Question about Reaction

[chaosnet]

In my last session, my group ran into one of the mechanics that seemed a bit odd. I will narrate about the mechanic below:

The villainous Red Rock is attacking Bobcat with his granite fists in an attempt to physically stress out the hero. Bobcat uses his animalistic powers to evade Red Rock by leaping and flipping into the air to avoid the evil brawler.

Red Rock - D8 Solo, D8 Distinction (Champion Boxer), D10 Super Strength (from the Endowed by the Red Rock of Mars power set), D8 Combat Expert. 3D8+D10 and scores a 3,6,7,7 and chooses a 14 Total, D8 Effect.

Bobcat - D10 Solo, D8 Distinction (Animal Magnetism), D10 Super Reflexes (from the Animal Totem power set), D8 Combat Expert. 2D8+2D10 and scores a 2,6,10,10 and chooses a 16 Total with a D10 Effect. He notices that he beat Red Rock's total and decides to apply the D10 Effect against Red Rock's Emotional Stress narrating that he "rakes his claws across Red Rock's back, enraging the villain as he lands in a crouch tensed to spring and attack". Bobcat spends 1 PP and applies the stress.

So...Red Rock suffers a D10 Emotional Stress, but is there any thing that Red Rock can do to mitigate this? Red Rock was the attacker and Bobcat was in reaction mode, but it just seems a bit odd. Going this route, all Bobcat has to do is keep enough PPs available to do this on each of Red Rocks attacks and between this stress (or asset/complication creation) and the effects generated by his own attacks...Bobcat would make short work of his opponent.

[EldritchFire]

That's how it works. It might seem odd, but it's an option open to all characters. Heck, Watcher only needs to spend a d6 from the doom pool to apply any size die as a reactionary effect die.

There are some who have house ruled that you can only counterattack on an opportunity. It cuts down on the perceived craziness.

-EF

[chaosnet]

Thanks EF!

[Supplanter]

There are some who have house ruled that you can only counterattack on an opportunity. It cuts down on the perceived craziness.

But before you do that, as I always say*, think about how a fight between Daredevil and the Enforcers goes if you make it harder for DD to use his effect die from a reaction roll. Or hell, DD versus three muggers! NOT treated as a mob.


Jim

*We know, Jim. You do always say this. Every freaking time . . .

[salsa]

I've used the RAW and it proves to be quite useful. Sometimes you don't get lucky during an attack roll, but you do in a reaction roll. And vice-versa.

If you fail but you get a higher effect you step back the attempt effect die. If you succeed you have the option of inflicting/creating free stress/complication/asset. The problem is that the reaction always has the upper hand thanks to the first capability (sometimes lessing the effect if you fail).

The tactical thing here is thinking ahead of your opponent. If you declare an attempt that is giving him the opportunity to gather a massive amount of d10s and d12s, then it's time to change the strategy. Something is definately wrong. His durability is d12? Create a complication that won't give him the chance to use durability or describe an emotional or mental attack that only remotely grants a possibility of using Durability in a reaction pool.

[MidnightBlue]

And of course there's also the fact that it costs the character a PP point.

This isn't a freebie option, you've got to choose to pay for it...and that cost might mean one less SFX usage or some other benefit later on down the road.

[salsa]

And of course there's also the fact that it costs the character a PP point.

This isn't a freebie option, you've got to choose to pay for it...and that cost might mean one less SFX usage or some other benefit later on down the road.

This.