Noob Question {Combat/Dodge}

[Stripe]

Originally Posted by odizzle

From what I understand, you only get one active defence per turn.

Is this correct?

Basic Set: Characters, page 375 states: "You only get one active defense against each attack, unless you use All-Out Defense (Double Defense), but there is no limit to the number of times you may dodge different attacks during your turn."

Also: "You may attempt to block only one attack per turn."

On the next page it states: "Number of Parries: Once you have attempted a parry with a particular weapon or bare hand, further attempts to parry with that weapon or hand are at a cumulative -4 per parry after the first." There are other rules to note in that section, too.

Originally Posted by odizzle

4. What are Good Mage's options? Can he cast another , "catch spell" or "blink" or "teleport"

Magic, page 8 states: "Blocking spells may be cast without concentrating, during a foe’s turn, to defend against an attack."

Also: "Never reduce the cost of a Blocking spell..." for high skill.

Blocking spells are covered on pp. M12-13. Those pages state that blocking spells "are cast instantly as a defense against either a physical attack or another spell. It is the magical equivalent of a block, parry, or dodge. You may cast only one Blocking spell per turn, no matter how skilled you are. You cannot attempt a Blocking spell against a critical hit."

There are other rules in that section of note.

[Stripe]

^I think you double posted with me. I posted the rules on the matter.

This is also why I always give page references in all my replies about RAW.

EDIT: And, then you deleted said post. XD

[Jovus]

However, I might argue that Blink would work against all the Fireballs, since this action is happening nearly simultaneously (within a single second), unless he happened to Blink somewhere still in the line of fire.

Not that this is in the rules, to my knowledge. It just seems like a need extrapolation, and that's one of the things I enjoy about GURPS - the way the system can be stretched and prodded, but still maintain its consistency to a high degree.

[odizzle]

Originally Posted by Stripe

Magic, page 8 states: "Blocking spells may be cast without concentrating, during a foe’s turn, to defend against an attack."

Also: "Never reduce the cost of a Blocking spell..." for high skill.

Blocking spells are covered on pp. M12-13. Those pages state that blocking spells "are cast instantly as a defense against either a physical attack or another spell. It is the magical equivalent of a block, parry, or dodge. You may cast only one Blocking spell per turn, no matter how skilled you are. You cannot attempt a Blocking spell against a critical hit."

There are other rules in that section of note.

Okay, I totally get basic combat hand to hand combat. Now, it makes sense. Thank you very much.

Magic is a different story.

I get how you can only do one blocking spell per turn (blink/catch spell)

But, what about teleport? Would that be possible?

1. Evil Mage - Cast Fireball
2. Good Mage - Catch spell
3. Evil Mage 2 - Cast Fireball

4. Good mage - cast teleport to get out of the way?

[odizzle]

Originally Posted by Stripe

^I think you double posted with me. I posted the rules on the matter.

This is also why I always give page references in all my replies about RAW.

EDIT: And, then you deleted said post. XD

Yeah :D

I think we posted it roughly about the same time. I posted my reply THEN saw your answer. My bad on that. Thank you very much for the info.

[Turhan's Bey Company]

Originally Posted by odizzle

4. Good mage - cast teleport to get out of the way?

No. Teleport isn't a blocking spell. It can't be used as a defense.

[odizzle]

Originally Posted by Turhan's Bey Company

No. Teleport isn't a blocking spell. It can't be used as a defense.

Reaally!? That's crazy! I always thought since it was instantaneous, it could be used as a defense. Do you have a page where I can read that?

[Jovus]

Originally Posted by odizzle

Reaally!? That's crazy! I always thought since it was instantaneous, it could be used as a defense. Do you have a page where I can read that?

The effect is instantaneous, but anything that is not either a) a blocking spell or b) listed with its own specific time to cast takes 1 second to cast, and therefore can't be used as an active defense.

Unfortunately I don't have my book with me, but that hasn't changed since 2nd Edition.

Otherwise there'd be no point to the Blink spell.

[Turhan's Bey Company]

Originally Posted by odizzle

Reaally!? That's crazy! I always thought since it was instantaneous, it could be used as a defense. Do you have a page where I can read that?

"Instantaneous," in that context, is about the spell's duration, not how long it takes to cast. See "Duration Types" in GURPS Magic, p. 10.

[odizzle]

Originally Posted by Jovus

Otherwise there'd be no point to the Blink spell.

Exactly! That's what I always thought; however, one of players in the group was arguing that it could be used as so because his skill level was so high, it was now considered an instant.

His skill level was 23