EVADE (2178)
Syntax: This is an automatic skill. The extremely nimble may learn to try to avoid any physical attack, from the swordsman's jab to a rogue's handful of hurled dirt to the body rush of a crazed berserker. Utilizing a mix of wits, reflexes, and creativity, the defender can escape any such harm directed his way. While a large, clumsy giant may attempt to use this technique, they will rarely find it successful. Even the most agile of combatants will find this more of an occasional reprieve than a reliable method of avoiding harm. All characters with sufficient dexterity can potentially evade a blow, though practicing the Evade skill greatly improves the chances of doing so. A character can never evade a regular melee (automatic) attack during combat. Evade checks against skills that are actively used via a command, such as pincer, dirt kick, flurry, bash, and so on. To put it another way, a character will never dodge something that can be evaded, and will never evade something that can be dodged. Mechanical Note: The Evade skill is far more concerned with dexterity than your actual evade skill. The absolute best chance a character can have to evade under optimal conditions (including having certain edges) is about 12%. See also: DODGE, PARRY, SHIELD BLOCK, EVASIVE