Dodging Ranged Attacks
- Thread starter Quire
- Start date
RosenMcStern
Mongoose
Soldiers used to dodge low-speed bullets in the musket era. Japanese officers with real Samurai training were seen dodging bullets from semiautomatic weapons in WW2. Dodging an arrow is possible, i.e. I could not do it, but those who have a real martial art training say it is possible.
Utgardloki
Mongoose
While it is impossible to dodge an arrow after it has been shot, it is possible to get someone to aim at a spot where you will not actually be by the time he finishes shooting.
By rights, dodging a missile weapon is different from dodging a melee attack, but we might as well use the same skill for both, for simplicity.
By rights, dodging a missile weapon is different from dodging a melee attack, but we might as well use the same skill for both, for simplicity.
Trifletraxor
Mongoose
I'll allow dodging a thrown missile - but dodge will have to be rolled before the attack (no waiting to see if the rock hits!). Dodging arrows or bolt will be allowed with the "dive" use of the dodge skill where you end up on the ground after using the skill (must also be rolled before the attack).
SGL.
SGL.
weasel_fierce
Mongoose
In this case, the dodge roll simply reflects moving evasively or seeking cover.
It could be painful if you fail to parry, as you're going to be positioning your self into the path of the arrow to parry it.
And its not feesible if your caught in a volley of two or three arrows.
Best thing for the character is still as Simonh suggested dodge and weave to make yourself a harder target to hit.
Possibly allow characters to make a dodge/2 roll if they're actively dodging.[/quote]
RosenMcStern
Mongoose
Excuse me but I do not see anything wrong in allowing to dodge arrows with the good old Dodge action, exactly as written in the rules. It can be done in the real world, and all other systems allow it if the target has the Dodge skill (RQ1-3, GURPS, etc.). If it is not broken, do not fix it, remember? Wish they had used this principle with ol' good General Hit Points, too.
frogspawner
Mongoose
Wow, really? What were the circumstances? Was it an Oriental Martial Arts type situation, or an Occidental broadsword/chainmail sort?are said:
Well, as far as I can tell, RQ3 Dodge is restricted to melee attacks. But, I am surprised to find, it's true that RQ2 Defence (the equivalent) is not. And the MRQ SRD clearly repairs this 'fix' and lets Dodge apply to both melee and ranged (though why the shooter should be 'overextended' if someone he missed criticals their dodging, I don't know...).RosenMcStern said:
As to General Hit Points, if I was going to fiddle with the RQ rules, I would've kept them and done away with the location-specific ones... (so of course I have).
RosenMcStern
Mongoose
frogspawner said:
Absolutely wrong. RQ3 allowed to Dodge any kind of missile weapons. It was Parry that was restricted to melee and thrown. That's why I am wondering why all these complaints about dodging arrows: everybody always allowed it.
weasel_fierce
Mongoose
not to mention, not being able to dodge ranged weapons makes them rather nasty business, especially since a lot of them do more damage now, than before.
CthulhuFnord
Mongoose
"If you dodge an wrench you can dodge a ball" 
RosenMcStern said:
frogspawner
Mongoose
"...a Dodge works against all melee attacks from a given source..." RQ3 Players Book, p.48. What do you say now, Rosie?RosenMcStern said:
"An Adventurer attacking a character with a Defense ability must subtract that ability from his attack." RQ2, p.10. I don't see any exclusion on missile weapons. Granted, the halving for "specified to be dodging" (p.27) might be construed to imply that is the mechanism, instead of Defence. But with any interpretation RQ2 certainly allowed missiles to be dodged, and that's what we're debating here.Quire said:
Parrying missile weapons, now - that's another matter...
RosenMcStern
Mongoose
"Dodge takes no time when used against a hand-to-hand melee attack. It takes an entire melee round when used against missile attack.." - Players Book p.72
I am sure you will find other references throughout all the rulesbook if you look for them. The part you quoted is on page 4 of the Combat chapter, where the rules introduced are about melee combat only, so it is logical that it does not mention missile attacks. Not mentioning a possibility in a sentence does not, however, imply that the sentence is excluding that possibility, as Aristotle explained some 20 centuries ago. Saying that you can swim does not imply that you cannot walk.
frogspawner
Mongoose
Thanks for the reference. I stand corrected.
No offence to Aristotle, I am aware of that principle - hence the uncertainty over whether RQ2 Defence is effective against missiles. Do you have any similar enlightenment regarding that?
No offence to Aristotle, I am aware of that principle - hence the uncertainty over whether RQ2 Defence is effective against missiles. Do you have any similar enlightenment regarding that?
frogspawner said:
It's perfectly clear that Defense is subtracted from melee attacks only.
The example on p.10 from which you have quoted is a melee attack.
"RESOLUTION OF MELEE" on p.15 describes the mechanism. For melee attacks.
You even cite p.27, where it is evident that Defense does not figure against Missile attacks.
You can argue it if you want, Froggie, and you're a Yorkshireman, so you probably will, but it really is clear as mud, right fair.
frogspawner said:
Yes, I know. I made the OP.
- Q
