Turns and defending

[jtsmith1287]

So, the Basic Sets seems to use the word "turn" rather loosely. I've noticed that a turn can be the one second where a PC acts, and a turn is also the entire round of combat, since the entire round is in fact just one second that everyone acted in.

So my question is clarification on defending. You may only block once per turn. So, I'm assuming this means that if two people are attacking the same PC then that PC only can block one of those attacks. They could also parry, but at a penalty for each attack, correct? And dodging, if I'm not mistaken, can be done against any number of attacks and any point during the "round". Am I right? Also, you can only do an acrobatic or retreating dodge once per "round", so does that mean that once a player has done that they also forfeit their other active defenses, since it takes up that entire maneuver? So, if two NPCs attack a PC, and the PC acrobatically dodges the first, he/she cannot attempt to defend against the second attack, or is it that they just can't dodge that second attack... or something else entirely...?

When answering, for my sake, please refer to turn as a characters active turn, and a round in reference to the entire sequence of turns. That way I don't get confused again with answers and am still in the same boat as before, haha. Thanks!

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by jtsmith1287

So, the Basic Sets seems to use the word "turn" rather loosely. I've noticed that a turn can be the one second where a PC acts, and a turn is also the entire round of combat, since the entire round is in fact just one second that everyone acted in.

No, it uses it very consistently. It's just that it's neither of the things you think it is, and that's causing some cognitive dissonance. This is pretty common and I think a little diagram in the BS would have cleared it up, but what do you cut to make room for the diagram? :D

Andy, Bob, and Chuck get in a fight, and their Basic Speeds happen to arrange them in alphabetical order.

Their turns overlap. It takes one second between Andy's chances to act, and between Bob's chances to act, and between Chuck's chances to act. But when Bob acts, it's not the start of second #2, and when Chuck acts it's not the start of second #3. WHen andy gets his second turn, it's the start of second #2 of the fight, not #4.

When they act, it's resolved as if their action takes place "instantly" as a simplification for game purposes, but technically everything they do from when they choose their maneuver to when they choose their maneuver again is "one second" and can be looked at as one complex event; we just look at little slices of it to figure out what happened.

|-1- Andy -----------|-2- Andy -----------|-3- Andy ------
        |-1- Bob ------------|-2- Bob ------------|-3- Bob
                |-1- Chuck ----------|-2- Chuck ----------|

Originally Posted by jtsmith1287

So my question is clarification on defending. You may only block once per turn. So, I'm assuming this means that if two people are attacking the same PC then that PC only can block one of those attacks. They could also parry, but at a penalty for each attack, correct? And dodging, if I'm not mistaken, can be done against any number of attacks and any point during the "round".

All correct.

As a note, "Round" is not a term from GURPS, so I'm thinking part of your confusion is that rules from some other game are getting tangled in with the GURPS rules?

Originally Posted by jtsmith1287

Also, you can only do an acrobatic or retreating dodge once per "round"

No, per turn. Remember, no rounds.

Originally Posted by jtsmith1287

, so does that mean that once a player has done that they also forfeit their other active defenses, since it takes up that entire maneuver?

It's not a manuever. It just means exactly what it says: You can only do ONE acrobatic or retreating dodge per turn. It doesn't restrict anything else.

[the_matrix_walker]

Originally Posted by jtsmith1287

So, the Basic Sets seems to use the word "turn" rather loosely. I've noticed that a turn can be the one second where a PC acts, and a turn is also the entire round of combat, since the entire round is in fact just one second that everyone acted in.

Your turn lasts from when your basic speed comes up in the sequence until then next time it comesup in the sequence.

Originally Posted by jtsmith1287

So my question is clarification on defending. You may only block once per turn. So, I'm assuming this means that if two people are attacking the same PC then that PC only can block one of those attacks. They could also parry, but at a penalty for each attack, correct?

You get one unpenalized block and/or parry for each hand.

Originally Posted by jtsmith1287

And dodging, if I'm not mistaken, can be done against any number of attacks and any point during the "round". Am I right?

