Home Rule: Aiming under fire

[KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads]

As we all know, in GURPS you lose aiming bonuses if you take any active defense. This is realistic, but...
... since you choose to defend or not after the attack roll, shooting a sniper would not necessary spoil his aim, because a miss would mean no defence roll is required.
Here a HR I came out with after some thoughts:

When targeted with a ranged attack, you have to declare your defense before the result of the attack roll is made public. If you are aiming, you can choose not to defend... but you have to do this before you know if your enemy will hit or miss. Even if the attack doesn't lan, you lose any bonus from aim, since you initiated evasive movements.
Whenever you are under fire, you could be forced to make a Will roll (GM's decision): if you fail, you must choose to defend! Fearlessness adds to your Will as against a Fright Check, and you can always substitute your level in the Soldier skill to your Will (or add your relative skill level to the secondary characteristic, whichever gets you the highest value), since a part of your training includes "coolness under fire".

What do you think about that?

[Captain Joy]

Originally Posted by KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads

When targeted with a ranged attack, you have to declare your defense before the result of the attack roll is made public.

A question, what if you choose to dodge and are then attacked several times by ranged attacks that allow a block defense? Do you have to declare if you'll be blocking or dodging, thereby possibly using up a block defense that turn, even if the attack was a miss?

[Juballa]

TBone, in Gulliver, advocated always declaring defenses before attacks were rolled.

[vicky_molokh]

I think we have a thing to hope for:

Does the upcoming HT or MA have this (or something similar) as an Optional Rule?

[KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads]

Originally Posted by Captain Joy

A question, what if you choose to dodge and are then attacked several times by ranged attacks that allow a block defense? Do you have to declare if you'll be blocking or dodging, thereby possibly using up a block defense that turn, even if the attack was a miss?

I must admit I wrote the rule with firearms in mind. I won't make someone loose a later opportunity to block, however, since if you are the target of a projectile slow enough to be blocked you can see if it will hit or miss well before committing your shield.

[Luther]

Originally Posted by KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads

Here a HR I came out with after some thoughts:

When targeted with a ranged attack, you have to declare your defense before the result of the attack roll is made public.

Tbone advocated this since a long time.

I made a long post in Dodge is Broken.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Luther

Tbone advocated this since a long time.

I made a long post in Dodge is Broken.

But seems like everybody who's connected to official SJG info stays silent on the matter. I wonder why. The do admit mistakes when they're pointed out. However, it seems like there is a reason (other than the official 'It is in the holy RAW') for it to be the way it is. I'm as willing to find out as anybody.

[KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads]

Originally Posted by Luther

Tbone advocated this since a long time.

I made a long post in Dodge is Broken.

I didn't know that. However, I'm totally against "declared defenses": the character could perhaps initiate a reaction against an attack, but that's covered by his skills. And most people are able to recognize a bad attack well before committing themselves to defense. The only problem with realism was about spoiled aim, IMHO.
Also, unlike Tbone states, most people would not swing their shields or weapons when targeted with an attack. In fact, just bracing a large shield firmly in front of the body would be enough to deflect most attacks.
Finally:

Originally Posted by Tbone

What warrior has the luxury of knowing beforehand whether an arrow will hit squarely or miss by an inch?

Given the speed at which an arrow travels and the time required to judge his path: many.

How could you possibly judge whether an incoming bullet is on-target or not?

By looking at the shooter and drawing an immaginary line of fire.

[Luther]

Originally Posted by KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads

By looking at the shooter and drawing an immaginary line of fire.

If so it should be possible to use "deceptive Attack" with guns, on the ground that you can fool the target with a fake line of fire. I don't need to say that it isn't allowed in GURPS.

[Luther]

Originally Posted by KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads

However, I'm totally against "declared defenses"

I'm confused, in your first post you wrote:

When targeted with a ranged attack, you have to declare your defense before the result of the attack roll is made public.

That seems pretty close to what I posted more than two years ago:

Originally Posted by Luther

Solution? Declare Dodge against firearm as soon as you are aware of them.

If you read the whole post, it's pretty clear I advocated declaring the defense after being aware of the attack, but before knowing its outcome.

May you explain better?