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Re: DECIDE implementation notes
As a way to implement defense rolling before knowing 'hits', you might simply consider requiring that any PC using All-Out Defense, Retreat (including drop), feverish defense, and Defensive Attack MUST declare defense rolls before knowing whether an attack hits.
In this way, any PC choice bonus to defense (not DB from Shields and the like) can only be utilized if you commit to the defense earlier. The "penalty'' for not deciding earlier is the lack of improved defensive options.
I myself think that it is probably unnecessary, and would just use the standard DECIDE idea, as it is simple and elegant (and I don't much care for the +1 concept).
To me, a fighter who is skilled enough to gauge whether an opponent will probably hit is probably using an Evaluate maneuver to observe him closely, and will get another type of benefit from his observation (he may 'waste' a defense on a miss), but he'll get a +1 to hit next turn.