User blog comment:Kagimizu/SFW Improvement/@comment-4232858-20120706013852/@comment-4949841-20120706020356

The thing is, this debate goes around so often from roleplay to roleplay, forum to forum, site to site, but it all boils down simply to fairness and trust. The topic at hand requires paragraphs of explanations which I'll attempt to cover as much as I can.

Autohitting is a problem because it brings numerous problems. First, autohitting allows room for direct one-hit kill attacks which, if acceptable, would mean no one could do anything about it. Second, autohitting dictates that the opponent has zero chance of avoiding even if the attack was easily avoidable by even the stoutest of characters (a ki attack that takes several seconds to prepare and fire can easily be avoided or moved away from). Third, the fight does not become a contest of whom is more strategical in their combat, but just a back and forth session of two people trying to overpower one another. Like a Bleach fight, really.

But then there's the case of lack of autohitting and constant dodge; Is there a risk of constant dodging? Sure there is. Is there a constant risk of both sides doing that? Obviously. Can it be controlled? Yes it can. It's all down to trust. A general rule of thumb, or rather a rule of courtesy and not actually specifically enforced, is that for every hit you take the opponent should also take one in return, though not necessarily immediately after you're hit. Constant dodging can be taken if various ways; a character who is naturally quick, agile and has good reaction will be adept in dodging slow moving or slow-charging attacks. Likewise a character who is not very adept in combat training will likely take hits more often than none. It's all about power gauging and logistics.

So how is autohitting controlled? Besides the two explanations above --rule of courtesy and general character gauging-- characters who are constantly dodging over and over despite being moderate characters can be labelled for Godmodding under powerplaying rules; making your character stronger by either overplaying his abilities as noted on their character page or by making up random things he can do is powerplaying.

So I hope this helps.