Escaping Combat

[Nerulla]

i have a question regarding these rules please.

Any close combat stance: Escape Combat
“Fly! This is a foe beyond any of you.”
A hero who spent his previous round in a rearward
stance may flee the combat zone at the beginning of a
round.
Companions engaged in close combat may attempt to
escape when their turn to act comes.
At the end of a combat round spent fighting in a close
combat stance, a player-hero may attempt to escape the
field by making a roll of Athletics. The TN for the roll is
equal to 10 plus the highest Attribute level among the
opponents that the character is facing.
On a successful roll, the companion has successfully
escaped. A great or extraordinary success is needed
if the hero was engaged by multiple opponents. If the
escape attempt fails, the acting hero remains engaged
and cannot attack when his next turn to act comes.

Rearward stance is very straight forward. but how does escaping from a close stance work? the rules state you make the roll on your turn and then in the next sentence say you make the roll at the end of the round. i think i'm misinterpreting the rules so any clarification would be appreciated.

[poosticks7]

I read it as:

Any hero can attempt to escape the field by making a roll of Athletics. The TN for the roll isequal to 10 plus the highest Attribute level among the opponents that the character is facing. This happens in the heroes turn, but he doesn't actually escape until the end of the round, so foes can take a swipe at him.

It is worded a little funny and maybe someone else reads it another way.

[Hermes Serpent]

I read it as you fight on your action in the Heroes part of the combat round and at the end (before the next round starts) roll the Athletics test to see if you escape. This way going first means the enemy gets to hit you but going second means they don't. [Edit} Basically Poosticks7 and I agree.

IIRC this was brought up on the old forums so I'll take a look and see if Francesco or anyone said any different.

[Nerulla]

ok so if this is the case then does the player still get to attack on the same turn they tried to escape since it says if you fail you miss your next attack?

[Angelalex242]

Well, if Brave Sir Robin runs away, I'd think certain traits, like swift and nimble might help, and athletics isn't the only way to flee, stealth might work too. A hobbit's art of disappearing virtue could also lead to fleeing.

[Elmoth]

I read it as:

Any hero can attempt to escape the field by making a roll of Athletics. The TN for the roll isequal to 10 plus the highest Attribute level among the opponents that the character is facing. This happens in the heroes turn, but he doesn't actually escape until the end of the round, so foes can take a swipe at him.

It is worded a little funny and maybe someone else reads it another way.

I read exactly like poosticks7. You try to flee instead of attacking (so do not attack) but can be attacked before you are out of harm's way.

[Hermes Serpent]

The roll for escaping happens after your attack but if you fail to escape you lose your next attack. Because it says 'at the end of the turn' it must be after your action and your action/attack occurs before the roll to escape.

Elmoth has it wrong according to both the RAW and prior discussion on the old forum. Both poosticks7 and I read it as the roll happens after your attack.

1. Start of round
2. Choose stances AB 157/8
3. Heroes make attacks from Close to Rearward stance in Wits order AB 158
3a. Your turn to act comes around and you choose to Escape and roll Athletics TN10+AL AB 163
4. Enemy makes attacks
5. Escape
6. New round starts
(Point 3 and point 4 may switch according to Initiative)

The RAW do not say you choose to forgo your attack as it does for other non-Combat Tasks but state "after a round spent fighting in a close combat stance" AB p163

[helghast]

Francesco stated in the old forums that the rules for "Escaping Combat" were quite confusing in the RAW. So he pointed out that all escaping attempts should take place at the beginning of the round (before choosing stances). If you fought in rearward stance last round, you escape automatically, if not, you have to roll against Athletics. Failing this check makes you lose your next attack.

Sorry for providing no link. The Old Forum is down so i can`t find the posts by using google.

I just remember,it was a topic regarding combat tasks in general and the question if you lose your attack or not by choosing a certain combat task.

[Rich H]

Well, if Brave Sir Robin runs away, I'd think certain traits, like swift and nimble might help,

Not sure I'd allow that given a strict interpretation of the rules...

The Loremaster may agree with a Trait invocation to speed up play, especially if failing at the roll would not lead
to dramatically relevant consequences, or if the action wasn’t difficult.

I don't think any of those apply to attempting to escape combat.

and athletics isn't the only way to flee, stealth might work too.

I wouldn't apply Stealth as the opponent can see them. That skill's more about primarily going unnoticed whereas fleeing combat is about escaping you're already existing opponent(s). Athletics therefore fits.

A hobbit's art of disappearing virtue could also lead to fleeing.

Not really as per the RAW. It really isn't used for that although I would allow it to be used before such combat started - ie, to hide and avoid the battle and that could then be used to appear later on in the combat, which would be quite a nice use of it.

[Rich H]

Sorry for providing no link. The Old Forum is down so i can`t find the posts by using google.

If you take a loo through the link in the following thread you may be able to find what you're looking for: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=198

... I've had a quick scan and can't find anything mentioned by Francesco but someone with a higher Search rating may have better luck!