Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group

[CitizenKeen]

Okay, this is bordering on a rules question, but I didn't just want to know what the official rule was, I also wanted to get a feel for table etiquette.

A player character is Shaken. When do you allow them to spend a Bennie to be unShaken, and when is it too late?

1. Sometime before #2.
   
2. The GM's turn in the initiative comes up.
   
3. The GM picks an NPC to act.
   
4. The GM declares the NPC is attacking.
   
5. The GM declares the NPC is attacking the Shaken PC.
   
6. The GM rolls against the Shaken PC.
   
7. The GM hits the Shaken PC.
   
8. The GM rolls damage against the Shaken PC.
   
9. The GM damages the Shaken PC.
   
10. Sometime after 9.

Just trying to get a sense of when it's too late for a PC to spend a Bennie (because knowing my players, they'll hold out til the last second).

Thank you very much!

[samuraicrab]

I let them unshake IMMEADETLY after getting shaken.

[Boldfist]

Greetings!

From the Deluxe (pg 68 )

Spending Bennies: A player may spend a Benny at any
time to remove his Shaken status. If it’s currently his action,
he may act as if he gained a raise on the Spirit roll.

The emphasis is mine, but this really does mean at any time! Even after damage has been determined.
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Norm "No Relation" Hensley

[CitizenKeen]

Okay, so just so we're clear - and whatever the consensus is I'm okay with - if a character is Shaken already, is attacked, is hit and takes damage, in that infinitesimally small moment between when the DM says "You take a wound" (because the PC was Shaken) and when the PC marks it on their character sheet, they can spend a Bennie, be unShaken, and then instead of taking a wound they're just reShaken?

If that's okay with all of you, that's okay with me! It just flies in the face of my D&D experience (bad habits, I know).

Edit: Oh, and thank you both.

[SavageGamerGirl]

By the rules, they can spend a literally at any time to become unshaken.

They can only roll to become unshaken on their turn.

And the "at any time" means that the character can wait until his turn comes up, roll to become unshaken, and if that roll fails, he can just spend a benny then and become unshaken. This is a good tactic to use if the character goes before the enemies the next round. On a good roll, he might not need to spend the benny at all.
_________________
'But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.
'Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: 'we're all mad here.'
The Order of the Dice... OF DOOM!

[jpk]

I'm pretty much with BoldFist on this one.

It is, though, your game. If something really doesn't sit right with you, go with it. I would suggest, though, if there's a time you're not going to let them spend a Benny to unshake, you make it clear when that is and remind them when it's coming 'round again.

[Clint]

[CitizenKeen]

No, it's all good. Thank you! I get the "at any time," and that it can happen out of turn and on your turn right after you fail a roll, etc.

But my players are prone to not spending resources unless they think I'm going to target them ("Oh, you hit me with the crossbow? I'm not Shaken," etc.), so I wanted to make sure where the line was drawn, which is apparently nowhere.

I've heard comments on the... how shall I say... savagery of Savage Worlds (DO YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE), so I don't want to take away options from the players from the default rules, at least not for half a dozen sessions.

Thank you all for your help!

[amerigoV]

[jpk]

[catalac]

[dentris]

[Clint]

[Boldfist]