[evileeyore]

Let me break this into the questions I've got:

1 - Is Roll With Blow a 'defense'? Is it denied if you are denied defenses?
2 - Do you have to know the attack was incoming, or can you roll with surprise hits?


I've always treated it as an Active Defense*, but it has recently been pointed out to me that there is no such stipulation in the 4e RAW write up.


* Because in 3e it was only available if you missed a defense roll.