Resisting Magic - Dodge

[Itto]

When resisting magic that requires a dodge roll, should resisting the spell use up a combat reaction?

I'm asking as it came up over the weekend when I was running a game, when a PC Middle Sea Empire Sorcerer cast a firebolt at a NPC. The player thought that it should as its a physical attack (though magical). I ruled that it didn't, for two reasons really both in the name of balance. The first being for spells that require a Persistence or Resilience there would be no question of the resistance roll taking up a combat reaction. Secondly if like me and you use the +30% rule in the Player Update PDF option spells that require a Dodge roll are harder to resist due to not having the +30 bonus and in fact have a negative mods do to characters wearing armour.

Just interested in what other folks think.

Cheers

 

[Utgardloki]

I would rule that dodging a spell does take an action.

If you watch a movie or cartoon, when the hero dodges a spell, she has to dodge the spell. She has to jump aside at the last minute; she has to be aware of the attack; it takes a moment of time. Thus, I'd say that dodging a spell is the same way.

I have a thread recently about a proposed house rule the one dodge action dodges all ranged attacks incurred in that round. I would include spells as ranged attacks.

Anyway, that is my opinion.

 

[RosenMcStern]

Core rulebook on p. 68 states: "Note that Resist (Dodge) spells require the target to be able to use Reactions in order to dodge." I think this means also that the reaction is "used up" to resist the spell.

Firebolt is nasty :twisted:

 

[weasel_fierce]

Agreed. Dodging uses a reaction. Some interesting tactics can come up around that

 

[master of reality]

I also agree. Dodging a spell counts as a reaction.

Fire bolts certainly are nasty. During one gaming session a fire bolt spell literally removed the right leg of a great troll. Whoops! Need to fine tune the play balance.

 

[Itto]

Core rulebook on p. 68 states: "Note that Resist (Dodge) spells require the target to be able to use Reactions in order to dodge." I think this means also that the reaction is "used up" to resist the spell.

Firebolt is nasty :twisted:

I'd had a look to see if I could find a ruling in the book early in the week, guess I failed my roll. It does make spells that need a dodge to resist more powerfull though.

Cheers

 

[RosenMcStern]

It does make spells that need a dodge to resist more powerfull though.

I would not say so. Few people have Persistence at 100% or higher, especially because there is a cap on Persistence/Resilience. Dodgers with 150% Dodge are more common, and it is virtually impossible to hit them with a spell skill below 70%.

Firebolt is powerful, as it can be fired at a rate of 1 bolt/CA and can exhaust its target's reactions very easily.