Moving with Hit/Effect line?

[oakbriar]

I can't find any specific info about this in the PHB and google hasn't been any help either.

My issue is with several Ranger powers in the new Martial Power 2.

The at-will Fading Strike says in the hit line "1[W]... and you shift 2 squares to a square not adjacent to the target."

Several other powers have similar worded movements under the Effect line (eg. Skirmish Shot "Effect: Before the attack, you move your speed.")

RAW implies that you don't have a choice about taking the movement, when compared to similar powers (eg. Rogue's Deft Strike PHB pg 188 "You can move 2 spaces before the attack"). This seems very restrictive, and I haven't seen a single instance of the "You can" wording in MP2 as far as I've read.

The only (slightly) relevant info I can find in the PHB is on pg. 57 "If a hit grants you the ability to compel the target to move, whether through forced movement or teleportation, you can move it any number of squares up to the number specified (or not move it at all, if you so choose)."

But that is specifically dealing with push/pull/slides on a target, not shift/moves for the attacker.

If I missed something that clarifies all this, please let me know where it is. Since it's not really talked about in the Hit or Effect line entires, I just don't know where else to look.

 

[babinro]

Despite the different wording, I would have to say that the movement in Fading Strike is entirely optional essentially applying the same rules that apply to forced movement.

It seems unusual that the PC is forced to perform this movement in order to do said attack action. The at-will is hardly so overpowered that it requires this detriment in order to balance.

Even if it were somehow necessary, I would think there would be a Requirement line to indicate it. Unless otherwise proven by the game rules, I would consider all powers like these to be at the PC's choice.

 

[oakbriar]

Thanks for the reply. I thought it was a little weird. Especially since many of the other Hunter-relevant powers encourage pelting them with a ranged shot and then staying in melee with them. It seems counter productive to get a bonus to damage or temp hit points for melee attacks if you have to run away from them after every hit.

 

[DracoSuave]

PB2 specifically addresses this issue.

If you have a power that tells you to move, or shift, or force someone else to move, you can choose not to move at all.

 

[Saeviomagy]

PB2 specifically addresses this issue.

If you have a power that tells you to move, or shift, or force someone else to move, you can choose not to move at all.

I was pretty sure that the original phb said something like "any power that states a form of movement implictly allows a lesser amount of movement"... Or maybe it's just in the faq...

 

[keterys]

Yep. Anytime you get a 'shift 2' or 'teleport 5' or whatever, you can self-limit.

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

The reference you want is the "movement effects" box on p. 219 of PH2.

 

[Alukane]

Yep. Anytime you get a 'shift 2' or 'teleport 5' or whatever, you can self-limit.

Does it work with pull, push and slide effects too?

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Yes. Go to your PHS and read the "movement effects" box on p. 219 and all will be clear.

The only exception I can think of to this is when the rules say "must" - for example, a chaos sorceror rolling a 1 and pushing all nearby creatures.

Well, that and effects that have you move to a place (for example, move adjascent to) rather than a distance - but those are also dealt with in the above mentioned box.

 

[DracoSuave]

Well, that and effects that have you move to a place (for example, move adjascent to) rather than a distance - but those are also dealt with in the above mentioned box.

Even those are optional. If it tells you to move someone or yourself to a specific place, you do not have to move.