[CONAN] Forced Move Dodge

[Supplement Four]

I'm considering forcing the character to move five feet in a direction when he dodges to show it graphically on the battle board. If you dodge, your character is moving a square.

This will show combat shift on the battlefield, too, with those that parry holding their ground while those that dodge take adavantage of movement.

Thoughts on this? Criticisms? Ramifications? Comments? Unintended Consequences?

 

[Mach5RR]

OK, here are my thoughts.

How does this tie into movement? Is this considered the 5 foot step? Can they perform another 5' step on their action, or even a move action?

Does it stop? One of the oddities that occurred to me with the Dance Aside Maneuver was that you can (theoretically) perform this whenever you are attacked. So imagine a straight line of 20 villains - as the first one attacks, the defender successfully Dances Aside 5' to the next person, who attacks and is also successfully defended with a Dances Aside. In theory, a PC could Dance Aside the whole 100' past each villain, and it hasn't even hit his turn to perform his 30' move. (Which is why I decided to limiting Dance Aside to once per turn).

Speaking of Dance Aside, what becomes the point since they automatically have to move the 5' (I guess on a successful Dance Aside you could give them the option of staying put, as opposed to a forced 5' move)

Finally how is it going to affect combat? Imagine a PC with 3 attacks. He attacks an opponent who has to fall back 5'. He takes a 5' foot step and attacks again. Opponent has to fall back 5. PC takes another 5' step to perform third attack. PC now triggers AOO as he has moved greater than a 5' step. Does the defender also trigger AOO for being forced to move greater than 5'? And the defender could be under even greater pressure, as the dodge doesn't even have to be successful and he will still have to move the 5'.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Supplement Four]

OK, here are my thoughts.

And they are welcome.

How does this tie into movement? Is this considered the 5 foot step? Can they perform another 5' step on their action, or even a move action?

To be clear: I'm just investigating this, trying to look at all the angles, to see if it is a good idea or not.

I think it will be a Free Action and an Immediate Action that can only be taken when attacked.

It wouldn't count against movement...or should it? Maybe it should.

I'm not sure.

Does it stop? One of the oddities that occurred to me with the Dance Aside Maneuver was that you can (theoretically) perform this whenever you are attacked.

I've been thinking this myself. I'm not sure how it will work.

So imagine a straight line of 20 villains - as the first one attacks, the defender successfully Dances Aside 5' to the next person, who attacks and is also successfully defended with a Dances Aside. In theory, a PC could Dance Aside the whole 100' past each villain, and it hasn't even hit his turn to perform his 30' move. (Which is why I decided to limiting Dance Aside to once per turn).

It's so highly unlikely, though, that the requirements for Dance Aside will be made for 20 people in a row.

Finally how is it going to affect combat? Imagine a PC with 3 attacks. He attacks an opponent who has to fall back 5'. He takes a 5' foot step and attacks again. Opponent has to fall back 5. PC takes another 5' step to perform third attack. PC now triggers AOO as he has moved greater than a 5' step. Does the defender also trigger AOO for being forced to move greater than 5'? And the defender could be under even greater pressure, as the dodge doesn't even have to be successful and he will still have to move the 5'.

Good thoughts. More food for thought.

I don't have any answers yet--still thinking hard on this.

 

[kintire]

I think you would be adding complication for small payback. Dodging a blow doesn't need much movement, and a 5 foot square is actually quite big.

You might consider doing this for partial or full defense dodges, but if you do I would suggets making a parrier give ground under the same circumstances. Parry is already a better defense than dodge, it doesn't need any more advantages.

 

[Supplement Four]

Parry is already a better defense than dodge, it doesn't need any more advantages.

Why do you say that? Looking at the Barbarian, if his DEX is high, is Dodge will be much better than his parry.

 

[kintire]

Parry is based on strength which means one stat gives you attack, defence and damage, whereas Dodge is on Dex which gives you only attack and damage. Parry is much easier to raise because there are more feats that boost it and shields add to Parry but not Dodge.