technology. I don't have DoH yet to see the wording, anyone here want to bug the Devs on this?

Seeing as how there's a thread looking for questions for Sam (and whatever other guest they have) about Disciples of Harmony...

I'd be inclined to let this device work on anything (of the proper/personal scale) that I'd let the "Bad Motivator" Talent work on. And I've seen that used on Lightsabers, and would see no reason to not let it be used on a weapon.

Why?

1. Because it's not something you're gonna pull on your PCs willy-nilly, unless of course you want all of them toting the things around.

But 2., it's fully within your control to manipulate (increase) the cost.

And 3., it's pretty niche. It's useful to Melee/Brawl fighters. That's it. So if your PCs buy one, you can see it coming, and then a.) not give a crap if they use it in Minions, and b.) easily account for it for a Nemesis battle.

Dont really see the problem, amongst all the other power punches out there.

3 hours ago, Donovan Morningfire said:

Seeing as how there's a thread looking for questions for Sam (and whatever other guest they have) about Disciples of Harmony...

Sorry DM, I didn't see that thread. Regardless I don't have the book and without reading the entire description I'm not sure if something was missed so I don't feel comfortable asking yet. I like to have the RAW in front of me before I waste anyones time so could someone who has read the rule add that question in please.

3 hours ago, Donovan Morningfire said:

Seeing as how there's a thread looking for questions for Sam (and whatever other guest they have) about Disciples of Harmony...

Done. I also missed that thread! Thanks for the heads up.