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Old 11-17-2018, 12:47 AM   #1
Bullettop
 
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Default All Out Defense

Hi, had a quick question about all out defense. If you take all out defense on your turn, and choose double defense, does that mean you can try 2 separate defenses against any number of incoming attacks or try 2 separate defenses against one incoming attack? For purposes of this scenario, imagine a lone defender against many attackers.
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Old 11-17-2018, 01:45 AM   #2
evileeyore
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Default Re: All Out Defense

You get two defenses per attack. Keep in mind the iterative Parry penalty of -4 per Parry after the first.

So if your defender Parries and Dodges 3 attacks, It's Parry, Parry -4, and Parry -8. Dodges don't suffer iterative penalties and (per Basic) you can only Block once per turn*.

So this is really only a benefit to martial artists and fencers who get iterative Parries at -2. Or a heavy armor Sword and Board fighter who want to Parry-Parry-Parry-Dodge† and have his single Block handy to pick up the first miss (after which it's all Parry/Dodge).

Otherwise it's usually better to just add +2 to Dodge.




* However Martial Arts offers up doing multiple Blocks at -5 per Block after the first (Martial Arts pg 123).

† Because at -4 per Parry, even a heavy armor fighter will eventually have a better Dodge than his Parry. ;)

Last edited by evileeyore; 11-18-2018 at 12:31 AM.
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Old 11-17-2018, 03:42 PM   #3
Maz
 
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Default Re: All Out Defense

Quote:
Originally Posted by evileeyore View Post
Dodges don't suffer iterative penalties
FWIW our gaming group (and I know many other on this board) gives a -1 penalty to repeated dodge attempts in the same turn as well. To avoid those situations where your high dodge PC can dodge multiple attacks at no penalty.
This situations becomes even more ridiculus when people take the AOD:dodge for +2.
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Old 11-17-2018, 08:14 PM   #4
Bullettop
 
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Default Re: All Out Defense

Thank you, that is crystal clear. Appreciate the help.
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Old 11-18-2018, 08:25 AM   #5
AlexanderHowl
 
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Default Re: All Out Defense

Well, high defenses are why we have Deceptive Attacks, Feints, and Spin Attacks. Even if a character uses AOD to receive a Dodge 16+, they are still going to go down hard against a master martial artist.

For example, a character with DX 14, Technique Mastery (Spin Kick), Karate-24, and Spin Kick-28 makes a Spin Kick attack against a character with Dodge 16. Even if the dodging character possesses a skill 20, they will suffer an average of -8 to their Dodge against the Spin Kick, meaning that they have an effective Dodge of 8. Unless they are very lucky, they are going to suffer hits three turns out of four. Even a fellow master will suffer an average -4 to defense, reducing their Dodge to 12, meaning that they suffer a hit one time out of four.
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Old 11-18-2018, 12:52 PM   #6
evileeyore
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Default Re: All Out Defense

Quote:
Originally Posted by Maz View Post
FWIW our gaming group (and I know many other on this board) gives a -1 penalty to repeated dodge attempts in the same turn as well. To avoid those situations where your high dodge PC can dodge multiple attacks at no penalty.
If you're running a game (Supers or highly cinematic Martial Arts for instance) where all* the PCs routinely see Dodge 12+ without needing to retreat or AOD (+2 Dodge), then yeah, I can see going that route.

You'd almost have to.


* All but the Tanks naturally.



Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl View Post
Well, high defenses are why we have Deceptive Attacks, Feints, and Spin Attacks. Even if a character uses AOD to receive a Dodge 16+, they are still going to go down hard against a master martial artist.
You say 'master', but your post reads as 'super-human'.
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