This situation came up today:

Player 1 wants to do KI on a covered, living character. There are droid enemies closer. Can the player still use KI on the living character, since droids cannot be targeted by KI?

Or can the player not use KI due to it following targeting rules, since there are droids in the way, no KI this turn?

I posted this on wotc, but since it's down, i haven't been able to find out if anyone posted an answer.
Thanks.

Well, normal targetting rules still apply to KI but the way I see it, Non-Living characters do not count as normal targets (since KI only works on Living characters). Its probably like with Super Stealth squads where if you have 2 characters within 6 squares but 1 is SS in cover and the other is behind the SS character (without Stealth, obviously) so that character is now considered the only legal target. So I'd say in your scenario, the Living character (that isn't the closest enemy) would be considered the only legal target...

Your forgetting that fact that targting rules do NOT take into account living/non living, Just closest, cover etc.

The fact of life is KI still uses the basic targeting rules (as stated in it's text). So the closest target with cover is still the only Legal target. Only LOS is ignored, but you still must count range.

In the situation given, the Droid would be the only legal target (even if the ability would have no effect) as it is the closest enemy. So technically in that exact state, you could NOT use KI as there is no living legal target in range, as KI requires a living target.

It's done that way so the other player has a chance to mess up you using it. By leading with a droid or something nonliving, it forces you to have to move your AZN into the right place to make your target the nearest target.

The ability being modified by not having to have LOS does not change normal targeting rules. This may be a little clearer when interpreting the below from the Official FAQ under Kouhun Infestation.

I know targetting rules still applied, I just figured since in specifically says that only Living characters then non-living characters would "disappear" as targets. Guess not...

I will say the precedent would be this situation:



So, therefore, the droid is the legal target, and is not able to be affected by Kouhun, so it can't be used.

This is how I ruled it, to where KI could not be used due to following targeting rules, but there were a few who thought the living character could be targeted.