I was wondering how people Roleplay this skill. Basically it's twofold. The character with the skill gets a bonus to hit of their intelligence divided by 3 so the average Joe would have a plus 3-4 to hit after using the skill. Since it's used on the players action we can say that in less than 15 seconds the character has determined someone else's weakness and they get their bonus.
 
  The bonus to hit seems acceptable if the character notices that every time Dr. Shock throws a Lightning Bolt he draws his right arm back and leaves himself open. The question is how did the Character know in that same time period that Dr. Shock also has a special requirement that he must enter the Omnitron every morning as the sun rises to keep his powers? It seems Reed Richards has Weakness Detection but it takes him a bit longer to analyze his foes weakness. Any thoughts on splitting this skill into two parts but as the same skill?

Karnak is a great example, probably better than Reed Richards when it comes to the actual damage and to hit portion. I'd probably give him a Double dose with, one for plus to hit and another for damage. My question still stands about the actual detection of the weakness. The rule literally reads "the character then learns one of the subjects weaknesses(if any).

  That's where I see the difference in the two examples of Comic book characters with the same power.

THE ONI wrote on Jun 11^th, 2009 at 9:34pm:


I've always let players have choice, that must be stated during character creation, you can choose a damage bonus, or a to-hit bonus.

As far as your question goes, I don't think it means he gets to determine you have Special Requirement, but that they literally figure out your weak points. That you have glass jaw, or you drop your defenses just before firing that power blast, etc. They'd basically hit you at the most opportune moment, or at a critical spot (say joint in your power armor). 

  Thanks for the feedback from all. I think the biggest issue I have is the time frame. Once again qouting from the exisitng rules, which basically everyone edits, "the character then learns one of the subjects weaknesses(if any). I agree that seeing a weak point is the first portion but then the second step doesn't really exist unless it's a fairly obvious weakness or the player actually does some real research. I'm a player and not a GM so i'm not going crazy with it but it did bother me a bit unless it's really a form of telepathy which it's not.

Good call. I did not even remember it was on any other lists. I thought it was only under skills.

In my mind weakness detection is just that, learning the opponents weakness if they have 1. Having to spend and action and R=1" to gain this knowledge burns a players phase and puts them in villain range.

Once a player has weakness detected I give them there + to hit, the villains level, and any weakness that is pertinent. If the villain takes 2x dam from fire I tell them this. If the villain has a special requirement I don't divulge what that requirement is.

The way I like to treat WD is sort of an "A or B" method, as some have suggested.  My 2 versions:

A) The Skills version as listed in the rulebook, that gives a bonus to Hit based on I/3.  This method is truly a skill (like Karnak, though I agree he should get a damage bonus as well), and can be done at range (usually Intelligence in inches away).

B) If it fits for the character, and he has some sort of reason for gaining knowledge of another character (Telepathy, Psionics, Magical Powers, etc.) then he gets to learn something about his opponent (i.e., discovers that he takes double damage from water, can't use his powers in darkness, or whatever).  This one usually has a range of 1" (like the rulebook suggests).

Both versions require an action.

It's really something a person chooses at character creation, since they're such different abilities.