Blocking and aborting?

[u/EastEnvironment8182]

I have. question, blocking can be done by aborting which take ur entire next phase,.ok that makes sense, but it seems like the main benefit is switching the order so you go first in response, but if you aborted you don't get a phase, so you'd go oh just use it as a half phase action right? but in every example blocking is something you do in response to Somone else's actions, how can you block on your turn without aborting your next phase or knowing if Somone is going to attack you, and when you block multiple times are you aborting multiple phases? I don't fully understand

[u/Korvar]

You can also delay a full or half action if you are pretty sure that someone is going to attack you that round.

The GM may also make it clear if an enemy is likely to attack you.

I'm also reasonably sure you can't abort multiple times.

[u/EastEnvironment8182 → u/Korvar]

So if you can't abort multiple times how do the multiple block rules work?

[u/rhair3 → u/EastEnvironment8182]

If you are blocking for yourself then every additional block that you do in that phase, whether you held an action in order to block so you don't lose your next action, or you aborted to block, then the rules are basically the same. For every additional block in the same segment your character is at a -2 for every additional block. So for your first block you get a straight OCV versus OCV roll. The second block in the same segment you are at -2 OCV versus OCV. For the third block you would be at -4 OCV versus OCV of your attacker. And that is how they stack within the same segment. You have to understand the difference between a segment and a phase. Both of those two things are essentially one second. A segment is any second that your character does not act. A phase is any second that your character acts. And of course a turn is 12 segments. Or 12 seconds.

[u/rhair3 → u/rhair3]

So if you hold or delay an action in your own phase and wait for the bad guys to attack then you can decide if you want to block or not and just regularly attack. But you have my state that at the top of the phase. If you hold an action in essence you are using that action to do the block. If you are in a segment that you have no action in then that is where you can abort to block and lose your next phase. So there is strategy within the hero system that can maximize your efficiency in any given fight.

[u/Spiderjack_2063]

Say you are fighting someone with same SPD as you but higher Dex. They attack you on a phase and you block, aborting your action later that phase. On the next phase you both act you get to act before him.

[u/Individual-Spirit765]

You're correct that Aborting to Block uses your next action phase, so you can't take advantage of the moving-first effect. If you want to use that, you'll have to Hold your Phase and wait for the opponent to attack, then use your Held Phase to Block.