Jefffar wrote:Danger wrote:
Read the description carefully. R:UE pg. 347.
The mechanics of Simultaneous Strike are clearly intended for melee. It discusses parrying, dodging, and entangling, two of which are clearly Melee-Only defensive options. It then further states that someone with Paired Weapons, again a Melee-Only skill, can engage in a simultaneous strike with one weapon and attack or parry with the other weapon.
Even the descriptive dialogue seems to confirm this: "Go ahead, HIT me; I can take it." Not, "Go ahead, SHOOT me; I can take it."
There is nothing in the description of this maneuver that states it can be used in ranged combat.
Now, perhaps you may think I'm being too literal in my interpretation. I get that. So let's look at the logic of the maneuver.
Logically, how can a person in a suit of Power Armor use Simultaneous Strike when he is 500 yards away from his opponent, who is also in a suit of Power Armor? Do they somehow know the exact moment their opponent is going to hit the button to fire their Mixmaster 5000 Laser Can-Opener?
Does Simultaneous Strike somehow confer the power of telepathy or sixth-sense to all ranged combatants?
It's silly.
1) Dodging - as you mentioned above - is a defence agaisnt ranged attack.
It is, but as I read the maneuver, it seems to only imply it is referring to melee attacks. There are no examples provided that suggest it is intended for, or can be used in ranged combat. It is also not included in the rules recap (and additions) in the Ranged Combat section, unlike Critical Strikes for example.
Roll with Impact is also both a melee and ranged defense; it just isn't affected by Simultaneous Strike.
Jefffar wrote:[For some characters, so is parrying.
For such a select few that there is no need to mention it. I had thought that Cyber-Knights could do so with Psi Shield, but I've not been able to find anything to support that. I'm at a loss to think of anyone else who can do so. As such, it is not a standard defense from ranged attacks. I've venture to say that less than 1% of available O.C.C./R.C.C.s have that as an option.
Jefffar wrote:[2) You don't need telepathy do do a simultaneous strike, you just choose to attack rather than defend (ie that guy is shooting at me, shooting back).
What you're describing is simply using your action to attack, rather than spending it to dodge. This isn't a Simultaneous Strike, simply a standard progression of a Combat Round.
Jefffar wrote:[3) Example of a ranged simultaneous strike in the flavour text on page 189 of new west as a Cyborg shooting a Psi-Slinger even while the rounds are hitting him.
Some New West O.C.C.s may have this as an exception, and I'd accept that. However, flavor text isn't necessarily proof of any rule, any more than artwork is.
Jefffar wrote:[4) Paired weapons applies to ranged weapons as of the New West book.
For a select few O.C.C.s, not even the book as a whole.
Jefffar wrote:[5) Nothing in the description of the amnouvre explicitly restricts it from ranged combat.
Nothing in the text says it can be used in ranged combat either, and again, not only does the description of the maneuver seem to be expressly for Melee, but neither the mechanics or the logic support it.
Jefffar wrote:[I haven't found it yet, but I am sure I read a rule by rule description of a simultaneous attack between gunfighters. As you can guess from above, I've checked New West, but it may have been in an FAQ or somewhere else. When I can find the page number I'll post it definitively. But IIRC it went kinda like this:
The two gunfighters roll initiative, high roll shoots first, second has the choice of trying to dodge, or taking the hit and shooting back simultaneously so his opponent can't dodge.
If you can find the book & pg. no. I'd love to check it out.