RE: Flying Dodge vs Ranged Attacks

[Killer Shrike]

In a recent Answer to Talon's ? you indicated that if a Flying Dodger Aborts and their FMOVE takes them to a spot where a Ranged attacker can no longer see them that the ranged attacker might still shoot them at some point along their movement.

 

 

However, this seems to be inconsistent with the rules for an Abort on page 236 of FRED which state that an Aborted Action always "goes first", which would seem to indicate that the Attacker would declare their attack, the Defender aborts to FD and FMOVEs (potentially around a corner or similar) and then, after the Abort is finished resolving, the Attacker completes their declared attack.

 

 

However your response seems to indicate that the attack may resolve before the FMOVE portion of the Aborted FD is complete. So:

 

Q1) am I understanding your Answer correctly? A ranged Attacker may attack a Flying Dodger before the FMOVE element of their Aborted manuever resolves?

 

Q1a) if so, at what point in the FMOVE does the ranged attack resolve? Immediately before the Flying Dodger moves to a place where the ranged Attacker cant target them any longer? When most advantageous to the Attacker? When most advantageous to the Flying Dodger (such as over the demarkation of another Range category)? At some other point?

 

Thanx!

[Steve Long]

Re: Flying Dodge vs Ranged Attacks

 

You're thinking about this too hard.

 

What I said, primarily, was that the maneuver provides a DCV bonus -- just like, for example, Dodge. A character's Abort to Dodge (or the like) "goes first," meaning he gets the benefits of it before an attack. But it doesn't guarantee he won't be hit. The same applies to Flying Dodge.

 

All the rules for Actions and movement and what-all attempt to break down, in relatively rigid terms, very flexible, dynamic situations. That requires some interpretation on the part of the GM as to exactly how to explain, in "real world" terms, what happens when game actions are taken. One possible explanation for hitting someone who's using a Flying Dodge is "he got you just as you started to move." There are lots of others. The point is, the DCV bonus doesn't guarantee the character will be missed, regardless of where he moves.