[sblock=OOC]
Boddynock said:
"Stop dithering, Keldar. Do something!"
OOC: Yeah, whatever. Seriously, it's irritating. It provides metagame constraints on actions higher in the initiative order, and it doesn't save time, because it just leads to potential retconning.
Now that we know that if Rapture is permitted to make that attack then the elemental dies, then: (1) there's a metagame constraint on me not to do anything that might draw it away from the stairs to a point where she can't reach it (she can make a 30' move and get to it in several other squares, but she hasn't said she'll move, so there'd still be a retcon needed there), which is, however, what Keldar had in mind, to allow others to climb the stairs, since, not knowing anyone will hit, that provides us with the best chance of success (2) there's a second metagame constraint on me not to bother risking the smallish 3% or so chance of Keldar dying from a critical hit if he closes to melee and is attacked - these don't matter so much because I'd just go ahead and do whatever I'd have done anyway - but (3) there's a further metagame constraint on Rae, now that he knows he can either let the combat end this round by doing nothing to prevent the hit, or can prolong it by moving the elemental away, or by attacking Rapture and successfully hitting for 11 or more, (4) Galwynn's action in the event isn't a problem because he rolled well, but if the difference had been between a hit on a charge or a miss on a regular attack, then again Keldar's action would be meta-constrained not to block the charge (which he probably wouldn't, but it's still there), (5) if the elemental does move eastwards to target Keldar, then Tarag's and Tommy's actions becomes void, because they both lose line of sight and effect. So you see there's an unacceptable meta-control over Rae to minimise the amount of retconning that's required.
Well, so much for the big final battle.[/sblock]
