Defence stance - defending another

[midden]

Hi

I note the rules let you defend another player if you spend a hope point, but only if they are in Forward or Open. This seems quite a restriction when a player in defence stance with large shield wants to defend their Archer friend in Rearward stance from a volley of arrows. There is plenty of real world realism for defending rear rank archers with front rank shields.

Do you think this is an oversight by the rule makers? any comments on this appreciated.

[Angelalex242]

Because there's no need for it. If a character in rearward can take rearward in the first place, they're immune to enemy attacks unless the enemy has great leap or fell speed.

And in the case of either of those abilities, the enemy would simply fly or jump over the defender to attack the archer anyway.

[Rich H]

Because there's no need for it. If a character in rearward can take rearward in the first place, they're immune to enemy attacks unless the enemy has great leap or fell speed.

And in the case of either of those abilities, the enemy would simply fly or jump over the defender to attack the archer anyway.

That's not true.

From the AB, page 159:

Characters in a Rearward stance may not attack using close combat weapons, and may be targeted only by attackers using ranged weapons.

[SirKicley]

It stands to reason that a Defensive Stance action to "defend ally" should be able to protect their archer friend from enemy ranged attacks.

I wouldn't have a problem ruling that this can happen, though in saying so, I'll admit I haven't actually tried working the mechanics in play yet to see if the mechanics work and do not unbalance anything.


I loved a scene in the first season of Vikings, the vikings stayed in defensive stance holding their shield wall up. Meanwhile two archers in back of the shield wall were lifted up by two other warriors to fire at the english and then lowered back down to reload, then re-lifted to shoot over the wall. Meanwhile the ranks of shields never broke and just held off the melee attackers from the english long enough for the archers to thin their ranks, while long hafted spears were thrust by the vikings behind those shields and were taking out the melee combatants of the english who were slamming themselves against the shields. Awesome display of tactics.

Robert