Blasting gadgeteers object, Is it "Big boom" or "Boom Boom"? [closed]

Question

Introduction:

As a mad scientist, I spend a lot of my time doing research following a strict protocol. I carry arround the result of my research. I had a little issue with my last craft, a little explosion... And my team start arguing about the "safety issue".

So I recreated the device and designed a test protocol where someone has to carry the device while I trigger it from a safe distance. But I struggle evaluating the result of the experience:

In twenty minutes, you can easily craft at home what non scientists call a blast bomb, infusing the blast power into a simple device.

How is the energy used when the device is triggered? As the blast can't used at once all the energie store.

Formulas:

Blastor: 10pp
Blast power points consumption : 2–6 
pp to damage conversion ratio : 2pp => 2d6, 
                                4pp => 3d6,
                                or 4pp => 2d6 + large blast, 
                                6pp => 3d6 + large blast

Test:

From the last words of the test subject, "haaaaaarg", and the remain of his body I can deduce that the blastor works, dealing 3d6 + large blast + 3d6.

But it was impossible to determine from the test subject's last words if the explosion was simultaneous or sequential.

This is relatively important for me, as I want to go further in my test.
If the explosions are sequential, I can find a test subject that will survive long enough to give me his impression after 2 blast at 3d6. But the 6d6 large blast will require much tougher friends.

Answer 1

As you correctly state in your question, depending on the amount of Power Points you spend, you have the following options each time you use the Blast Power:

• 2 PP - 2d6 damage in a Medium Burst Template (MBT)
• 4 PP - 3d6 damage in a Medium Burst Template or 2d6 in a Large Burst Template (LBT)
• 6 PP - 3d6 damage in a LBT

Note that whether it is a MBT or LBT only affects the area the damage affects, not the amount of damage caused.

Blast is also a ranged attack and not centred on the caster/user of the device. As a Mad Scientist, a common way of visualising the device is some kind of grenade launcher type thing.

Assuming you have 10 Power Points and use Blast twice in quick succession, you calculate and apply the damage from the two uses separately rather than combining the damage before applying it. It is worth noting that you will have to wait for your next turn before using your device for the second time, as you cannot activate it more than once in one round.

Example:

The first time you cast Blast with 6 Power Points for 3d6 damage in a LBT. You roll 13 damage, which you apply to the target and calculate whether they are Shaken and/or Wounded.

You then cast Blast a second time with 4 Power points for 3d6 in a MBT. This time you roll 6 damage, which you apply in the same way.

What you do NOT do is combine the two lots of damage and apply it all in one go. Applying the damage separately makes it much easier for a target to survive, as they are given the option to Soak each damaging attack individually rather than all the damage at once.

The Gadgeteer Edge

Assuming that you've used the Gadgeteer Edge to create the device, there is an extra limitation. As you note in your question, the device will have half the total Power Points of your normal devices. Also, when the device runs out of Power Points it ceases to be usable, and unlike a Mad Scientist's other powers, cannot be recharged. It is also commonly understood that Gadgeteer devices only last for the duration of a single session, even if they have Power Points left in them, although this is slightly more flexible depending on timings. It is intended to prevent you stocking up on masses of different devices. Gadgeteer is not intended to work like that - the devices are jury-rigged and temporary.

What this means in your scenario is that once it has used all 10 Power Points the device will stop working. It will not explode though, simply be unusable.