How does Power Attack work?

[iriahwhittington]

Hi there, I was wondering how Power Attack works. Does it just cost the 2 Actions and then you do it or is there a delay as in it costs 1 Action and then on your second action you get to throw the Attack etc. I think Aiming works like this, ie the delay.

Also, if the delay approach is correct, how does this affect things like Dodge, Parry and Auto Dodge. Do you get to take any of these defenses or are you just winding up and have to take whatever comes your way until after your Attack is rolled?

Thanks.

[The Beast]

AFAIK, only spell casting official has the spell go off at the end of the delay. All the other multi-attack/action moves are pretty much left to the individual GM to handle.

[Axelmania]

https://palladiumbooks.com/images/Docum ... Eratta.pdf

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probably a better question is: is there anything anyone else can do between the 1st and 2nd to prevent it from working

IE just step out of range

[Killer Cyborg]

https://palladiumbooks.com/images/Documents/Cutting_Room_Floor/Left_Out/RUE_Eratta.pdf

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probably a better question is: is there anything anyone else can do between the 1st and 2nd to prevent it from working

IE just step out of range

I'd go with the same rules for interrupting spellcasting. So heavy fire, taking damage, and so forth.
Ditto for interrupting Aimed/Called shots.

[Soldier of Od]

I agree - I treat it like spellcasting. Also, I allow automatic actions like a parry to be carried out while winding up (or casting spells), but nothing that would cost an action, like a dodge. It might be a little generous if you think about what would realistically be possible, but is fine I think in terms of game balance. I would also say that, yes, the target could simply step back a couple of steps, or try to interrupt the wind up with an attack of their own, or do other things the take advantage of the delay. Probably best used if the target is otherwise occupied or unaware. Power punches are rubbish.

[Axelmania]

I allow automatic actions like a parry to be carried out while winding up (or casting spells), but nothing that would cost an action, like a dodge.

Conceptually I would say that you should be parrying using the opposite limb that you're winding up with, so it should cause a problem for a one-armed man.

Also creates more incentive to try a Power Kick since you don't tend to parry with legs anyway... though there might've been 1 or 2 classes that did this.

[Augur]

I'd go with the same rules for interrupting spellcasting. So heavy fire, taking damage, and so forth.
Ditto for interrupting Aimed/Called shots.

This is precisely how GMs on EU have handled such since 2005.