Wait Maneuver and Multiple Scenarios

[supersaiyandoyle]

Does the wait maneuver work if multiple scenarios are declared by the person declaring the wait?

For example. if a player playing a swordsman was at a corner, and declared

Wait:
If someone heavily armored corners: I run
If someone lightly armored: I strike
If someone non-threatening: I act casual and pretend to belong here.

I would allow it, but the Basic Set says:

"Do nothing unless an event you specified in advance occurs before your next turn".

Key words being an event. It could be interpreted as only one declared action, or as any of a long list of actions.

I decided to check just to be sure; even if it's not RAW, I'd probably still allow it.

[Xplo]

"An event" doesn't necessarily imply you can specify multiple events and reactions, and at the absurd end, you could specify so many events and responses that Wait effectively becomes an excuse to react to someone's actions before they have a chance to complete those actions - in other words, to see slightly into the future. So no. You get one trigger and response. If you want to do something different, do it on your turn.

Also, it doesn't make sense to me that a Wait allows time for any kind of decision-making beyond identifying that the triggering event has occurred. It's basically an instant reaction, not a choice.

[corwyn]

Just like to point out that you can only convert a Wait to an Attack (including All-Out and presumably Commited/Defensive), Feint, or Ready.

[supersaiyandoyle]

Originally Posted by corwyn

Just like to point out that you can only convert a Wait to an Attack (including All-Out and presumably Commited/Defensive), Feint, or Ready.

But you can take a step during or after your wait if you didn't on the turn you made your wait, according to basic set. The step would be that movement away from the corner in that scenario.

[Phoenix_Dragon]

Originally Posted by supersaiyandoyle

I would allow it

I would not. Wait is intended to be a case of you waiting to do a specific action. Some examples of Wait (Opportunity Fire) even preclude making any judgment calls (At least, without penalty). The way you're suggesting, a player could basically "program" their entire behavior just by adding more and more conditions and reactions, which makes Wait far too flexible for something that's supposed to be a split-second reaction capable of interrupting other people's actions.

[Kuroshima]

I would only allow multiple scenarios for a waiting character if it had Compartmentalized Mind, and I would still restrict it to 1 additional scenario per level of CM. Doing so would preclude using the extra mental maneuvers that CM gives though. Enhanced Time Sense might also give you an extra scenario or two.

[Mathulhu]

There seems no way to surprise someone who is waiting at a corner like this, that seems wrong to me.
You should commit to the action before the person actually comes round the corner (swinging the sword when you hear the person moving up) or take a penalty to resultant action to allow yourself time to analyse the situation.

[Phoenix_Dragon]

I'd be tempted to extrapolate from the precedent created with Opportunity Fire: you can add a further evaluation beyond the basic trigger condition (One of my opponents attack, someone comes around this corner, etc), at a -2 penalty to the triggered action per additional evaluation (Such as the first enemy to come around this corner, much like Opportunity Fire does).

[Mr_Sandman]

According to Kromm here, the trigger for a wait and the reaction can be broad and complex, but not vague. One particular maneuver (Attack, AoA, Feint or Ready) must be declared that the Wait will convert to. Although the target can be conditional.

That, and the rules in Basic p. 366, indicate to me that you could not include the "run if someone heavily armored corners" option.

[JCurwen3]

Originally Posted by Kuroshima

I would only allow multiple scenarios for a waiting character if it had Compartmentalized Mind, and I would still restrict it to 1 additional scenario per level of CM. Doing so would preclude using the extra mental maneuvers that CM gives though. Enhanced Time Sense might also give you an extra scenario or two.

I agree on the 1 additional scenario per CM level, with the stipulation you specified. Also ATR.

With ETS, I might allow a larger number of declared additional Wait scenarios, just not sure how many.