Do I really need Affect Others to create a volume (Area Effect) of Force Field DR?
Powers is entirely clear on the fact that one level of Affects Others + any amount of Area Effect + Force Field creates an area defense that surrounds the edge of the affected area. It explicitly limits this option to the advantages listed under Force Field. This is cheaper than the usual level of Affects Others per person because: (1) you can’t choose who you affect, because you’re protecting an area, not individuals, and (2) nobody inside actually gains the defensive advantage, so threats that go off inside the area still get you. Radiation Tolerance with Affects Others N lets you grant N people plus yourself Radiation Tolerance. Radiation Tolerance with Affects Others, Area Effect, and Force Field lets you surround everybody in your area with a radiation-blocking screen — including an enemy who grapples you and shoves plutonium in your face, which will still hurt you because your protection is at the edges of the field, not on your person.
