If you use Smite Infidel with Sweeping Strikes, do all targets get the effect of Smite Infidel or only the first target? Since other maneuvers apply their effect to all targets, I assumed Smite Infidel did as well. However, Akira said tonight that he'd been told it only applies to the first target. The talent isn't clear (to me at least) which interpretation is correct.

Akira is correct, it is only the first target. Smite Infidel is not a maneuver (same as Murderous Precision). Only maneuver effects that apply to single targets are carried over to multiple targets.

Theoretically, though, I believe a Val'Emman/Virdan with the "None Shall Stand..." talent could take another (2nd) Trivial action to use their 2nd Smite Infidel on a separate target in a sweep.

I believe the limit is 1 trivial per action.

Ah. That makes Smite Infidel a much less useful talent. It's a nice boost to hit and damage but only once per scene. It's useless if you miss, or if the target worships the same deity, or if the target belongs to the same church (that's a lot of useless cases for something that costs a talent). Wolf Pack Tactics is much better as are any of the stance talents (only problem with those is there are getting to be too many useful stances (and you can only use one)).

That is why I said "theoretically". I had the same thought nagging in the back of my brain, but didn't have time to double check the rule book. I should have explained that before giving the "short, short version", sorry. If it were 1 per action, the sweep gives additional actions, and would work. But, specifically, it is not 1 Trivial per action, but 1 per character turn. (Which means no 2nd smitey goodness on that turn).

Smite infidel is devastatingly effective when you can use it. Between the bonus it grants to hit and the reality that you'll use a fate point to re-roll if necessary, it almost never misses. I played a val (Virdan) in the Crusader arc with Murderous Preciscion , Smite and None Shall Stand Who Oppose the Gods and we was (and I guess potentially still is) a beast in melee combat.

Wolf Pack tactics is great too...

Even if it can't be multiplied by a maneuver (which I think is a good call since it would be too much with that combination), it's still a great ability that can truly give you that spike damage you need for a target.

John

I'm certainly not saying it is worthless. It is good spike damage - it just gets moved down the list of combat talents quite a ways (but still much closer the top than bottom in effectiveness).

I'm also not really arguing that it should apply with Sweeping Strikes (even without any combinations, SS is a really good maneuver). I was just assuming Smite Infidel would behave the same way as a maneuver with regards to the combination.

Maybe one day we can have a talent which allows you to combine them, but the cost would have to be breathtakingly awful to balance that level of insanity.