Blocking vs. Holding

[Legendsmiths]

I did a search on the forums and checked the FAQ but I didn't see this issue addressed directly.

 

SPD 4 vs. SPD 3. SPD 4 guy has higher DEX.

 

Seg 11, SPD 4 uses held action to attack SPD 3. SPD 3 aborts to a block (successful).

 

Seg 12 SPD 4 Holds.

 

Seg 2 SPD 4 Attacks SPD 3. SPD 3 blocks again at -2 (successful).

 

Seg 3 SPD 4 holds

 

Seg 4 SPD 4 attacks.

 

Seg 4 SPD 3 ???

 

The question concerns Seg 4. Because of the successful blocks IF SPD 4 and SPD 3 had a phase in the same segment, SPD 3 would go first. However, since SPD 4 is holding his action at the begining of Seg 4 and technically does not have a phase in the same segment as SPD 3, SPD 3 is still considered blocking, and can't preempt SPD 4's Seg 4 action even though the blocks were successful.

 

If SPD 4 decides to not attack, holding his action on Seg 4 instead, then SPD 3's phase comes around and he can take any normal action, but the fact that he had successfully blocked is irrelevant.

 

Is this correct?

[Steve Long]

There are two questions wrapped up in what you’re asking:

 

1. When a character Aborts to Block, and then continues to Block other attacks in later Segments after he Aborted, can he continue to Block in the Segment in which his next Phase occurs, but before his Phase occurs? For example, if a SPD 3, DEX 15 character Aborts his Phase in Segment 12 to successfully Block an attack, can he Block a second attack (at -2) in Segment 4 — when his next Phase occurs on DEX 15 — if his attacker has a Phase in Segment 4 prior to DEX 15?

 

Furthermore, if the answer to the above is “Yes,” can the character also then make an attack when his Phase occurs at DEX 15, since the rules state that Blocking in later Segments does not count as Aborting to Block?

 

2. The rules for Block state that a character who successfully Blocks his attacker gets to go before his attacker if they both have their next Phases in the same Segment, even if the attacker has a higher DEX. Does this still apply if the attacker doesn’t normally have a Phase in that Segment based on his SPD, but is Holding a Phase and chooses to use it in the same Segment when the character has his Phase?

 

 

 

The answers to 1 are “yes” and “yes.” However, the GM may, in his discretion, change either of these rules, and/or impose an OCV penalty (or other appropriate penalty) on the Action the character takes when his Phase arises.

 

The answer to 2 is “no.” The cited rule only applies if the two characters involved both have their normal Phases on the next Segment; if the attacker Holds and chooses to act in a Segment in which the character has a Phase but the attacker normally does not, the characters’ respective Actions occur in their normal order — whichever character has the higher DEX acts first, despite the Block.