Bear Strength and Counterstrike

[adanaz]

Hey guys,

I have read a lot about melee +x affecting only the first attack of a triplestrike etc.  It may exist and I just have not found it, though I have made a fairly decent search of the rulebook, supplement and forum, but I just want to clarify:

a) Does [mwcard=MW1E01]Bear Strength[/mwcard] grant a melee +2 to a creature's counterstike when guarding?

b) Does the [mwcard=MW1C09]Darkfenne Hydra[/mwcard] get the melee +2 from [mwcard=MW1E01]Bear Strength[/mwcard] when attacked when not guarding?

I'm not 100% sure but think that they do in both instances.

Thanks

[Boocheck]

I will definetly get Ninjaed while typing this

Well, most suitable answer would be describing whole attack sequence.

1. Declare attack
2. Avoid attack
3. Roll dice (here, melee +x apply)
4. Damage and Effects
5. Additional Strikes (doublestrike or triple strike and NO melee +X apply)
6. Damage Barier
7. Counterstrike
8. Attack Ends

If you do counterstrike,

1. Declare attack
2. Avoid attack
3. Roll dice (here, melee +x apply)
4. Damage and Effects
5. Additional Strikes (doublestrike or triple strike and NO melee +X apply)
6. Damage Barier
7. Counterstrike (counterstrike dosent activate another counterstrike)
8. Attack Ends

So, for your questions

a) YES
b) YES

In http://www.arcanewonders.com/resources/Mage_Wars_Official_Rules_and_Codex_Supplement.pdf it is on page number 3.

[adanaz]

Thanks Boocheck.  Nicely presented.

[Zuberi]

Melee +X can apply to any melee attack, including counterstrikes, but it can only apply to one attack per attack action. You do not really get a choice which attack it applies to either, as it has to apply to the first possible one, but the first possible one is not always the first attack in the sequence.

For example, you could use the Hydra's triple strike and wait until after the first attack finishes before revealing Bear Strength. This would then grant the Melee +2 bonus to your second attack.

Similarly, if you attack an uninjured creature with [mwcard=MW1C17]Goran, Werewolf Pet's[/mwcard] doublestrike then the first attack would not get the Bloodthirsty bonus, but the second one would (assuming the first does damage).

I know this isn't something you asked about, Boocheck already answered your primary question, but it is a subtle rule often overlooked that I felt pertained to your inquiry.

[adanaz]

Thanks for those interesting points Zuberi. They could come in useful.