Rules Clarification? (Marvelverse) Add Ability

[thanos]

Looking through the Origian book I have come upon some seeming discrepencies.

The one that I would like to start with is the Advantage of 'Extra Ability Bonus/Weapon Modifer (Added to Action Only)'. Its add on cost is +5CL.

There are three characters in the original book that have something that looks like this and it effects Close Combat; The Blob, Spider-man, and Thor. In the Avengers book Mantis is also different.

However, each character has this written differently.
Blob says: Strength & Durability or Weapon Modifer ONLY.
Spider-man says: Agility & Strength Bonus or Weapon Modifier.
Thor says: Strength Bonus and Weapon Modifier.
Mantis says: Agility Bonus and Intelligence Bonus.

Now, Mantis and Thor are easy. They sold their original Weapon Modifier for -2CL and bought the additional Ability Bonus.

The real trick comes when you look at Blob and Spider-man. Which actually used the standard rule and which didn't. Some people might say that Blob used the original rule and has (Str+Dur) or (WP Mod). Others would say that Spider-man used the rule normally and has Agility + (Strength or WP Mod).

If the Spider-man example is correct then The Blob recieved a -1 or -2CL since he can't use his extra ability bonus with a weapon.

I submit that because Ninja (a +5CL cost power that has Concentration and BlackOps included) comes with an Ability+Weapon or Weapon+Weapon that the example given for Spider-man is the correct character example and that Blob recieved a discount. Otherwise Ninja is a completely broken Action and Spiderman would have had to pay +10CL to get his Extra Ability added to both original Bonuses.

[GhostKnight]

You missed the Thing and the Silver Surfer (Strength Bonus + Weapon Modifier)

In the case of the Thing, Silver Surfer and Thor I would say they Did this:
(Strength Bonus or Weapon Modifier) + (Extra Weapon Modifier) = (Strength Bonus/Weapon Modifier And Weapon Modifier)
(Strength Bonus/Weapon Modifier And Weapon Modifier) - (Weapon Modifier) = (Strength Bonus And Weapon Modifier)

That would be AN + 3 (5 - 2)

In SpiderMan's case it is:
(Strength Bonus or Weapon Modifier) + (Extra Agility Bonus) = (Strength Bonus/Weapon Modifier And Agility Bonus)

That would be AN + 5

In Blob's case he should have sold his weapon modifier and added it again with a disadvantage.

(Strength Bonus or Weapon Modifier) + (Extra Durability Bonus) = (Strength Bonus/Weapon Modifier And Durability Bonus)
(Strength Bonus/Weapon Modifier And Durability Bonus) - (Weapon Modifier) = (Strength And Durability Bonus)
(Strength And Durability Bonus) + (Extra Weapon Modifier - Only Bonus) = (Strength Bonus And Durability Bonus or Weapon Modifier ONLY)

In this case you have to negotiate with the GM

[malice]

The problem here is that there is no existing alternative adjustment if the ability you add is exclusive, as Nigromante suggests for the Blob. Imo paying +5 to cost level and only being able to stack the bonus you add to one of the bonuses you already posess instead of both is far too expensive. I'd put the advantage at +4 to cost level only if more than one bonus exists and it stacks with only one of them. Thor, the Thing, Silver Surfer, and Mantis all did as you both said and ended up with AN +3.
The Blob and Spidey would only pay +4 were I GMing them, and if someone paid the +5 they would get the extra bonus on both the already existing bonuses. So the Close combat would look like one of these:

Ability and Weapon OR 2 Weapons
Ability and Weapon OR 2 Abilities

This is the same price as Ninja and still not as good, so it seems the fairest to me and has since I looked at it the first time.

[webhead]

My take on it is this. Close Combat by itself allows you to alternate between using an Ability Bonus and a Weapon Modifier, right? You can always use one of them, just not both at once.

I read the advantage as, you choose to permanently add an Ability Bonus or a Weapon Modifier to the action.

Example: Mr. Blender (A custom made guy with super speed, super strength, and some nasty bladed gauntlets)

Mr. Blender buys Close Combat, which allows him to add an Ability Bonus or a Weapon Modifier for free. Let's say he chooses Strength as the Ability Bonus.

Now, let's say that Mr. Blender wants to add the advantage of an extra Ability Bonus or Weapon Modifier to his Close Combat. The advantage lets him choose either one.

If he chooses to add his Speed bonus, he can always apply it to CC, and then, he can additionally apply his Strength Bonus or a Weapon Modifier, as per normal CC.

If he chooses to add a Weapon Modifier, then he can always apply it to CC, and then, he can additionally apply his Strength Bonus or a Weapon Modifier, as per normal CC. (This is the version of the advantage that the designers added to Ninja.)

That's my take on it, at least. I think the CAD confusion in the books comes from the people writing up the CADs not really thinking out the exact function of the advantage at the time, and writing an oversimplified explanation of what the characters can do. The advantage of the description itself, reads the way I'm interpreting it. At least, I'm pretty sure it does.

Feel free to shout in my general direction if you disagree.