Sidestep & Frenzy

[Sherwin]

Righto - this came up in a game. Before I go forth into the world, to stand on the frozen dawn, the icy line, and stare into the future.. and fall down and hit my head at the GT, I'd like to know the answer. I've looked elsewhere, and cannot find clarification. My apologies if this wastes someones time.

My player has Frenzy. He blocks a player with Sidestep. The Sidestep player choses his square, and I follow up and make my second block as per usual. Thats normal.

For the first block in that sequence, can the player with Sidestep chose to go back into the square occupied by the blocking Frenzy player?

I see it as a controlled chain of events, with the only difference to normal blocking being the second block, and lack of choice with regards to following up. You block, you push, and then you follow up. I.e no.

Others have argued that becuase it is a simultaneous block, push and follow up, the sidestep player can chose to sidestep into the square occupied by the blocking player (i.e step behind him as he charges forward I guess..).

Please someone clarify the official rules for this?

[Grumbledook]

no you have to go into a empty square

though assuming they are all occupied I would still say you can't go into the square of the player blocking you

though the rules don't say otherwise, so by the letter of the rules you could iirc

[Digger Goreman]

You choose the empty square BEFORE follow-up... and, if there are no empty squares AT THAT MOMENT, then you cannot use sidestep!

[Gropah]

You choose the empty square BEFORE follow-up... and, if there are no empty squares AT THAT MOMENT, then you cannot use sidestep!

Is it a normal pushback then?

[Pug]

Yup

[Grumbledook]

oh yer of course it is

DUH

[DoubleSkulls]

You choose the empty square BEFORE follow-up... and, if there are no empty squares AT THAT MOMENT, then you cannot use sidestep!

Exactly right. This applies for grab too

[Sherwin]

Thankyou. Much appreciated.