My group of players and I are tossing around an interpretation of 2 different talents and whether or not they 'stack'

Step Aside and Wall of Steel.

With Step Aside you get an additional reaction that allows you to dodge another attack. With Wall of Steel you get an additional reaction that allows to parry another attack. No where in the rule books or the addendum does it say that if you have both talents they stack , allowing 3 reaction actions. If you have both, then you get a second reaction and you get to CHOOSE a parry OR a dodge. That's my take.

I am the minority, but also the GM so I can make the ruling, and for the sake of fairness put this question on the boards.

The rest of the group says they interpret it as with both talents you get 3 reactions, essentially 'stacking' the talents and transforming said player into someone out of 'The Matrix'.

I have always felt that the 40k world was perilous and death comes easily. The hard part is staying alive and this is reflected in the rules of Dark Heresy. Even when capped out at 15k experience, which my players have almost achieved, death comes quickly from a well aimed shot with a hunting rifle with manstopper rounds or a couple swings from a chainsword.

I would like an official ruling(maybe a link or something), but your opinions will also help alot.

Your players are correct, with Step Aside and Wall of Steel you will effectively have three reactions,

1 Dodge or Parry

1 Strict Dodge

1 Strict Parry

However, from what I have gathered, you cannot use these extra reactions for other talents that allow you to use a reaction to attack (Furious Assault)

Emprah_Horus said:

I appreciate your input. I believe that Furious assault isnt a reaction attack though. If you score a hit while using the All Out attack option then you get a second attack with furious assault. You may be thinking of Counterattack where if you parry, you get a free attack at -20.

I stand corrected Emprah, Furious assault does spend your reaction attack. My bad.

1 Dodge or Parry

More precisely, 1 Dodge or Parry or whatever else you can do with a reaction due to your character's funny talents - the ballistic mechadendrite would be another example for a reaction type of action only useable with the normal reaction.

Cifer said:

SO are you saying that they do get 3 reactions then, Cifer?

Does anyone know of a site to get an official ruling? I am still looking.

There was a thread on this forum that someone started asking for a ruling. The response from FFG was, that while they don't neccessarily check these forums assiduously, threads with Errata: Official Ruling in the title may get a response.

I also think it's three reactions, but you already know that.

The talents do not say "if you have already dodged" or "if you have already parried". The talents read thus:

Step Aside

You are quick at getting out of the way of attacks. In effect, the character gets a second reaction that they may only use for a Dodge.

Wall of Steel

Your blades are quick and form an impenetrable wall of steel. In effect, the character gets a second reaction that they may use only for a Parry.

I would think that, if they read "if you have dodged this round (step aside)...." or "If you have parried this round (wall of steel)...." then I would agree with the case as presented. The problem in the current reading is the "second". If it said additional, which I believe was the intention, then there'd be no argument. You are reading the second as "if you have..." rather than additional.

I'm sure that Rogue Trader will have similar talents. Perhaps the wording there will be different, and this will be moot. Of course, that's not 'til the end of September, but I'm pretty sure I can run until then.

Emprah_Horus said:

I'd go with this myself.

SO are you saying that they do get 3 reactions then, Cifer?

Yes.

Cifer said:

Yes, you get 3 reactions, BUT the reaction you gain through Wall of Steel and Step Aside have to spent on those talents....so this simply means that you have 1 additional Dodge and 1 additional Parry, you can't use them to use a mechadendrite or furious assault, you can use your original reaction for that.

Santiago said:

Thanks everyone, you have been very helpful. I guess I was misinterpreting the talents.