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It would appear, even after playing a number of games, I still haven't quite understood exactly how the dodge skill works:

My assumption was, that any dodge always grants a move of up to half the MOV value and that this movement may be completed regardless of the success of any rolls made.

Examples:

1. Active figure A declares move, reactive figure R declares shoot, A declares dodge.
now either:
1a. A wins Ftf roll, moves MOV, then moves MOV/2, avoiding the shot.
or:
1b. R wins Ftf roll, A moves MOV, then moves MOV/2, recieving a shot (and possibly falling dead/unconscious at the end of all movement)

2. Active figure A shoots at reactive figure R, R declares dodge.
either:
2a. R wins Ftf roll, moves MOV/2, avoids being shot.
or:
2b. A wins Ftf, R moves MOV/2, gets hit (possibly falling dead/unconscious at the end of all movement)

This assumption is based on:
1. An example on the "Orders and Order Reserve" page of the wiki, wherein movement is carried out, no matter what the result of any shooting might be.
2. The Dodge rule stating "A Dodging figure can spend the rest of his Order to carry out or finish his Movement." without explaining whether this requires a seperate short move order or is incorporated into the dodge skill.

Reading the rules for Dodge again, it could however be argued, that the way we have been playing Example 1 was wrong, since the half move is only explicitly given in ARO.

Regarding Example 2 the main question is: Is a dodging model always allowed to complete the movent of MOV/2 (or any other short movent that does not require a roll), or does failure to win the Ftf roll (or succeeding in a normal roll) mean the figure cannot move at all?

If you think any of this is incorrect, please tell me why it is.
Any insight would be appreciated.

Yeah your playing it wrong.

First, the Active player never get the half move for dodging. ONLY the Reactive player gets the half move bonus.

Next the reactive player only get the half move bonus if he wins the FtF roll.

Yup.

NO movement attached to "Dodge" skill in ACTIVE turn.

ARO dodge gains a 1/2 FIRST mov value ONLY if successful (if a f2f roll, this means BEATING ALL incoming shots, not JUST under your Phys stat).

In 3rd ed, the ARO move will be 2" (unless kinematica skill is present) regardless of first mov value.

Dodging is something that we play wrong when we use it because we rarely ever do it. We tend to either, in the active turn, make a second move and hope that range modifiers make them miss, and in the reactive turn, shoot back even with a terrible chance. When we do dodge, we tend to forget the move in reaction bonus.

We really need to look at using dodge properly.

Ok thanks, that clears it up.

I also found where it says why.
The face to face rolls section explicitely states:

"In a Face to Face roll the winner nullifies the action of his adversary. For example [...] a Dodge move in ARO is not performed."

I like this game a lot. But sometimes the rules do my head in.

 Cryptonomicon wrote:
Ok thanks, that clears it up.

I also found where it says why.
The face to face rolls section explicitely states:

"In a Face to Face roll the winner nullifies the action of his adversary. For example [...] a Dodge move in ARO is not performed."

I like this game a lot. But sometimes the rules do my head in.

Don't worry it is a great rule set, that is very badly laid out. We all hope N3 will be better laid out, as that "for example" part should really just be a extra line under the Dodge rule.