Dodging Ranged Attacks.
One of the goals we had in writing the Dragon Storm 2.0 rules was to avoid absolutes. This ties in with our desire for the GM's, and players, to be free to create new situations and answers. Sometimes it is difficult for our minds to grasp that there are no absolutes in Dragon Storm. The laws of the universe are flexible in ways meant to create the feeling of Chaos and wonder. You can never be entirely sure of anything.
One result of this theory is that people keep looking for absolutes. This has occurred in regards to Dodging Ranged attacks. We left this ambiguous. Dodging ranged attacks is generally not possible without a special ability, but that is not always true. Too many possibilities exist for us to be able to make an absolute rule. It will be up to the players to suggest they may be able to Dodge and the GM's to judge if it is possible. If you are in the open and someone shoots an arrow at you, you have a problem. If, however, that attacker is lobbing boulders at you, well, you may be able to Dodge. There is no way to construct a world rule that covers all ranged attacks and dodging, therefore we did not bother.
The bottom line is that dodging ranged attacks depends first on whether you have a special ability to, and secondarily, on the exact situation you are facing. Your chances will be decided by the GM applying rule 3.4, your role-playing, and the situation.
Mark
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If you are not aware of an incoming attack, standing still, not behind cover . . . you're hit. Plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteIf you're aware, moving quickly, or partially behind cover, then there's a chance a ranged attack will miss. Rule 3.4 is the way to go. Nothing strange or unusual. GMs just need to do their jobs. ;-)
The motivation for this post is that some people decided that since we did not rule out dodging ranged attacks then everyone could dodge ranged attacks. That is wrong. We just could not rule out that it may happen. As you point out, that is where 3.4 comes in to play.
ReplyDeleteYou have the issue by the tail, as do most people.
I do appreciate the comment about being hit while standing in the open by an arrow. Yes, you would have a problem there. ;) An even larger one than simply being unable to dodge - someone's out to get you and knows where you are even if you don't know where they are. dun dun dunnnnn.
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