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Out-of-Turn Interaction

 Out-of-Turn Interaction
type
FeatureClass
 Out-of-Turn Interaction
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction
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OutOfTurnInteraction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction
comment
The basic rules of Turn-Based Combat dictate that a player can only act in their turn. During one player's turn, all other players are prohibited from taking action, and must wait until it's their turn to take action. This makes combat and strategizing far easier, but reduces the game's interactivity, as one or more players are essentially locked out of the gameplay outside of their turns.
Some turn-based games have thus introduced effects or mechanics that let players take actions outside of their turn. By allowing players to surprise their enemies with actions outside of their turn, this brings in some of the excitement from the rapid back-and-forth interactivity of real-time games, while remaining within the turn-based mechanical structure.
Depending on the game design, there are a few ways to design this sort of interaction:
Control: Does the owner have free control when the out-of-turn interaction happens, or is it only usable in response to specific conditions set up by the opponent?
Knowledge: Are the conditions and effects of the out-of-turn interaction only known to its owner, or are they also revealed to the opponent?
The more freely the player can take actions outside of their turn, the more the game leans closer to a real-time game.
Note that this trope is not about automatic actions inherent within the game's combat mechanics, such as random misses. Some level of conscious player input is required to qualify as an example of this trope.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction
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2023-03-31T08:58:19Z
 Out-of-Turn Interaction
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2023-03-31T08:58:19Z
 Out-of-Turn Interaction
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Dropped link to BribingYourWayToVictory: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Out-of-Turn Interaction
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Dropped link to Counterspell: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Out-of-Turn Interaction
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 Out-of-Turn Interaction
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Dropped link to EquipmentBasedProgression: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Out-of-Turn Interaction
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 Out-of-Turn Interaction
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 Out-of-Turn Interaction
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Downplayed
 Out-of-Turn Interaction
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_10d303a2
type
Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_10d303a2
comment
The recurring passive skills Counter and "Retaliate may cause the user to attack during the enemy's turn if they're hit with a physical attack. Shin Megami Tensei IV introduces Ally Counter and Ally Retaliate, which cause this to happen if an ally is hit with a physical attack.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_10d303a2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_10d303a2
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1.0
 Shin Megami Tensei IV (Video Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_10d303a2
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_1a8d488a
type
Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_1a8d488a
comment
Munchkin: Curses can be played from your hand at any time, including during another player's turn. The rulebook encourages using them to troll your fellow players by using a curse on them right when they think they've won a difficult combat against a monster.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_1a8d488a
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1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_1a8d488a
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1.0
 Munchkin (Tabletop Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_1a8d488a
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_2f203125
type
Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_2f203125
comment
Shin Megami Tensei:
The recurring passive skills Counter and "Retaliate may cause the user to attack during the enemy's turn if they're hit with a physical attack. Shin Megami Tensei IV introduces Ally Counter and Ally Retaliate, which cause this to happen if an ally is hit with a physical attack.
In Shin Megami Tensei Liberation: Dx2, some skills allow the user to activate a Chain Effect, which occurs when certain conditions are met, and don't affect the user's Press Turns, even if they miss or are blocked in some way.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_2f203125
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1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_2f203125
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1.0
 Shin Megami Tensei (Franchise)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_2f203125
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_3808d26
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_3808d26
comment
In Shin Megami Tensei Liberation: Dx2, some skills allow the user to activate a Chain Effect, which occurs when certain conditions are met, and don't affect the user's Press Turns, even if they miss or are blocked in some way.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_3808d26
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1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_3808d26
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1.0
 Shin Megami Tensei Liberation: Dx2 (Video Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_3808d26
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_4cd32aa7
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_4cd32aa7
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Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay:
By default, creatures with melee weapons get a free out-of-turn attack against an enemy who moves outside their melee range.
In 2nd Edition, a character can spend a half-action to "delay", then cut in at any time before the beginning of their next turn to perform their second half-action.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_4cd32aa7
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1.0
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 Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (Tabletop Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_4cd32aa7
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_4ce5263e
comment
In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, reaction shots such as Overwatch let units attack out of turn, and are triggered in response to enemy actions.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_4ce5263e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_4ce5263e
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 XCOM: Enemy Unknown (Video Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_4ce5263e
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_5755b96a
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The Order of the Stick Adventure Game: The Dungeon of Dorukan includes "Screw This!" cards with special actions and conditions for how and when they can be used. Some, like the card enabling Ninja Looting, can be played when it isn't the player's turn.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_5755b96a
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 The Order of the Stick (Webcomic)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_5755b96a
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_5d79c5f6
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Mao is a largely turn-based card game but has a few effects that apply outside of the turn order:
Any player can give a penalty at any time.
