dodge and parry vaule
- Thread starter Aelric
- Start date
Basially the character decides which he is going to use as a defense when attacked. If he has plenty of space, no shield and has a high Dex, then Dodge is probably best used (depending on class of course) whereas if he has good Str, or is closed in or has a good shield then Parry is used.
Both are calculated and the character chooses.
Both are calculated and the character chooses.
Sutek
Mongoose
You'll notice that certain classes are batter at one over the other. This usually then becomes the default defense, or the one they choose most often, unless circumstances prevent it.
Like, Dodge is only possible if you have an open square or a friendly square that is adjacent to your character to "bob and weave into", although you dont' actually move your character at all. It's like he has to have some kind of room to dodge around in a little bit. Well, if that's not avialable, you can't choose to use your Dodge defense.
Smae goes for getting shot at with arrows. You can only Dodge arrows, you can't Parry them, so you can't choose to use your Parry defense.
Usually players will stick with whichever is higher and better for them, unless some other rule keeps them from doing it, so those other rules are something you'll have to keep track of too as GM.
Like, Dodge is only possible if you have an open square or a friendly square that is adjacent to your character to "bob and weave into", although you dont' actually move your character at all. It's like he has to have some kind of room to dodge around in a little bit. Well, if that's not avialable, you can't choose to use your Dodge defense.
Smae goes for getting shot at with arrows. You can only Dodge arrows, you can't Parry them, so you can't choose to use your Parry defense.
Usually players will stick with whichever is higher and better for them, unless some other rule keeps them from doing it, so those other rules are something you'll have to keep track of too as GM.
The defending character decides which defense (Dodge or Parry) he wants to use in response to an attack (that is he decides just before the attack roll is made). Typically a character will just pick whichever value is higher and stick with it. However there are a few considerations to be made.
Ranged attacks/Touch attacks: you can only dodge these
Space: if you do not have an open, adjacent space that is either unoccupied or occupied by an ally then you take a -2 penalty to Dodge (but not parry).
Equipment: armor limits the Maximum Dex bonus that you can apply to your Dodge DV, it places no such limit on the max Str bonus you can add to Parry. Shields give a bonus to your Parry defense and to your Dodge versus ranged attacks but not to your Dodge versus any other type of attack.
Unarmed: if you are unarmed, do not have a shield and do not have the Improved Unarmed Strike feat then you take a penalty to your Parry DV. I don't have my books at work but IIRC the penalty is -2?
So as you can see each type of defense has advantages and disadvantages. In general Parry is good for guys who want to wear big armor, deal big damage and generally play a tank. Also if your goal is to maximize your DV then it is possible to drive Parry to greater heights than Dodge. However Dodge is more generally usefull in a greater variety of situations.
Hope that helps.
Ranged attacks/Touch attacks: you can only dodge these
Space: if you do not have an open, adjacent space that is either unoccupied or occupied by an ally then you take a -2 penalty to Dodge (but not parry).
Equipment: armor limits the Maximum Dex bonus that you can apply to your Dodge DV, it places no such limit on the max Str bonus you can add to Parry. Shields give a bonus to your Parry defense and to your Dodge versus ranged attacks but not to your Dodge versus any other type of attack.
Unarmed: if you are unarmed, do not have a shield and do not have the Improved Unarmed Strike feat then you take a penalty to your Parry DV. I don't have my books at work but IIRC the penalty is -2?
So as you can see each type of defense has advantages and disadvantages. In general Parry is good for guys who want to wear big armor, deal big damage and generally play a tank. Also if your goal is to maximize your DV then it is possible to drive Parry to greater heights than Dodge. However Dodge is more generally usefull in a greater variety of situations.
Hope that helps.
