Hand-to-Hand, No Range, and Ranged Attacks

[Silbeg]

Ok, the rules lawyers in my gaming group have hit upon an area of confusion with the definition of a Hand-to-Hand attack.

First of all, the question was simply could a Drain be blocked? In this case, it happened to be the Speedster power "I think I am going to be sick...", but we were more concerned with the "general" case.

From the combat rules, we can see that there are two types of combat... HtH and Ranged. These are completely defined by the range at which combat takes place... HtH at 0-1 hexes, ranged anything outside of that.

With this, we wondered, "Could HtH Combat skill levels be used with an Energy Blast at 1 hex range?", which would tell us that Ranged Combat skill levels could not be (seemed counter-intuitive in some ways, but made sense in others).

However, this still did not tell us if you could block an attack with no range, such as a drain.

Under the description of the Block manuever, it states that you can block a Hand-to-hand attack. However, in the 5E rules there is only one place that we could find where what a Hand-to-Hand attack was defined (the HA power). Our assumption was that this was supposed to be an attack such as a Strike, or Move-Through, or a HtH martial arts manuever.

It seemed to us that an attack with no range kind of fell through the cracks here...

We would appreciate your input here, Steve!

Thanks!

[Steve Long]

OK, let's approach the situation logically. For my own ease of reference I'm going to cite text from 5ER, so don't worry if you don't see the 100% exact same text in your own book... it'll be available soon enough, and is probably available already in cruder form in the Rules FAQ.

Block says:

A character can normally Block any HTH Combat attack, including Disarms, Choke Holds, Grabs/Grab Bys, Move Bys/Throughs, sword blows (see below), most No Range attacks (unless the GM rules otherwise), and so forth (but not including HTH Combat attack bought with the Area Of Effect or Explosion Advantages, or the like). However, the GM must apply common sense, dramatic sense, and considerations of game balance when determining what attacks a character can Block. Although a character could Block a Move Through performed against him by another character, he probably can’t Block a Move Through performed by a Vehicle.

"HTH Combat" is defined thusly:

Combat between characters standing in the same or adjacent hexes, and usually involving punching or melee weapons such as swords, not attacks that work at Range (such as guns or Energy Blasts).

So, it's a matter for the GM to decide. Does this No Range attack seem like something he should allow characters to Block? Is it analogous to a punch or a melee weapon blow? Will it unbalance the game, or unfairly penalize some characters, to allow/not allow others to Block the attack? Those are the sorts of things to consider.

From the combat rules, we can see that there are two types of combat... HtH and Ranged. These are completely defined by the range at which combat takes place... HtH at 0-1 hexes, ranged anything outside of that.

With this, we wondered, "Could HtH Combat skill levels be used with an Energy Blast at 1 hex range?", which would tell us that Ranged Combat skill levels could not be (seemed counter-intuitive in some ways, but made sense in others).

It's true that the rules make a distinction here, and for various good reasons. However, it's important not to stretch the rules definitions to the point where they break under the weight of the illogic or lack of common sense. A HTH attack certainly can't be used beyond an adjacent hex -- it simply won't reach (unless it's got some built-in Stretching, can be thrown, or the like). There are even situations where a GM might forbid a character to use a HTH Combat attack on someone in an adjacent hex (if, for example, the attacker was on one edge of his hex, and the defender on the far edge of the adjacent hex, nearly 13 feet away). As always, it's a GM call.

OTOH, while a character can't attack beyond HTH Combat range without having a Ranged attack, that doesn't necessarily imply that a Ranged Combat attack can only be used against targets 2" or more away. That might be the case with some Ranged attacks, but common sense tells us that a person can stand right next to another person and shoot him with a gun (or, say, an Energy Blast). In fact, the Range Modifier rules account for that by not imposing a penalty for close range (1-4") Ranged attacks.

Combat Skill Levels with HTH Combat can't be used with a Ranged attack, regardless of how close the target is -- it's not a HTH Combat attack. CSLs with a Ranged attack can be used with a Ranged attack regardless of the Range to the target -- it's a Ranged attack, so the Levels apply. As always, the GM can change these rules in the interest of campaign balance, common sense, dramatic sense, and similar considerations. For example, even though a Throwing Knife is defined with a HTH Combat attack (HKA, Ranged (+1/2)), most GMs aren't going to allow CSLs with HTH Combat to apply to it when it's thrown... but they'd probably allow CSLs with Ranged Combat.

However, in the 5E rules there is only one place that we could find where what a Hand-to-Hand attack was defined (the HA power).

Check the sidebar on 5E 255, right next to Block. Pages 8 and 243 -- all listed in the Index -- also define it. However, since I posted the definition above, you probably don't need to look at 'em now.



I hope that helps! If I've overlooked something in your question, please post a follow-up.