Trigger timing

[JamesG]

Hi.

 

Situation:

A character has the Trigger advantage on a Defense or Movement power with the trigger defined as "When attacked by a melee attack".

 

Question:

Does the triggered power automatically activate before the attack action that triggered it can take effect? Or is there a Dex-off or something to determine if the attack gets to effect the character before the triggered power activates?

 

I had always assumed the triggered power automatically goes first, unless a limitation like "Requires an Opposed Skill Roll" or something was put on it.

 

Thanks for your time.

[Steve Long]

Re: Trigger timing

 

Unless the GM rules differently, such powers activate only after the attack itself takes place and the character suffers any damage or effect. Otherwise characters could too easily build powers that could effectively immunize them from many attacks. However, in the case of Defense Powers like Force Field, the GM might allow a DEX Roll Contest to determine whether the Triggered ability or attack take effect first if the power in question doesn’t seem too unbalancing for the campaign.