[Bradd]

Some modifiers apply to "all actions" (e.g., spam zones) while others apply to "all tests" (e.g., the confusion spell). Is there a difference between the two? For example, I think damage resistance is a "test" but not an "action," but I'm not sure.

I'm especially unsure about combat defense. Is basic Reaction (+ melee skill) defense an "action" or just a "test"? What about Full Defense? It's a Complex Action, but is it an "action" for the purpose of these modifiers?

[Chaemera]

For my nuyen, an "action" would be anything requiring a Free, Simple, or Complex action. So Full Defense would be an action, while basic Defense would not.

However, some things just don't always make sense. Spam zones affecting Full Defense, okay, maybe the ads are distracting you from the real dangers, but it feels like a stretch to me. Confusion affecting Damage Resistance? that one doesn't even hold water from a common sense perspective.

That's where GM's come in, to decide when "all action"/"all test" modifiers should be ignored in favor of immersive storytelling.

But, I don't think you're going to find an official ruling, odds are there are GMs who would consider "all actions" and "all tests" to be synonymous, I know I nearly did when I first started reading the rules.

[Kot]

Drain and Damage Resistance are unaffected by penalties, with the exception of Armor Penetration in the DR case.

[Bradd]

That's what my group originally thought, but on closer reading we noticed that there are only a couple of specific exemptions. Wound modifiers don't affect resistance tests of any kind, and spell sustaining modifiers don't affect drain. However, as far as I know, all other modifiers apply to these tests normally.

[Kot]

Hmmm... The way I understood it Drain/Fading rolls aren't modified by any penalties.

[Bradd]

If so, I haven't been able to find any rule to that effect.

[Chaemera]

If so, I haven't been able to find any rule to that effect.

Hmmm... The way I understood it Drain/Fading rolls aren't modified by any penalties.

Check out the thread here for what several of us were able to find rules-wise.