Dodge question

[The Wrathchild]

Originally Posted by sabanknight

We are in a game at the moment and was wondering, if attacked from the rear and sides if you are aware of an attack do you have a - to active defences

As others have already pointed out, attacks from side hexes give the defender a -2 penalty to succeed. Attacks from the rear hex leave no option for defence.

But!

Beware the "Runaround attack"-rule! For an attack to truly be from the rear and not fall under this rule, the attacker has to start the turn INSIDE the two lines of hexes traced through the defenders SIDE hexes. See the scematic for vision on B74 - you have to come from a black hex to get a true "no defence possible" attack - and that is actually pretty hard to do in tactical combat where opponents are aware of you, because they often go and change facing on you on THEIR turn, putting you into Runaround Attack-territory.

If you look at the box for the runaround rule, you'll see the phrase "start from the front". I took that to mean the front 180 degrees for a long time, but have since been corrected by Kromm.

And the above is for people with normal vision. For Peripheral Vision and 360 degree vision there is no true rear hex, as mentioned.

I also think that the above takes care of that "what if I look the other way than where my body is facing, by giving you 270 degree awareness.

[vitruvian]

Originally Posted by The Wrathchild

As others have already pointed out, attacks from side hexes give the defender a -2 penalty to succeed. Attacks from the rear hex leave no option for defence.

But!

Beware the "Runaround attack"-rule! For an attack to truly be from the rear and not fall under this rule, the attacker has to start the turn INSIDE the two lines of hexes traced through the defenders SIDE hexes. See the scematic for vision on B74 - you have to come from a black hex to get a true "no defence possible" attack - and that is actually pretty hard to do in tactical combat where opponents are aware of you, because they often go and change facing on you on THEIR turn, putting you into Runaround Attack-territory.

If you look at the box for the runaround rule, you'll see the phrase "start from the front". I took that to mean the front 180 degrees for a long time, but have since been corrected by Kromm.

And the above is for people with normal vision. For Peripheral Vision and 360 degree vision there is no true rear hex, as mentioned.

I also think that the above takes care of that "what if I look the other way than where my body is facing, by giving you 270 degree awareness.

Of course, this leaves out what happens if you have a sense other than vision that gives you 360 degree coverage. Can Daredevil dodge attacks from behind like he does in the comics, or not at all?

[Kuroshima]

Originally Posted by vitruvian

Of course, this leaves out what happens if you have a sense other than vision that gives you 360 degree coverage. Can Daredevil dodge attacks from behind like he does in the comics, or not at all?

Daredevil probably has Pararadar with 360º arc, and hearing based. Any targeting sense can be used to allow active defenses, IIRC.

[vitruvian]

Originally Posted by Kuroshima

Daredevil probably has Pararadar with 360º arc, and hearing based. Any targeting sense can be used to allow active defenses, IIRC.

Is that stated explicitly, or does the RAW text only reference advantages that expand the scope of actual vision?

Anyway, either way, on that principle I'd allow a successful Blind Fighting roll to allow for this as well, on the basis that if you're able to use your other senses to target attacks in total darkness, against the invisible, or if totally blind, then you can target those behind you (and their attacks) as well.

[Darekun]

Originally Posted by Nymdok

The Blindness disadvantage agrees with you.

Blindness is a special case - its modifier assumes you're used to it. Visibility, B394: "Attacker cannot see anything. If the attacker is blind or in total darkness, … He attacks at -10 (-6 if he is accustomed to being blind)." I guess the defense modifier is lighter than ½ on the grounds that you don't have to reach a "dodge location" or such, anywhere out of the region being attacked is good.

Originally Posted by vitruvian

Is that stated explicitly, or does the RAW text only reference advantages that expand the scope of actual vision?

Personally, I'd say Daredevil has Dark Vision with Hypersensory(p46, Powers), and similarly-modified vision advantages… but other examples come to mind, like a dolphin and a shark fighting in water opaque with silt. In the case of Scanning Sense, it states "you may ignore darkness penalties in combat", which if you require the rules to make sense implies enough. That seems to be as close as RAW gets, though.

Given that 360° Vision completely eliminates facing penalties to defend, it does seem to be purely a matter of perception…

[Wicked Lurker]

There is a RAW quote that says you can defend against Choke Holds from behind if you are aware you are being attacked.

p. 404 A victim who is aware of you may attempt any legal defense, but suffers the usual penalties for an attack from behind.

Since this is very likely not refering to a runaround attack this again implies you may be allowed to defend if you know you are being attacked from behind.

[The Wrathchild]

Say, that is an interesting quote. Mayhap the line editors would take an interest in that one.

[cccwebs]

Originally Posted by Wicked Lurker

There is a RAW quote that says you can defend against Choke Holds from behind if you are aware you are being attacked.



Since this is very likely not refering to a runaround attack this again implies you may be allowed to defend if you know you are being attacked from behind.

The keywords are "legal defense". If you can't defend because you lack the appropriate advantages, then you don't get to defend.