Block- Let me try that again.

[tabascojunkie]

I didn't think I asked that right.

Basically, when does a block occur, and how does it affect subsequent phases?

I have a character being attacked- Can he block that attack if it is not occurring on his phase, or does he have to abort to it if it is not?

What's confusing me is that someone can block and set their self up to strike first their next phase. But if it is an action that has to be aborted to if it's not their phase, then they can't strike first on the next one because they just used their next action by aborting to defend their self.

Does it make sense what I'm asking? The idea of a defensive action that requires an attack roll is throwing me for a loop.

Thanks Steve.

[Steve Long]

I think you've basically got it.

If a character has a Phase available (typically because he's Holding his Action), he can Block. (Per the rules I cited, he can then keep Blocking attacks, even in subsequent Segments when he doesn't have a Phase, at a cumulative -2 each until he fails.) In that case, if he and the Blocked character have their next Phases in the same Segment, the Blocker automatically gets to act before the Blocked character. However, if the Blocker had to Abort to use Block, then he's already used his next Phase and that's not going to apply; but he can still keep Blocking subsequent attacks as mentioned above.