Dodging very large weapons

[ericthered]

How does one simulate a large weapon that is very difficult to dodge:

for example, consider superman swinging a telephone pole at chest height. Its possible to dodge, but unless you are at the far end of the pole, its going to be very difficult. Super agile characters can dodge this of course, but its going to be difficult, impressive, and likely require an acrobatic dodge.

This is a fine house rule if you have superman swinging a telephone pole. What if its part of an innate attack? How do you price it? "requires acrobatic dodge to dodge +50%"?

Or is it best to just add a bonus to skill with the limitation (may only be used in deceptive attack)?

[Stripe]

Away from books, but take a look at wide-area attack in the Basic Set.

[supersaiyandoyle]

A swing of a telephone pole might have a far range, but you can just duck to dodge it. A dodge and drop would be the best to fit that situation. There really doesn't need to be a penalty to dodging it.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Stripe

Away from books, but take a look at wide-area attack in the Basic Set.

"Large Area Injury", which is in or around page 400. I don't have the book handy either, but for some reason I know that off the top of my head.

I'm such a nerd.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Bruno

"Large Area Injury", which is in or around page 400. I don't have the book handy either, but for some reason I know that off the top of my head.

I'm such a nerd.

I'd note that that contains no rules at all about active defense.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

I'd note that that contains no rules at all about active defense.

True!

It sort of inspires the thought that calling a Large Area Injury melee attack an effective Area Attack might get the idea the OP wants (a sweep with a telephone pole does seem to be more of a "cone" than a thump, that's sure)

That opens up the option to target the hex (for +4 to hit) instead of the victim, and the victim will not be able to make a regular dodge defense at all, only a Dodge and Drop/Retreat to try and leave the area entirely.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by Bruno

True!

It sort of inspires the thought that calling a Large Area Injury melee attack an effective Area Attack might get the idea the OP wants (a sweep with a telephone pole does seem to be more of a "cone" than a thump, that's sure)

That opens up the option to target the hex (for +4 to hit) instead of the victim, and the victim will not be able to make a regular dodge defense at all, only a Dodge and Drop/Retreat to try and leave the area entirely.

Thats... an interesting idea, basing it on a cone rather than an area attack (though both are relevant).

I suppose as far as effects go I want an area attack that can be blocked or parried and that can parry (It also has destructive parry on it). The area attack Idea is pretty good though.

[Zemyla]

Or just use the modifier for Deceptive Dodge from B369: -2X to attack/-X to dodge. So it's big and unwieldy, but is harder to get out of the way.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Bruno

True!

It sort of inspires the thought that calling a Large Area Injury melee attack an effective Area Attack might get the idea the OP wants (a sweep with a telephone pole does seem to be more of a "cone" than a thump, that's sure)

That opens up the option to target the hex (for +4 to hit) instead of the victim, and the victim will not be able to make a regular dodge defense at all, only a Dodge and Drop/Retreat to try and leave the area entirely.

The very idea behind fly swatters.

[Gollum]

And why not just using the table of difficulty modifiers?

After all, these modifiers are generic and made for every kind of rolls. So, they should apply to dodge as well.

They may have to be divided by two, though, because numbers are often divided by two when dealing with defenses: all-out attack, +4 and all-out defense, +2, for instance.

Thus, dodging a telephone could be considered as a difficult action and have a -2 modifier (instead of -4). Or, if the GM really insist on the fact that it is outstandingly difficult, -4 (instead of -8).