Laying a Jack allows any player to shout out a new suit to change to.
A point of order can be called by any player at any time.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_5d79c5f6
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1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_5d79c5f6
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 Mao (Tabletop Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_5d79c5f6
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
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For the King:
Player characters can swap out their equipped items and pass inventory items to each other at any time, although they can only use consumables during their turn — potentially a major boost, given the Equipment-Based Progression.
"Encourage" is a passive ability that has a chance to trigger during an ally's turn and grant the ally a successful skill roll. "Distraction" is its opposite, forcing a failure on an enemy's turn.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_618bcaf2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_618bcaf2
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1.0
 For the King (Video Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_618bcaf2
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_6ac55ec7
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_6ac55ec7
comment
Dungeons & Dragons:
Third Edition and its descendants (Pathfinder and Starfinder) allow characters to make an attack of opportunity (a free melee attack off-turn) if an opponent takes certain triggering actions (especially spellcasting) while in melee range. More generally, characters can take one "immediate action" (which includes attacks of opportunity) in between their turns, and subject to GM discretion, can take "free actions" (such as talking) at any time.
Fifth Edition:
Reactions are things that creatures can do in response to a certain trigger, even if it isn't their turn. The most common ones are Opportunity Attacks (allowing a single melee attack against a creature that leaves your reach) or casting a reactionary spell like shield or counterspell.
Some monsters have Legendary Actions, which are special actions they can take when it's not their turn. Some of these are abilities or attacks that the monster can't use on their normal turn.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_6ac55ec7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_6ac55ec7
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 Dungeons & Dragons (Tabletop Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_6ac55ec7
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_6d62b35d
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_6d62b35d
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Res Arcana:
"React" powers can be used out of your turn as long as the required situation happens (such as an attack or a victory check) and you can pay the cost.
The Perlae Imperii Expansion Pack introduces pearls, which can be converted into other resources out of turn when using a React power or when responding to a React power condition.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_6d62b35d
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1.0
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 Res Arcana (Tabletop Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_6d62b35d
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_6efd4fd4
comment
In Duel Masters, breaking a shield with a Shield Trigger ability allows the player to immediately play the shield card at no cost, in the middle of the opponent's attack step. This makes every shield attack a risky move, as one Shield Trigger can easily upset the game state and turn the tide against the attacking player.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_6efd4fd4
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_6fe277bc
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In Divinity: Original Sin and Original Sin II, creatures with the Talent "Opportunist" automatically make an out-of-turn attack when an enemy in melee range moves away from them. It works once per turn of combat.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_6fe277bc
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1.0
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 Divinity: Original Sin (Video Game)
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Bravely Default: The Bravely Second mechanic allows the player take an action at any point during a battle, even during animations of other actions, whether they're the player's or the enemy's. It's limited by costing one SP to use, up to three of which can be gradually accumulated by leaving the 3DS in Sleep Mode with the game still running, or you can spend real money to buy an SP Drink.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_7e850e47
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1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_7e850e47
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 Bravely Default (Video Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_7e850e47
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_87cf8985
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Champions. If a character is attacked by an opponent while it isn't their turn to act, they can abort (use up) their next regularly scheduled action to perform a defensive action and avoid damage. A defensive action includes defensive combat maneuvers like Block or Dodge or something like turning on a force field.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_87cf8985
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1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_87cf8985
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 Champions (Tabletop Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_87cf8985
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_9b1b6065
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_9b1b6065
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In Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, the Mario Bros. have special abilities (Hero Sight and Steely Stare) that allow them to attack out-of-turn, similar to X-Com's Overwatch.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_9b1b6065
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1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_9b1b6065
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 Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (Video Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_9b1b6065
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_9bcf051b
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In The Final Fantasy Legend, combat is normally divided into rounds where you commit all of your characters' actions before it plays out those actions, enemies included. The final boss, God, can randomly attack between rounds, during the selection process.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_9bcf051b
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1.0
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 The Final Fantasy Legend (Video Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_9bcf051b
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_a825da3e
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In Magic: The Gathering, Instants spells and Flash effects can all be activated in the opponent's turn.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_a825da3e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_a825da3e
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1.0
 Magic: The Gathering (Tabletop Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_a825da3e
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_a96a7ada
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Yu-Gi-Oh!:
Out-of-turn disruptions are extremely common in Yu-Gi-Oh!. All Spell Speed 2 and 3 effects can be activated in the opponent's turn (if the conditions are fulfilled), and these include Trap Cards, Monster Cards' Quick Effects, and Quick-Play Spell Cards. In addition, Trigger Effects by default can activate in the opponent's turn if their conditions are fulfilled, even though they are not Spell Speed 2. These disruptions have significantly shaped the way YGO is played nowadays, as players focus on building boards by creating disruptions for the opponent's turn, and playing through the opponent's disruptions to break the opponent's board.
