Strike Declaration phase

I've never quit understood the strike declaration phase. I know the attacking vampire has to declare its strike first. What confuses me is the following situation. Vampire A bleeds Vampire B (who has a Bomb) blocks Vampire A declares "strike with fist" Vampire B declares "blow the bomb" If Vampire A has a Dodge in his hand can he now use it? Or since Vampire A has to declare his strike first must he declare his dodge first? I just find this weird, since the attacker _can_not_ win this fight. If Vamp A "strikes with fist", Vamp B blows the bomb. If Vamp A "dodges", Vamp B doesn't use the bomb, and vamp A wastes his dodge. If someone can explain this to me, or point me to an URL or a rule book reference (not I only have a Jyhad rule book) which would clear this up, I would be grateful. If possible please reply by e-mail as well, Thanks for your time, Shaun Jackman

Shaun Jackman wrote: > > I've never quit understood the strike declaration phase. > I know the attacking vampire has to declare its strike first. > What confuses me is the following situation. > Vampire A bleeds > Vampire B (who has a Bomb) blocks > Vampire A declares "strike with fist" > Vampire B declares "blow the bomb" > If Vampire A has a Dodge in his hand can he now use it? No. > Or since Vampire A has to declare his strike first must he declare his > dodge first? Yes. > I just find this weird, since the attacker _can_not_ win this fight. > If Vamp A "strikes with fist", Vamp B blows the bomb. > If Vamp A "dodges", Vamp B doesn't use the bomb, and vamp A wastes his > dodge. Hardly a waste, if he gets to live. > If someone can explain this to me, or point me to an URL or a rule book > reference (not I only have a Jyhad rule book) which would clear this up, > I would be grateful. Strike announcement/resolution still works the same as described in the Jyhad rulebook ("Choose Strike" heading in section 15.1). The VTES rulebook in ascii format can be found at http://Rulemonger.Home.ML.Org -- L. Scott Johnson (vte...@wizards.com) Official VtES Net.Rep for Wizards of the Coast. (*) - Subject to review by Rules Team

Shaun Jackman wrote: > > I've never quit understood the strike declaration phase. > I know the attacking vampire has to declare its strike first. > What confuses me is the following situation. > Vampire A bleeds > Vampire B (who has a Bomb) blocks > Vampire A declares "strike with fist" > Vampire B declares "blow the bomb" > If Vampire A has a Dodge in his hand can he now use it? > Or since Vampire A has to declare his strike first must he declare his > dodge first? > I just find this weird, since the attacker _can_not_ win this fight. > If Vamp A "strikes with fist", Vamp B blows the bomb. > If Vamp A "dodges", Vamp B doesn't use the bomb, and vamp A wastes his > dodge. > Vamp A must dodge as his strike if he wishes to avoid the bomb. When you declare your strike you are locked into that decision. The strike phase order almost always favors the defender (the exception being pre-range stuff where it is often better to go first, i.e. thoughts betrayed.)

Shaun Jackman wrote: > I've never quit understood the strike declaration phase. > I know the attacking vampire has to declare its strike first. > What confuses me is the following situation. > Vampire A bleeds > Vampire B (who has a Bomb) blocks > Vampire A declares "strike with fist" > Vampire B declares "blow the bomb" > If Vampire A has a Dodge in his hand can he now use it? > Or since Vampire A has to declare his strike first must he declare his > > dodge first? > I just find this weird, since the attacker _can_not_ win this fight. > They can: with damage prevention, dodge additional strikes, etc. If this were not the case, the bomb would be useless. That is why people use a minion equipped with a bomb to block. In fact, when I block with someone equipped with a bomb, I am almost certain I will lose them. No-one will act against you unless they have a sure way of getting around the big boom. David Naseby