Ive only run a couple of sessions and most of that was just getting used to the system. So i have a few questions.

How do you handle sneak attacks? I havent been able to find anything in the book that talks about it.

I get that the suprise bonus will apply and i would probably give the players other advantages e.g from behind and totally obscured, but does the defender still get the chance to defend or do they have to soak the damage? I mean i guess it could be a measure of their senses and skill, that they can some what mitigate the damage and with some luck and the use of armour avoid any real damage.

And i have a level 1 Wizard who is going to be able to start the game off knowing every spell below high magic in th Fire Book. Using "Elemental Compatability" and "Natural Knowledege of a Path" and giving him the recommended half of his base MR he gets to 85 in Fire. That just doesnt seem right too me. It seem like some of the advantages in anima are just crazy balls.

And also i think its weird how you dont really need to pass a check to actually cast a spell. Just to project it over a further area. It seems with such little risk and high power involved its quite powerful. Also with lvl 80 free access spells he gets Natural Spell so he can throw off Incinerate every turn without trying.

I guess if im not comfortable with it then i should just house rule it and give him a max starting level of 30-40 or something, regardless of advantages and what not

While I cannot answer the sneak attack part of the question, I can answer the magic one. If you are talking about his maximum magic lvl, you do not give him half of his base MR. You consult Table 56 on page 112, which says that an Intellegence score of 10 allows him to have a MAXIMUM level of 50. I have always ruled that, even with the bonus from Knowledge of a Path, you can never ecxeed your Maximum in any path.

Finaly, I would say that if he really is just being way to OP, lock him down. Make the party fight NPC's that know he is the power character, and try to shut him down. It only makes sense for them to go after the strongest party member. Also, if all else fails, I have always had a soft spot for the Church. They are a huge orginization, and they really, REALLY dislike magic. Whenever one of my magic/psychics trys to go total OP, it's always fun to show them that there is something more powerful.

Thanks very much, i did miss that chart this time around (funnily enough i noticed it when helping one of my other players make his mage). Thats also a good idea about the church. Thers ALWAYS someone bigger afterall

Disgruntled Owl said:

You still get a chance to defend. If they have to soak, then you are double punishing them(minuses for obscured and behind, and further minuses for having to absorb the blow). Some characters in fiction can pull off a defense even if they are surprised. It is hard in Anima, but doable.

Like written in Dominus Exxet, obscured and from behind don't add fully. Also would I only give obscured, if the steahly char is camoflaged or invisible (or the area proved "obfuscated" like darkness or fog).

From behind would I only give, if the stealhy char get attacked from behind. This is not automatic, because he could lean against a wall or something like this, but flanked could be the usual modifier.

But the stealhy char would always get the suprise effect.

And I think Kalis is right, you shouldn't force a person to take absorb hits, because he/she is surprised, because this would be double punishment for them (-90, perhaps more for positioning etc. and absorb hits would like hell).

So long,