Whats the deal with Nappa's specials? I've hit my opponent dead on and had no affect whatsoever- the only common thread that I can see is that they were in an animation, be it charging forward, in the process of firing a ki blast, or jabbing.

Please tell me that isn't the cause of Nappa's butterfingers. Come on- if he just fired a ki blast that didn't knock me out of the attack, why should be be untouchable? Ditto for a punch that got autoguarded by the move.

Likewise, I read somewhere on these forums that Nappa's forward + E special can be used right after a heavy smash and the enemy can't MC you out of it- but thats happened to me several times. Not ALL the time, but several times, even when I'm sure I'm doing the move as quickly as possible after the HS.

I've played against Nappa players that did pretty well, so I know there must be a trick to it- but what on earth is it?

(I won't even touch Break Cannon :P.)

physical deathmoves can't be MCed. Unless they are activated slowly.
Also if the character has a slow HS, (like kid gohan, 18 and lots of others). The time gap will be big enough for them to MC anyway