Blocking for another.

[Mordaith]

Hey Gang,

Is it possible to use a scripted block to defend another character from an incoming attack? Should positioning be taken in to account?

My game seems wrought with scenes where one PC is trying to kill an NPC that another PC wants to protect so this has come up a few times. I was wondering if any one had some insight on how to deal with this.

-Mordaith

[Kublai]

Although there's no exact support for this in the rulebook, I think it's a completely legitimate action. Just be sure to script Block and be in the same positioning relationship to the attacker that the attackee is in.

I don't know at which level this might become abusive. Could Counter-strikes work?

[Mordaith]

Thanks Kublai,

I think your reading my concerns and issue translating this request loud and clear. For now I think I am just going to settle on just allowing a scripted block to be used to absorb a blow directed at another as long as you are in range of attacker. Tossing around the idea of imposing a +2 ob for trying to block a strike directed at someone else when the attacker is at lunging, but I don't want to soup it up to much.

In further thought I think that "Guard Another" being scripted, in which you need to declare in your scripting whom your going to be protecting, would be less abusable. But I think for now Counterstrikes are right out in anyway shape or form.

[Kublai]

I could see a +1Ob to the block as fair. I could also see a +1Ob to any action the attackee might be making as fair too! After all, there's suddenly somebody jumping in front of them and interfering with the plan!

But I doubt I would ever get that complicated. Blocking for another is cool so let's not punish that person too much.

[Mordaith]

Agreed. We see it all the time in movies and shows I suppose. Now angst elves can feel it's their fault when muscle bound humans cut down their Lords because they didn't block the blow.

I think it can be agreed that keeping Counterstrike out of it is for the best.

Thanks for the input Kublai.

[luke]

Certainly not canon for Fight!. I do not allow it in demo games.

Situations like that are best handled with straight up Versus Tests outside of Fight!.

[Dwight]

My game seems wrought with scenes where one PC is trying to kill an NPC that another PC wants to protect so this has come up a few times. I was wondering if any one had some insight on how to deal with this.
Assuming you don't do the versus like Luke suggests. The answer IMO is PC #2 gets position on PC #1 and Charge/Tackle, Lock, Lock, Locks until PC #1 comes to his senses (or goes unconcious :) ).

Or DoW beforehand?