Defense

Defense Cheat Sheet (Against Ranged, Melee, or Indirect Spellcasting Attacks)

Attributes & Skills Needed

• Reaction – Used to build your defense pool

• Body – Used when soaking damage

• Dodge – Added to defense against melee attacks

• Gymnastics – Optional when not using Full Defense

Defense Variables

• Full Defense – Whether you’re spending a Complex Action for full defense

• Wound Modifier – Subtract from defense pool if injured

• Prior Attacks Defended – Subtract from pool

• Other Modifiers – Situational modifiers from rules

• Attacker’s Hits – Roll total from attacker

• Your Hits – Roll total from defender

• Attacker’s Net Hits – Attacker’s hits minus your hits

• Modified DV – Damage value after net hits added to weapon DV

• Attacker’s Weapon DV & AP – Used to decide damage type

• Your Armor Rating – Used in damage soak

Defense Steps

Step 1: Build Your Defense Pool

1. Choose whether to spend your current or next Complex Action for Full Defense.

2. Add your Reaction to your pool.

3. If defending against a melee attack, add your Dodge to your pool.

4. If you are using Full Defense:

   • Add either your Dodge (possibly again) or your Gymnastics.

   • If defending melee, you may instead add the melee weapon skill you are using (Unarmed included).

   • Only one of the above may be added.

5. Subtract any Wound Modifier from your pool.

6. Subtract one for each prior attack you have defended against since your last action.

7. Add or subtract any other modifiers (e.g., situational modifiers from rules).

Step 2: Roll & Compare
8. Roll your defense dice pool. Note your hits.
9. Subtract your hits from the attacker’s hits:

• If net hits ≤ 0 → You avoid the attack; stop.

• If net hits > 0 → Proceed to damage calculation.

Step 3: Damage Determination
10. Add the attacker’s net hits to the attacker’s weapon DV: this is the modified DV.

• If modified DV > your armor rating – weapon AP, it causes Physical damage.
• Otherwise, it causes Stun damage.

Step 4: Soak Damage
11. Add your Body to your soak pool.
12. Add your Armor Rating (modified by AP) to the soak pool.
13. Roll your soak pool; subtract hits from the modified DV.

• If result > 0 → Apply that amount of damage to the appropriate damage track (Physical or Stun).

Quick Reference Table