Can you dodge your own attack in GURPS?

[lachimba]

Never had it come up, and I'm not sure if it's addressed anywhere.

[Dustin]

I don't see why not. It's an attack like any other -- if it somehow got reflected back at you why shouldn't you get a defense?

Is there some particular scenario you have in mind?

[weby]

Yes, except if it surprises you(or you do an all-out attack).

[Terwin]

With something such as the Spell reverse missiles, I would expect the attacker to be surprised the first time this happens(unless fore-warned), but to be able to dodge normally after that.

If an attacker had encountered a similar effect many times in the past then I would expect them to no longer be surprised unless they had reason to expect the target not to have the effect in place.

[trooper6]

I'd say you couldn't dodge your own attack if the hit on yourself is the result of a Crit Fail.

[Carnwennan]

Are you asking about magical reflection and the like, or wondering if you can dodge yourself punching yourself in the face? The latter is one way to get around the problem of not actively being able to use the 'retreat' step I suppose, but it's been a while and I'm not sure where you would check (IDHMBWM).

[malloyd]

If you launched an area attack and happen to be in the area but close enough to the edge you'd be allowed to if somebody else had - absolutely.

If you show up as a time traveler and attack yourself - yes, subject to whatever the rules are for grandfather paradoxes and/or acausal loops in your setting depending on which "you" you are playing.

If you deliberately tried to hit yourself - doesn't matter, if that's really your intent you pass on an active defense even if you were allowed one.

If your attack is reflected - usually, it likely says in the rules for the reflection effect, which is the actual attacker here.

If you fired a shot and then teleported into the path of your own missile for some reason - say your foe has a blocking spell that switches his place with yours - yes, subject to the missile being slow enough you can see it, and making the Body Sense roll not to be disoriented.

If you critically missed and hit yourself - no.

[ArchonShiva]

I suggest as a baseline for this question: "suppose your right arm develops a will of its own and tries to punch you in the face, are you allowed to Dodge?". Is this the sort of thing you had in mind?

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by ArchonShiva

I suggest as a baseline for this question: "suppose your right arm develops a will of its own and tries to punch you in the face, are you allowed to Dodge?". Is this the sort of thing you had in mind?

I'd say yes for that one too, even though it seems odd. You could for example you spin yourself aside so hard the centrifugal effect throws your arms out, causing a miss.

[lachimba]

I assumed that for critical failures no.

I was more asking (mainly for powers and aoe type effects) for when attacking yourself (or your own hex or adjacent hex) might be the best option (especially if you have a defense that you want to use like a power based dodge or even an ability that activates on an active defense).

E.g. I shoot the ground in my hex then use high move and dodge scores to dodge out of explosion (and away from the nearby enemies who were behind me so I couldn't attack them or dodge their attacks)