A Discussion on Scene Distinctions

[AccidentalRob]

I'm the Watcher for a Marvel game, and last night we were running an action scene in a Times Square deli. I had given a number of scene distinctions, including Numerous People, Long Counter and Tables & Chairs. The players did a good job of using these distinctions to their advantage (like using the Tables & Chairs distinction to create Complications for their opponents).

One of the players decided to help the diners get out of the restaurant (essentially he wanted to remove the Numerous People distinction). How exactly would he go about doing that? Is it simply a roll against the Doom Pool, and a success means the distinction is removed? Is it more like targeting a trait (like the Colossus vs. Sentinel example in the OM)?

Also, one of the heroes is a sorcerer, and used his Sorcery and Constructs SFX to create a Complication of "Shambling Horrors D10". He spent a PP to make it persistant in the action. Does it become a Scene Distinction because of the fact that it's persistant in the Scene, or does it remain a Complication, it just lasts until the end of the conflict?

Thanks for your insight!

[MidnightBlue]

One of the players decided to help the diners get out of the restaurant (essentially he wanted to remove the Numerous People distinction). How exactly would he go about doing that? Is it simply a roll against the Doom Pool, and a success means the distinction is removed? Is it more like targeting a trait (like the Colossus vs. Sentinel example in the OM)?

Pages OM54 & OM69 discuss how you can target a Scene Distinction like a Complication. The Scene Distinction counts as a D8 for these purposes.

Also, one of the heroes is a sorcerer, and used his Sorcery and Constructs SFX to create a Complication of "Shambling Horrors D10". He spent a PP to make it persistant in the action. Does it become a Scene Distinction because of the fact that it's persistant in the Scene, or does it remain a Complication, it just lasts until the end of the conflict?

Thanks for your insight!

I'd say that it remains a Complication.

Normally an Asset/Complication lasts for the next Action or the Action Scene, whatever is narratively appropriate. A persistent Asset/Complication lasts until the end of the NEXT action scene...not just the one that you are currently in (OM29). However it can still be targeted normally.