[MA] All-Out Attack (Double) + Telegraphic Attack

[johndallman]

Attacking with surprise from behind, combining these can be viable, if risky. Clearly you get the +4 for Telegraphic on the first attack, but do you get it on the second?

[mlangsdorf]

Telegraphic attack bonuses and penalties apply on a per strike basis. So if you make both attacks telegraphic, then yes, you get the +4 for each attack.

[johndallman]

Ah, that's what I'd missed.

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Yeah, there's pretty much no reason not to go Telegraphic with every attack you make from behind, unless your target has Peripheral Vision or something like that. If you have other potential attackers about and want to keep your active defenses, consider also that Telegraphic Attacks can eliminate a Dual Weapon Attack penalty entirely, or reduce the penalty for a Rapid Strike to a mere -2.

[Kromm]

Telegraphic Attack amounts to "an unwise move that you would never try on anybody who was expecting it"; e.g., placing your dagger's tip gently against your victim before hammering that sucker home with the heel of your other hand, or chambering a high kick slowly and deliberately before lashing out with it. Where All-Out Attack (Determined) is "trying as hard as I can without caring if I defend," Telegraphic Attack is "trying as hard as I can without caring if he defends." It's completely legitimate not to care about anybody's defense, and thus to claim both bonuses – but for the two to stack, one must be a maneuver while the other is a combat option. All-Out Attack being an existing manuever, Telegraphic Attack became the combat option. And being a combat option, you can use it as an adjunct to any number of attack rolls made during any maneuver that allows attacks, like Deceptive Attack (which is its opposite).

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by Kromm

And being a combat option, you can use it as an adjunct to any number of attack rolls made during any maneuver that allows attacks, like Deceptive Attack (which is its opposite).

I was confused foe a moment before I realized you meant "similarly to Deceptive Attack" rather than "such as Deceptive Attack." Deceptive Attack and Telegraphic Attack remain mutually incompatible on a single attack, but you could make an All-Out (Double) for a Telegraphic Attack followed by a Deceptive Attack (perhap a technique that can only be pulled off after a foe parries?)

[Kromm]

Sorry, yes – I should have said "just like" or something along those lines.