Dodge question

[Nymdok]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

B391. What's your reference?

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

That's not what my rules say. They say that you can, if you are aware of it.

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

RAW, you can't dodge an attack from behind, unless it's a runaround attack.

RAW, you can defend against an attacker you can't see. I think that might be a -4 penalty.

I don't know how these go together.

Gentlemen. Due to the brief (1 second) combat rounds defending an attack you cant see is actually possible. But seeing and Awareness are not the same thing.

If Im in combat with a guy who steps behind me, he does so to do harm to me and the harm is coming immediately. I move.

If a friend Steps behind me, then shivs me in my spine, I wasnt aware of that attack. I didnt expect it. Both figuratively and literally, I didnt see it comming.

Someone shooting me Lee Harvey Oswald style, I am not aware of. So I dont get a dodge.

See?

-4 is actually pretty consistent. In total darkness the penalty to attack is at -9 (I think?) so it seems reasonable that the penalty to defend would be 1/2 that.

Nymdok