Taking the Hit

[Sherwood]

Is there any rules about Interposing? Its a term I picked up from another game. In that system, in order to protect a person/object next to you, you voluntarily drop your defense value, and every point you drop your dodge, you add that many as a bonus to hit the attacker if he/she tries to strike the target you are protecting. The effect is obvious to the attacker, so they know if they continue the attack, they are more vulnerable.


Is there an effect like this in the book for Exalted, or is it a good topic for a house rule?

 

[skafte]

Nope, think Dragon-Blooded have a 'bodyguard' charm, but besides from that, there are no rules at all about protecting others.


Personally, I let players intercept an attack on another; if they can reach in the take tick as the attack, and are within reach to intercept the attack (of course). In that case they can make an 'attack' where successes act as your PDV to intercept the attack.

 

[Jeppe]

I don't recall any specific rules on the subject either, but stunting always works, and that has the added benefit of not making the system slower.


In any case, try checking out Falling Blossom Style (Scroll of the Monk, p. 43). It has some nifty charms that concern themselves with exactly this topic.

 

[Flagg]

There are a couple of Lunar Charms that do this to one degree or another.

 

[Ryvaken Tadrya]

Victorious Art of Concession (Celestial Martial Art, from Imperfect Lotus) has a starting charm called Spoken in Kindness. It's a 1m reflexive that requires you be able to reach the target with a move action. By using the charm, the attack is resolved exactly as if it had targeted the user of the charm. I seriously doubt you'll find a better charm to take the hit with.


Absent charms, you could probably stunt such a block by trying to parry the oncoming blow if you were close enough.

 

[Brickwall]

Here's how I generally rule it:


1. You must be able to act on the tick that the attack is happening. This may be the result of aborting a Guard, Aim, or just being lucky enough to go on that tick (or having magic that lets you act when you want).


2. Make an attack roll with a -2 external penalty (-4 if using ranged). When applying the DV of the defender of the attack being intercepted, you may substitute the successes on the intercepting attack roll instead. Magic that affects defensive actions does NOT apply to the interception (you may not, for example, use Heavenly Guardian Defense to defend another person), but magic that affects offensive actions does work (if you wanted to use Thunderclap Rush Attack so you get the chance to act again before the guy you just pissed off does, you may).


Note that this type does not need to deal with order of actions within the tick. If your Wits+Awareness is higher than the attacker's, you may simply choose to clinch him or kill him, since your action on that tick can be considered 'first' when it's important.


I've never actually gotten to test this, but it seems like it would occasionally provide advantage, while being difficult enough to be dramatic and relatively rare.

 

[Sherwood]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check out the Charms mentioned.