Hi All,

The title says it all. I thought it was possible to activate boons,banes, chaos star and sigmar's comet even if an action was not successful, but I had a player using Migthy Blow for the 1st time this weekend, and it got me wondering.

Migthy Blow Sigmar's Comet effect is that you can attempt another Migthy Blow for +1 Misfortune. In the event a character is trained (and let's push this example to the extreme, rank 3 training), it is highly possible (38.4%) that a Sigmar's Comet is rolled every time Migthy Blow is attempted, which would have the character continuing to try to hit over and over again.

Is that right? I can see that a character highly trained in hand to hand combat be able to throw a fury of blows to a target, even if not all of them land.

Let me know what you think,

Cheers

Ceodryn

The answer, and think this is in the FAQ is, "it depends."

Basically, some can, some can't. You have to use context on the individual cards. Mostly, if the boon enhances the effect of a success you can only use it if the action was successful. If the boon is independent of the success then it still can be.

So a boon that does additional damage only does it if the action is successful. A bane that does a wound to the acting character will activate regardless. Most side effects that give free maneuvers don't matter on success, as do the universal effects of removing fatigue/stress.

If it makes sense for it to happen independently, then it does. If it doesn't, it doesn't.

It depends.

As above, for example a "free manouevre" boon can activate (hey having missed maybe you want it even more "run away") but a "extra critical one" isn't going nor any "inflict a bad condition on target" or "good condition on allies" (e.g., a boon Inspire allies effect isn't going to go off after your epic miss). At least that's how it is at my table.

Ceodryn said:

I believe it's +1 challenge die.
I'd allow the player to use that comet line.

But the many side effects are very much up to the GM to decide if they're applicable or not (mighty blow included). Just be consistent in the ruling and it'll be fine. For example if you allow a player to use a boon line which adds a negative condition to an enemy (maybe because even if the attack missed it still rattled/cowed them) then you should always allow players to add (negative) conditions even if they don't succeed with the action. Maybe the group can reach a consensus and if the players get to add conditions even if they miss the creatures they're fighting should also be able to do it.

Obviously, as has already been pointed out, extra damage or critical hits cannot be applied when missing an attack. All others effects are quite open for discussion though and many can be explained how they trigger from a roleplaying perspective even if the attack itself misses.