Dodging Bullets, yeah, yeah, I know... Options

[FrostyNSO]

No matter how fast you are, you're not going to dodge a bullet, unless you were somehow in motion already, in which case, it's the shooter's fault if he misses.

Now has anyone ever played SR and removed the ability to dodge bullets altogether?

We tried this once, just for kicks.

Basically, the only things stopping you from getting hit are cover, movement, and various other modifiers. When we gave this a try, people were running while shooting, diving, sticking guns around corners and blind-firing, firing through obstacles, shooting out the lights, throwing loads on combat pool on shots or damage resistance, wasting tons of ammunition, etc...etc...

Anyone who has ever had a problem with characters having the ability to dodge bullets should definately give this a try. It's like a souped-up John Woo movie :rotfl:

[Austere Emancipa...]

[shadow_scholar]

I'm not certain about this, but I think SR2 didn't have Dodge. If it did, we never even knew about it. Our typical games consisted of taking cover, aiming as straight as you could with your skill, and saving your combat pool for resisting damage, which refreshed on your action. But back then if you were a fast character you went before the snails and could take 'em out easily if you had a high Firearms skill. SR2, the glory days of the Sams.

[kackling kactuar]

[FrostyNSO]

[Vuron]

I've never been that impressed with the dodge mechanic in regards to firearms unless wired reflexes really speeds up human perceptions and abilities into bullet time type effects.

I always thought having something like there being a simple action called evasive action that gives modifies the shooters TN to hit by +2 or +4 (maybe a scaled amount based on quickness or reaction). That way you can simulate characters doing stuff like a fast crouch walk or moving randomly on diagonals. You'd probably want to apply a penalty to distance move etc but it could make for greater realism in the game.

[The Grifter]

[SpasticTeapot]

I think Dodge reflects more the character's ability to percieve, and then duck out of the way of, the muzzle of anything pointed at them. Once the trigger is pulled, anyone but a REALLY fast (1000kph) character is going to be hit; however, the PC could notice the lazer dot on their chest and suddenly move to the side, throwing off the shooter's aim.

[Arethusa]

And of course everyone uses really obvious lasers, especially snipers. If they can, they throw smoke in first to make sure everyone knows they're sniping.

God, that movie was horrible.

[Smiley]

Which?

[Arethusa]

Leon/The Professional.

Man, saying that is going to set this thread off.

[mfb]

i don't know that it was incredibly realistic. but that's a whole different thing from horrible.

[Crimson Jack]

So why say it?

[Arethusa]

[Crimson Jack]

It was good fun. Had a great performance by Gary Oldman.

[Raygun]

Not only was Oldman good in that flick, he had an S&W 610. Sweet.

[Pthgar]

We never used dodge tests. Only two out of our group of seven even know it exists (the two longest playing.) We have no problems with out it. Speeds up combat, at least.

[Crimson Jack]

There are times that it is used in our games, but on a whole, it is pretty much ignored by most of my players. In the game that I play in (not GM), I've had to use it repeatedly to escape getting nailed.

Oh, and my two cents on how it works... I subscribe to the school of thought that one is not dodging the bullet, but dodging where he thinks the attacker is aiming prior to the bullet being fired.

[Wounded Ronin]

Yeah, no dodge test makes for an interesting game. Less candyland, more paranoia and going for the figurative headshot.

[Sharaloth]

If removing the dodge test wouldn't kill every player in my game several times over, I would consider it (not hard, but I'd consider it). I like the dodge mechanic, it allows for more tactical application of the combat pool and gives a chance to the noncombat types who invariably lose initiative to the bad guys with the big guns, let's them get a chance to dive for cover and call for backup. I don't see it as the character dodging the bullets, but rather making a sudden, unexpected move to get out of the line of fire just before that bad guy starts pulling the trigger. And sometimes you're just caught in a position where you can't suddenly jink to the right at the last second (when you're totally out of combat pool). It's no replacement for cover, but it allows for a momentary stay of execution to hopefully rethink things and get in a better position.

[Edward]

You cant dodge a bullet its true, but you can dodge a gun. If your standing in front of a gun that looks like it is about to fire you move quickly in another direction while the trigger is still being pulled.

This is why you can’t dodge on a surprise attack.

Edward

[Kagetenshi]

I am irrationally angered at the continued idea that the dodge pool is meant to represent removing oneself from the path of a bullet already in flight.

~J

[Arethusa]

What's so irrational about that?

[Charon]

So dodge test are bad but karma pool is good?

[Pthgar]

"It's better to be lucky than quick." :sleepy: