Once per round on the character's turn, the character may perform a Side Step maneuver to try to avoid incoming ranged attacks. He then suffers a number of strain no greater than his ranks in Side Step. Until the start of the characters's next turn, upgrade the difficulty of all ranged combat checks targeting the character a number of times equal to the strain suffered by the character.

Since the difficulty is upgraded, is there anything that prevents the effect from stacking?

(Same for Guarded Stance that gives +1 defense or Defensive Stance which is the same as Side Step for melee attacks)

We just always asumed it works only once, but upon rereading the talents I see no reason for this.

There is a reason, it doesn't say you can. Like in all the Force power upgrades when it says they can be activated multiple times.

Once per round on the character's turn...

We just always asumed it works only once, but upon rereading the talents I see no reason for this.

...except that the very first words are "Once per round". So no, you can't do 2 Side Step maneuvers in one turn.

Once per round on the character's turn...

We just always asumed it works only once, but upon rereading the talents I see no reason for this.

...except that the very first words are "Once per round". So no, you can't do 2 Side Step maneuvers in one turn.

Well yah, except for the first 3 words in the Talent.............

Once per round on the character's turn

i think you answered your own question there

Well...that's a little embarassing. And by a little I mean a lot. well, that's what you get for reading rulebooks while being on flu medication.

Still, Guarded Stance works twice or am I currently even less capable of comprehensive reading?

Well...that's a little embarassing. And by a little I mean a lot. well, that's what you get for reading rulebooks while being on flu medication.

Still, Guarded Stance works twice or am I currently even less capable of comprehensive reading?

Don't worry about it the RAW wasn't written especially well in regards to clarity or consistency across the board, it's easy to miss things.

Defensive stance is a once per round too. Which Specialisation has Guarded Stance? i cant find it in the library!

It's a Maneuver.

Then yes, that would stack.

I would probably allow guarded stance to stack. No issues with balance in my opinion.

Multiple sources of defense don't stack, though, right? Guarded stance says "Gain 1 melee defense" (similar to Take Cover's 1 ranged defense), so it wouldn't stack with itself or with defense from armor.

It's worth noting that even though you only activate it once, if you have multiple ranks in it (or dodge for that matter) you can upgrade the incoming check up to the number of ranks you possess. For example, if you have two ranks of Side Step and you activate it while being fired on from medium range, the attacker must upgrade both difficulty die into challenge die and you take take two strain.

As for guarded stance, I'd say that it should stack with defense ratings from armor, but not environmental sources like trees, rocks, desks, bulkheads, etc.

I think we should look it up in the Errata for Edge CRB because in F&D CRB, Guarded Stance grants "melee defense +1".

Since Guarded Stance gives melee defense, then it would not stack with itself since it is the same source, so NO double guarded stance.

As for guarded stance, I'd say that it should stack with defense ratings from armor, but not environmental sources like trees, rocks, desks, bulkheads, etc.

This comment might confuse some people...

Guarded stance provides +1 melee defense and does stack with static defense values (anything that gives Melee Defense 1) like Armor or Cover (including environmental sources like trees, rocks, etc. where you hide behind).

(If Kaigen is right, then Guarded Stance would not stack with Armor or Cover since they all give static Defense Values.)

It would also stack (work with) environmental effects like rain, wind, cold, etc. that gives setback dice to your actions (which stack with static defense also).

I think we should look it up in the Errata for Edge CRB because in F&D CRB, Guarded Stance grants "melee defense +1".

Since Guarded Stance gives melee defense, then it would not stack with itself since it is the same source, so NO double guarded stance

my EotE says "gains melee defense 1"

my AoR says "gains melee defense +1"

my F&D says "gains melee defense +1"

Asuming the later books are "more" correct, I think it should work twice since in contrast to cover and armor it says gain +1 not just gain 1.

Also it makes sense to accept 2 setbacks for attacking when all you do is trying not to get hit, probably great advice against a hungover wookie or say jabba's rancor (in which case it is less of a guarded stance, more like zig-zagging around the cage or wedging myself between the rocks like Luke.)

Good catch. There's nothing in the Edge errata that I could find for Guarded Stance, but I'd accept more recent printings.

As for the environmental thing, it should be noted that Guarded Stance grants melee defense while taking cover in the environment grants ranged defense, so the two don't really interact. You could do both in the same round to defend against different avenues of attack.

It's something like curling into the fetal position behind the juke box in a bar fight......

My bad, I missed the melee defense portion of it, so the environmental stuff would be a bit odd. I still think it should stack with armor, however.

Good catch. There's nothing in the Edge errata that I could find for Guarded Stance, but I'd accept more recent printings.

As for the environmental thing, it should be noted that Guarded Stance grants melee defense while taking cover in the environment grants ranged defense, so the two don't really interact. You could do both in the same round to defend against different avenues of attack.

Sorry there, I was sloppy when I reply and mixed the 2.

Derroehre has a point... Guarded Stance has a setback attached to it... so doing it twice would double that setback.

Per RAW, 2 sources of the same defense do not stack, but in this case, I might also allow it since you are spending 2 maneuvers and receiving 2 setback, which is a pretty hefty cost.

Yeah, Guarded Stance seems like something of a weak option to me; I have yet to see someone want to use it once, let alone twice in the same round.

Well, after reading the talents description, the setback dice only applies to the next combat check until the end of the next turn.

I don't think Strategic Form or Defensive Circle are combat checks, so a Soresu Defendor could do a Guarded Stance and then pop his defensive talents without penalties.

That would be a good way to play it.

Same could go for the Medic doing some medecine or the Tech hacking a security door (saying he's keeping an eye at his back to make sure he's not getting ganked from behind).

I think it's one of those maneuvers that people rarely use and thus don't really think about it when they should and so doesn't use it at all in the end.