Spat
Posts: 95
Joined: Sat 04 Jan 2020, 13:32

Re: Problems with "Protect companion" task

Tue 30 Nov 2021, 19:44

You can also see the problem the other way round :
you don't assume a defensive stance because you know what the opponent will do, you assume it because one of your companion is having trouble, or is wounded, and would risk death if hurt one more time.
The decision comes from your will to help someone, not to count your actions.
If, in the end, the monster chooses another target then the wounded companion is safe.
The LM could specify if the monster seems to target someone in particular if it is the case, or if this monster just hits randomly, not to surprise the players.
 
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EvoDoesGood
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon 25 Oct 2021, 18:44

Re: Problems with "Protect companion" task

Tue 30 Nov 2021, 21:37

One thing you could do if you wanted to hybridize the rule is make it so that the "Protect" action does affect only one other player, but in a pinch the one protecting can change to anther target on a successful Awareness check. Thematically, this would represent the character's spacial awareness and the fact that we can only focus on so many tasks at any given time.
But that's just my two cents
 
Dunheved
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Location: UK

Re: Problems with "Protect companion" task

Wed 01 Dec 2021, 10:48

As the OP notes, in TOR 1e, the Protector could still attack normally if there were no actual attack on the other PC. Acting in Defensive stance meant that the Protector took their turn late in the round anyway, so it still "felt right" narratively. Samwise held back, ready to intervene for Frodo's sake if that thin goblin leapt in on his blind side. A moment later he could see that the thin goblin was instead now thrusting at Pippin, leaving Sam to swing around and swipe at the wolf engaged with poor Fatty Bolger . Well, that sort of thing.

Just because the RAW does not specifically include this option (as it did in 1e), it hardly seems game breaking to employ it again. When in doubt the version 1e material can surely be quoted (if you have it) as illustrative of an idea where the 2e version has not been specific otherwise.

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