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Old 05-20-2018, 07:13 PM   #1
Boge
 
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Default Step and attack followed by retreat defense?

In our group, it's ruled that if you step in on an opponent and attack, then you can't do a retreat defense...ruled that you already used your "step". I was just trying to find any kind of book ruling for this but can't find anything.

Is there a rule for this, or can one freely step in and attack and then retreat defend, rinse repeat...all combat long?
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Old 05-20-2018, 07:14 PM   #2
lachimba
 
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Default Re: Step and attack followed by retreat defense?

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Originally Posted by Boge View Post
In our group, it's ruled that if you step in on an opponent and attack, then you can't do a retreat defense...ruled that you already used your "step". I was just trying to find any kind of book ruling for this but can't find anything.

Is there a rule for this, or can one freely step in and attack and then retreat defend, rinse repeat...all combat long?
You can only retreat once per turn.

But otherwise yes stepping in and then out to retreat is fine.
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Old 05-20-2018, 07:22 PM   #3
Boge
 
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Default Re: Step and attack followed by retreat defense?

Can you retreat defend if you spent all your movement on your turn?
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Old 05-20-2018, 07:59 PM   #4
Refplace
 
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Default Re: Step and attack followed by retreat defense?

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Originally Posted by Boge View Post
Can you retreat defend if you spent all your movement on your turn?
My ruling is no.
p. B377 says To exercise this option, you must
move away from your attacker: at
least one yard, but not more than 1/10
your Move – exactly as for a step (see
Step, p. 368).

I dont see why Retreat should give you extra Move, so if you used it to Attack you cant use it to also Retreat, unless your full Step is high enough.
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Old 05-20-2018, 10:33 PM   #5
Phoenix_Dragon
 
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Default Re: Step and attack followed by retreat defense?

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Originally Posted by Boge View Post
Can you retreat defend if you spent all your movement on your turn?
Unless the maneuver you used disallows retreating ("Move and Attack", for instance), then your movement (Whether proper-moving or stepping) has no impact on your ability to retreat by RAW. It's a common houserule to rule otherwise in some way.

Edit: since someone's follow-up post got lost, it was also pointed out that you can't retreat if you've moved more than your Move (Such as sprinting or enhanced move).
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Old 05-21-2018, 01:32 AM   #6
lachimba
 
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Default Re: Step and attack followed by retreat defense?

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Originally Posted by Boge View Post
Can you retreat defend if you spent all your movement on your turn?
Move and attack says you can't retreat.

If the other options didn't want you to retreat they would include that as well.

I do find it a bit hard to imagine someone "moving" 5 yards forward in a second then jumping a hex backwards!
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Old 05-23-2018, 09:52 AM   #7
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Default Re: Step and attack followed by retreat defense?

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Originally Posted by lachimba View Post
Move and attack says you can't retreat.

If the other options didn't want you to retreat they would include that as well.

I do find it a bit hard to imagine someone "moving" 5 yards forward in a second then jumping a hex backwards!
Instead imagine that they were running forward fast enough to move 5 yards, and at the last moment, slowed down so they only moved 4, hopefully thus avoiding an attack.
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Old 05-23-2018, 11:02 AM   #8
David Johnston2
 
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Default Re: Step and attack followed by retreat defense?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Boge View Post
In our group, it's ruled that if you step in on an opponent and attack, then you can't do a retreat defense...ruled that you already used your "step". I was just trying to find any kind of book ruling for this but can't find anything.

Is there a rule for this, or can one freely step in and attack and then retreat defend, rinse repeat...all combat long?
One can, but only if one's opponent cooperates by performing the same dance which may not be the right call if you aren't standing on a flat featureless plane. Forcing an opponent backward until he stumbles over something or ends up running into an obstacle or a drop may be the better call.
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Old 05-23-2018, 11:10 AM   #9
ericbsmith
 
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Default Re: Step and attack followed by retreat defense?

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Originally Posted by David Johnston2 View Post
One can, but only if one's opponent cooperates by performing the same dance which may not be the right call if you aren't standing on a flat featureless plane. Forcing an opponent backward until he stumbles over something or ends up running into an obstacle or a drop may be the better call.
Another trick to use with an opponent who constantly does the Step in and Attack followed by Retreat is to take a Step back yourself and Wait. This will force him to either use a Move to close range, or to take two turns to Step twice. Either way he's moving in and you're Waiting, so you get to preempt his attack with your Wait and if you injure him he's at a penalty. This works even better if you have a longer reach weapon. *AND* if he retreats from your Wait attack he may put himself out of range to actually finish his own attack.
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