Hi,
in DE under Combat Modules is the Bodyguard Module. This reduces the penalty for cover or push aside to -10.
But I don't know rules for "Cover". Can someone point out, where I can find them?
Cover someone
combat chapter of the core book, it works the same as (or at least very similar too) the push aside manuever, except it uses block.
The only section I found was "Cover others" but this is for supernatural shields.
Can you give me the page-number, where this "cover with block" is written?
push aside is on page 86, it doesn't say anywhere in the core book exactly about blocking for someone else (or at least, i can't find it), but given the fact the bodygaurd module also grants a bonus to push aside (dodgeing for someone else, effectively) it should be safe to assume they both work the same. also, i do not have my copy of DE with me or i may be of more help.
I just house rule that you can use the supernatural cover rule with mundane shields or weapons that can act as a shield. Pretty much on your activation you can announce your covering someone, if they take an attack you can try to block it at a -40 penalty. If you fail to block the attack the person must make a defense roll as normal. Also regardless if you block the attack or not for somoen it counts as a defense for your character.
wizuriel said:
I just house rule that you can use the supernatural cover rule with mundane shields or weapons that can act as a shield. Pretty much on your activation you can announce your covering someone, if they take an attack you can try to block it at a -40 penalty. If you fail to block the attack the person must make a defense roll as normal. Also regardless if you block the attack or not for somoen it counts as a defense for your character.
yeah, thats pretty much it, that may not even count as a houserule.
I think, I will use it similar, but only with a -30 penalty (like Push aside), but the character must use a action for cover others (similar with magic shields). And every block accounts as defends for him and he loses the right to block for others, if he is put "in defense". For example: char A blocks for char B, than for himself and than a second time for char B, he would have no penalty in the first block, -30 in the second block (to defense himself) and -50 in the third block (to defense char B a second time).
But than I have another questions: If a char fails by push aside, he gets hurt, but get a char hurt, if he tries to cover others with block (non-magical block) and fails?
Fluff wise if you fail to push someone behind, it means all you really accomplished was moving in the same place that an attack was coming. In that situation it makes sense to me both characters suffer from the attack.
If you fail to play your shield over someone though, well your still standing beside the person being attacked and shouldn't suffer for that.
Its why I think the penalty for covering is higher than push aside. Also pushing aside doesn't state you need to declare in advance your going to do it. Though reading it makes it sound like it only works if your dodging an AOE attack and someone close to you might also need to make tha defense roll (so might houserule like cover others you can declare in advance your preparing to push someone out of the way of an attack if they are threatened).
wizuriel said:
Fluff wise if you fail to push someone behind, it means all you really accomplished was moving in the same place that an attack was coming. In that situation it makes sense to me both characters suffer from the attack.
If you fail to play your shield over someone though, well your still standing beside the person being attacked and shouldn't suffer for that.
Its why I think the penalty for covering is higher than push aside. Also pushing aside doesn't state you need to declare in advance your going to do it. Though reading it makes it sound like it only works if your dodging an AOE attack and someone close to you might also need to make tha defense roll (so might houserule like cover others you can declare in advance your preparing to push someone out of the way of an attack if they are threatened).
I see your point, but I think, there are some uncertainties. I post them, with my idea, how to handle them.
- If you fail to block, will you be put on defense and lose your right for active actions? I would say yes, because you try your best to block for your buddy
- If you win, get someone an counterattack and if yes, who? I think, the "coverer" would get the counterattack and the "coveree" can attack with an active action
- Attacks from which position/direction can be covered? I don't think, that the "coverer" can block an attack from behind the "coveree", if the coveree stands behind him (because the coveree would be in the way). So, the position can be essential for the "coverer" (or both can stand back on back and cover for each other :-)).
- In your case, with the penalty of -40 for cover: The "bodyguard"-module from DE reduces the penalty for "push aside" and "cover" to -10 and costs the some for both. So an "coverer" would get an penalty-reduction of 30 points (the "pusher" only of 20) and he wouldn't get damage, if he fails (the pusher get damage, if he fails). So the bodyguard-module would be better for covering as for pushing, except the "position/direction"-problem would be an real disadvantage for covering.
I would like to hear your input to this, because I like the ideas in this thread. One of my players plays a really defensive paladin, with some sort of "protective instinct" and I would like, if he get some nice options to defense others.