Yes, there is no cap on Dodges nor any penalty to additional dodges.

Originally Posted by jtsmith1287

Also, you can only do an acrobatic or retreating dodge once per "round", so does that mean that once a player has done that they also forfeit their other active defenses, since it takes up that entire maneuver?

No, they still get remaining defenses, and the retreat bonus still applies vs attacks from the same attacker (the one you acrobatically retreated from)

Originally Posted by jtsmith1287

So, if two NPCs attack a PC, and the PC acrobatically dodges the first, he/she cannot attempt to defend against the second attack, or is it that they just can't dodge that second attack... or something else entirely...?

Something else entirely. They simply defend (dodge or whatever) against the successive attacks normally.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

You get one unpenalized block and/or parry for each hand.

The point about blocks isn't really made clear in the Basic Set, and there's no option in the Basic Set about making further blocks at a penalty; that's in Martial Arts.

Try not to confuse the situation with extra rule books :)

[the_matrix_walker]

Originally Posted by Bruno

The point about blocks isn't really made clear in the Basic Set, and there's no option in the Basic Set about making further blocks at a penalty; that's in Martial Arts.

Try not to confuse the situation with extra rule books :)

oooh, Bruno's gittin bossy! ;)

(I hope you have had your coffee before reading my tease!)

That's kind of hard for me. Once I integrate the stuff into my mental "GURPS OS" it's not always easy to remember where those updates came from!

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

oooh, Bruno's gittin bossy! ;)

(I hope you have had your coffee before reading my tease!)

Sorry, I hope I didn't come across as snappy :( I'm trying to cut down, but that's absolutely no excuse! [1]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

That's kind of hard for me. Once I integrate the stuff into my mental "GURPS OS" it's not always easy to remember where those updates came from!

I sympathize! The first half was to clarify it for the OP that this was stuff from another book, before they started wondering how they missed that in the Basic Set :) The second half was poorly worded.


[1] I've broken down and decided to wean myself off instead of going cold turkey.

[Dinadon]

Originally Posted by jtsmith1287

So, the Basic Sets seems to use the word "turn" rather loosely. I've noticed that a turn can be the one second where a PC acts, and a turn is also the entire round of combat, since the entire round is in fact just one second that everyone acted in.

So my question is clarification on defending. You may only block once per turn. So, I'm assuming this means that if two people are attacking the same PC then that PC only can block one of those attacks. They could also parry, but at a penalty for each attack, correct? And dodging, if I'm not mistaken, can be done against any number of attacks and any point during the "round". Am I right? Also, you can only do an acrobatic or retreating dodge once per "round", so does that mean that once a player has done that they also forfeit their other active defenses, since it takes up that entire maneuver? So, if two NPCs attack a PC, and the PC acrobatically dodges the first, he/she cannot attempt to defend against the second attack, or is it that they just can't dodge that second attack... or something else entirely...?

When answering, for my sake, please refer to turn as a characters active turn, and a round in reference to the entire sequence of turns. That way I don't get confused again with answers and am still in the same boat as before, haha. Thanks!

There's no such thing as a round in GURPS. A character's defences reset when he starts his next turn.

It would probably help if you could point to the actual bits of text that leading to your confusion.

[jtsmith1287]

I have to say... You guys are amazing. I can post a question and come back an hour later to a dozen thorough responses. Thanks for clearing that up guys! It makes perfect sense now.

[the_matrix_walker]

Originally Posted by jtsmith1287

I have to say... You guys are amazing. I can post a question and come back an hour later to a dozen thorough responses. Thanks for clearing that up guys! It makes perfect sense now.

I know what you mean. I love this board!

[Not]

So when somebody asks, "whose turn is it?" the correct answer is always, "why, it's everyone's turn, of course!" Or do you mean what most people mean when they say "turn" in playing a game, that so-and-so has the opportunity to take some action and the other players don't? GURPS can be faulted for using the word "turn" rather differently than normal people.