Monsters using Blast

[maxam 815]

This has come up numerous times in my games...

If a monster has "[surge] Blast (if at least 1 additional hero is affected)" and it meets the criterion, i.e. more than one Hero is affected, is it legit for the Monster to use it even if doing so would damage/kill other Monsters including itself?

I've been playing it as RAW... i.e., the criterion of multiple heroes is met, therefore the Monster activates blast, but this is usually more beneficial for the Heroes rather than the Monsters...

 

[kraisto 273]

Well, I apply the damage reduction for aoe in this case (house rule), but you can use whatever you thinks is best. Anyway, Its a good question for FFG.

[Tintaglia 124]

i think it is up to you to decide weither or not Blast is activated.(Does the benefits overweight )

And yes Blast even for monsters has to follow the new rules don't you think so ?(half damages for side targets)

[kraisto 273]

i think it is up to you to decide weither or not Blast is activated.(Does the benefits overweight )And yes Blast even for monsters has to follow the new rules don't you think so ?(half damages for side targets)

The rule specifies to the heroes attacks, not monsters. I apply the rule by comparison. Best send a question to FFG for this case.

[Volkren 153]

I think you have to evaluate the situation because it falls under the category of "Decision Making".

 

For example, I once had a master (Act II) Lava Beetle adjacent to the full party. I decided he did blast everyone (including himself) because the damage the party was about to take was better compare to its life. That's what I would have done as an Overlord in a traditional game in Descent.

 

Another example is that I once had Lord Merrick engaging two of my heroes and Sir Alric Farrow in the Finale. Although my heroes were well armored, I decided he "Ignited" the three figures. I chose to do that because even though Alric was going to be hit and was low (and he was the objective), my morale was on Zero, meaning that it was worth the risk to take (a full all or nothing). If Merrick managed to kill at least a hero, the game would be over, so the attack was valid (for me) for the cost of some of Alric's health. This is the type of choices a Human Overlord has to make in a traditional game. Long story short, I lost because of that attack and Alric lived with only 2 health left hahaha

 

I don't apply the rule about halving the damage done because the monster targeted is only one and the attacker is a monster (out of the rule too).

 

The point is that before activating a figure, observe, analyze and decide which of the options available is the closest to a Human Overlord thinking. In other words, if you would have been the Overlord, what would you have chosen to do?