defender stumbles

[bound for glory]

"unless the defender uses the dodge skill he is pushed back and then knocked down". for the life of me, i don't know why, but my league always assumed if the defender HAD the skill dodge, he did'nt get knocked down. but upon re-reading the rules, does this mean the defender HAS to roll a dodge to avoid being knocked down? all these years playing bb and funny what you find if you really read the rules...

[Glowworm]

You have been right all along you dont have to make a dodge roll if you have dodge, you are just pushed back unless:

A: the attacker has "Tackle" which negates dodge
or
B: you choose not to use dodge (its not a compulsary skill like say Frenzy)

[Jural]

I think the rules used to read (LRB 4 and earlier?)

"... unless the defender HAS the dodge skill..."

The wording was changed from HAS to USES to allow players to choose not to use Dodge and be knocked down instead of being pushed.

However, using Dodge simply means choosing to stay standing, in this case. I agree, it isn't as clear as it could be!

[bound for glory]

i kinda like the idea you have to make a dodge roll...but thanks for the help clearing it up.

[whitetiger]

naw, that's what makes Tackle worth having. And, it also makes dodge worth having on some players. A 5 AG elf doesn't need the skill to get away from people. He needs it to keep standing.

[Andromidius]

It's also a great doubles skill for a blocker type player. With Block, Dodge and Stand Firm he can only be effected on one roll of the dice (or more if attacked by a Tackle/Wrestle/Juggernaut player).

~Andromidius

[PubBowler]

Edited for excess sarcasm.

Safe to say I think Dodge has a use outside of block dice even on a AG5 player.