Super utility moves! Questions

[Yu Kanda]

Hello Staff,

today we had a discussion regarding super utility moves, some people say they can't be blocked, others say it depends on the move, third option is obvious, they can be blocked.
There was some clarification requested on this topic so i post it here.

Also...a super utility would be used at the start of your post, how can this be blocked when you start your post with it? do you contact the other character's writer?

If a super utility is written like a normal super at the end of your post, your opponent gets to write the outcome with -your- advantage, which is something no one likes. And can be written off as weak or easily avoidable.

Give us your -official- statement that we can point back to if this ever becomes an issue in the futurue.

~K

[Dane Regan]

Today we had a discussion regarding super utility moves, some people say they can't be blocked, others say it depends on the move, third option is obvious, they can be blocked.

If a super utility move targets an opponent or affects them directly (like an AoE gas cloud), it must be blockable (like a T1 super that inflicts a -4 DEF debuff for one post).

If a super utility provides a buff, such as less fatigue for yourself and allies, a stat buff, etc. it's not blockable (obviously).

If a super utility enhances your own abilities (like a self-buff), it may be blockable. This depends on the context. If you're spending 1sp to quickly fire 6 spells at someone, that's basically a super attack (so the attacks you use from it need to be blockable). But something like "half charge time for 1 minute", "increased damage to shields", "set on fire for 1 round to continuously damage anyone nearby" etc. isn't blockable. In short, if they enhance your abilities in more of a sustained weaker boost rather than a short and strong burst, it won't be blockable.

On rare occasions, such as Croc's Ground Secco, a harmful super utility may not be blockable. This is because it continuously harms an area, and not something where pulling up a shield would reasonably block the effect. This is taken into consideration during balance. If Croc's super utility followed him as he moves instead of only affecting a static area, it would have been denied (or needed to cost more SP, or require some other tweaks).

Also...a super utility would be used at the start of your post, how can this be blocked when you start your post with it? do you contact the other character's writer?

All blockable super moves must be used at the end of your post to allow others to choose to block it. You may, on occasion, use a blockable super move earlier in your post if you confer with the affected writers as well as the fight judge/story runner (since the fight rules are guidelines, in your own personal storyline you can choose to run things differently).

Super moves that are not blockable may be used at any point in your post. Only one blockable super move may be used per post, but non-blockable ones can be used as well (like buffing an ally in your post, then using a super attack at the end).

If a super utility is written like a normal super at the end of your post, your opponent gets to write the outcome with -your- advantage, which is something no one likes. And can be written off as weak or easily avoidable.

If someone writes your super utility as being too weak, most judges will penalise them when grading the fight. If you prefer to also be able to write your blockable super utilities in effect, I'd advise you to make them last for a full round (e.g. -2 ATK for 1 round for 1sp instead of -4 ATK for 1 post for 1sp).

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In sort, "it depends on the move".

[Amaterasu]

I find Super Utility moves to just have too broad a range of possibilities to be put in one category.

Super Utilities can be damage-dealing, in which case the opponent should be given a chance to block it one way or another. They can be something like Viola's time looping utility which could span multiple posts or even more than one round. And let's not forget that Super Moves can be a great writing prompt especially if they do more than launch a fireball or shielding oneself from a Super Move. I don't know about you guys but I'd prefer to have most of the 'screentime' of that move for myself.

Would it perhaps make sense to add a requirement to a Super Utility move, when submitted for approval, to also have a note of when it must be used in a post?

[Dane Regan]

Would it perhaps make sense to add a requirement to a Super Utility move, when submitted for approval, to also have a note of when it must be used in a post?

It is currently a requirement for all super utilities to specify whether or not they can be blocked (which implies when they can be used).

[Sasuke Uchiha]

Can you fire off both a Super utility and a super attack in the same post?

[Dane Regan]

Can you fire off both a Super utility and a super attack in the same post?

If the super utility is not blockable, yes.

You cannot use two blockable super moves in the same post, however (unless the story runner and the people you're doing it to are chill with it).

[Sasuke Uchiha]

What if there are multiple opponents? Could you then cast multiple supers, directed at different targets, or still nah?

[Dane Regan]

What if there are multiple opponents? Could you then cast multiple supers, directed at different targets, or still nah?

Still nah, regardless of who you target. Only one blockable super move may be used per fight post under normal conditions.