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Declarations that start combat vs. initiative
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<blockquote data-quote="tomBitonti" data-source="post: 8608029" data-attributes="member: 13107"><p>To answer my own question. My understanding of the rules is that unless hidden or obscured, a declaration of hostile intent is known by both sides. Then, players and orcs who are acting earlier in initiative are aware that a hostile action is about to be initiated, and may act with that knowledge.</p><p></p><p>This makes a declared hostile action a declaration of <strong>intent</strong>. Players who act before the hostile action are reacting to the intent, and possibly the action as it begins to happen.</p><p></p><p>I'm thinking through what I would consider a hidden or obscured action. I don't have an answer for that yet.</p><p></p><p>That players (and orcs) can act earlier is a consequence of the initiative and of sequential actions. I admit that absurd results can occur. These are a consequence of the rules, that one just has to learn to deal with.</p><p></p><p>Another category of actions might be "swift" or "quick" actions, which cannot be perceived before they happen. That brings up interesting questions. However, I don't think the initiative rules, as written, deal with such cases.</p><p></p><p>One can easily get into very strange cases, for example, what if the trigger was a trap discharging, where the trap triggers and discharges very very quickly.</p><p></p><p>A problem that I have is that if characters who act before the hostile action occurs <strong>don't</strong> have an opportunity to preempt the action is that it seems that they are being penalized for their better initiative. Although, "early" characters can always delay until after the hostile action occurs. Should this be the default?</p><p></p><p>TomB</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="tomBitonti, post: 8608029, member: 13107"] To answer my own question. My understanding of the rules is that unless hidden or obscured, a declaration of hostile intent is known by both sides. Then, players and orcs who are acting earlier in initiative are aware that a hostile action is about to be initiated, and may act with that knowledge. This makes a declared hostile action a declaration of [B]intent[/B]. Players who act before the hostile action are reacting to the intent, and possibly the action as it begins to happen. I'm thinking through what I would consider a hidden or obscured action. I don't have an answer for that yet. That players (and orcs) can act earlier is a consequence of the initiative and of sequential actions. I admit that absurd results can occur. These are a consequence of the rules, that one just has to learn to deal with. Another category of actions might be "swift" or "quick" actions, which cannot be perceived before they happen. That brings up interesting questions. However, I don't think the initiative rules, as written, deal with such cases. One can easily get into very strange cases, for example, what if the trigger was a trap discharging, where the trap triggers and discharges very very quickly. A problem that I have is that if characters who act before the hostile action occurs [B]don't[/B] have an opportunity to preempt the action is that it seems that they are being penalized for their better initiative. Although, "early" characters can always delay until after the hostile action occurs. Should this be the default? TomB [/QUOTE]
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