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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Garthanos" data-source="post: 5090587" data-attributes="member: 82504">Here is a thread ... <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/4e-fan-creations-house-rules/264170-having-pcs-roll-defenses-rather-than-dm-rolling-attacks.html" target="_blank">http://www.enworld.org/forum/4e-fan-creations-house-rules/264170-having-pcs-roll-defenses-rather-than-dm-rolling-attacks.html</a>But here is my take.On the Player Character sheet you now record the Defenses without the base 10 value and the player rolls d20 instead and adds… it is compared to an Attack value which is static 10 + mods for the NPC’s.(it is supposed to be 12 if you want to maintain the odds but I have low player count and sneak things like this in --- shush dont tell).The DM describes an attack (and the nature of its primary effects generally and what defense it is against).. Basically you describe the start of the attack without its full... culmination just like a player might do.The player should then describe how this attack against their character is minimized by luck and energy and skill! The difference between the description for a failed defense (unless that hit reduces you below 0 hp) and a successful one … is pretty much how desparate or last second it normally seems and/or how much apparent energy/luck it takes to accomplish, even a successful defense could be described many ways... ranging from the bad guy doing really poorly, the character doing really well with the ability associated with defense, or the character getting wierdly lucky if that is the pc’s style. The lucky hero, the tough hero, magical hero and skilled heros the archetype often inspires the nature of there defense.  Note A magical hero can even describe his defensive actions and how they minimize his injuries in terms of his magic, just make it fit the theme of your character... exploit what you do with your at-wills perhaps.Which of the attributes you use for your defensive actions may also affect how you describe it,(is it Intelligence representing forethought and predicting your enemies actions so reacting almost before they act or is it dexterity defense without a thought nerves of lightning) but they dont always have to. ie. which attribute is luck? and which matters if you just feel like describing a quirky sort of jinx like failure on the enemies attacks? A d20 is a pretty hefty impact and can overshadow your defensive values. Did you luck out and the armor take more of the hit than it seemed (heavy armor?)It becomes a descriptive choice. A hit that reduces the character below zero hp might best be described by the DM who then includes after effects, this is the point were a true wound mechanic might come in to play.Yes I cut an pasted too. I do roll the enemy damage against them but I am thinking about alternatives I don't like rolling.</blockquote>

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