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The verbiage of mind bolt makes it such that it is a bolt, a ray attack. Bonus to strike. Per page 297 there is no save. Everyone has a chance to defend in some way.

The verbiage is ambiguous as to how a defender may defend themselves. Is it simply a matter of hopping the enemy misses? Or do they get a chance to dodge/parry?

As near as I can tell, there is nothing in the section for psionics about this, nor wording to indicate any form of defensive option. It seems to come down "It just happens, hit or miss."

I checked Rifts: Ultimate Edition as it is the latest version of the 'core' mechanics and it reads the same.

Does anyone know where there is a definitive answer, or is clear as mud and left to GM interpretation?

Tearstone wrote:The verbiage of mind bolt makes it such that it is a bolt, a ray attack. Bonus to strike. Per page 297 there is no save. Everyone has a chance to defend in some way.

The verbiage is ambiguous as to how a defender may defend themselves. Is it simply a matter of hopping the enemy misses? Or do they get a chance to dodge/parry?

As near as I can tell, there is nothing in the section for psionics about this, nor wording to indicate any form of defensive option. It seems to come down "It just happens, hit or miss."

I checked Rifts: Ultimate Edition as it is the latest version of the 'core' mechanics and it reads the same.

Does anyone know where there is a definitive answer, or is clear as mud and left to GM interpretation?

Look at p. 297 again. It mentions dodging a mind bolt as an example of it being appropriate to allow a parry or dodge to a avoid no save attacks. Let people dodge it.

Yes, I read that part. "Such as" is an example. A possibility. Not a hard rule, like the law of conservation of momentum.

I personally allow nearly anything to be attempted. However another person in one of my groups is/was uncertain, so I took it upon myself to get a second (third?) opinion.

In the words of Matt Colville - "The rules are not trying to trick you."

Tearstone wrote:Yes, I read that part. "Such as" is an example. A possibility. Not a hard rule, like the law of conservation of momentum.

I personally allow nearly anything to be attempted. However another person in one of my groups is/was uncertain, so I took it upon myself to get a second (third?) opinion.

In the words of Matt Colville - "The rules are not trying to trick you."

Its not really a question though.
Setting aside the fact that the example clearly states that you can dodge this... the combat section clearly states that you are allowed to dodge attacks unless the attack says otherwise. This is spelled out in the combat order. Roll to strike, followed by the defender getting to roll a defense roll. That means that...wait for it... defenders get a defense roll.
There is no statement that this attack can NOT be dodged, which some attacks do state (making them an exception to the normal rules)
Ergo, RAW you may attempt a dodge.

Er, yeah, Rules As Written it's dodgable at the very least. I'd allow parries if the player had a way to parry energy blasts.

lets not forget also that you need a mind to be mind bolted. you cannot use it on a chair. I do not know why.

Weren't there different writeups of the power where one was explicitly invisible and others weren't?

Axelmania wrote:Weren't there different writeups of the power where one was explicitly invisible and others weren't?

I've at thlways considered that to be at the discretion of the GM. If it's invisible, you cannot dodge it though.