Out-of-turn disruptions are still present but far more downplayed in Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel. There is no Spell Speed mechanic, only Trap cards can be activated on the opponent's turn, and all Monsters and Spells now only have Ignition effects, with Quick Effects, Quick-Plays, and Trigger Effects (on Monsters/Spells) all being cut. Meanwhile, Trap cards are now all exclusively Trigger Effects, with conditions based on the opponent's actions, and there are no conditionless trap cards in RD that can be freely activated by the controller on the opponent's turn.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_a96a7ada
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1.0
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 Yu-Gi-Oh! (Franchise)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_aecbb21a
comment
Wingspan: Several birds have abilities that activate once per round when it isn't your turn: most of them are some variant of giving you food if your opponent performs a certain action. A stranger one is the Common Cuckoo, whose ability lets it lay an egg in another bird's nest when another player lays eggs.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_aecbb21a
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 Wingspan (Tabletop Game)
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Prayer of the Faithless: Counter Attacks, which trigger immediately when an enemy attempts to hit the counterer, usually work this way, because most characters have a Counter Chance of 0%, and need equipment or special moves to bring it to a positive number. Amalie is an exception, with her percentage starting at a base of 5%, due to a passive ability.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_afbc40fb
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1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_afbc40fb
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 Prayer of the Faithless (Video Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_afbc40fb
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
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Third Edition and its descendants (Pathfinder and Starfinder) allow characters to make an attack of opportunity (a free melee attack off-turn) if an opponent takes certain triggering actions (especially spellcasting) while in melee range. More generally, characters can take one "immediate action" (which includes attacks of opportunity) in between their turns, and subject to GM discretion, can take "free actions" (such as talking) at any time.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_b1f436be
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1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_b1f436be
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 Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition (Tabletop Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_b1f436be
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_c6531c6e
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Fifth Edition:
Reactions are things that creatures can do in response to a certain trigger, even if it isn't their turn. The most common ones are Opportunity Attacks (allowing a single melee attack against a creature that leaves your reach) or casting a reactionary spell like shield or counterspell.
Some monsters have Legendary Actions, which are special actions they can take when it's not their turn. Some of these are abilities or attacks that the monster can't use on their normal turn.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_c6531c6e
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1.0
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_c6531c6e
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 Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (Tabletop Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
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Worms WMD adds a crafting system that is accessible even out of turn. It doubles as an anti-frustration feature since WMD allows for massive online multiplayer battles, with up to 8 teams.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_d5f03f8d
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1.0
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 Worms (Video Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_ddd4b174
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Monopoly: Although it's turn-based, Monopoly allows trades to be conducted at any time. If Player 3 rolls doubles and completes a color group, it's still 3's turn. However, Players 1 and 2 can make trades to complete a set, or get 2 of 3 in a group, to compete with Player 3.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_ddd4b174
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 Monopoly (Tabletop Game)
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Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_ddd4b174
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 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_e5964cdb
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Chess has a rule that a player may adjust his pieces if needed (the board gets jiggled, for instance) even when it's not his turn. This must be prefaced by "J'adoube," French for "I adjust." Nor can the piece be relocated to another square; it must remain in its place until that player's turn. Some public park hustlers abuse this rule to fiddle with their pieces to confuse an opponent.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_e5964cdb
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 Chess (Tabletop Game)
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Bravely Second:
The Bravely Second mechanic returns from the first game, again allowing the player take an action at any point during a battle, limited by costing one SP to use, with a maximum stock of three. But in this game, SP accumulates whenever the game is running, without needing to put the 3DS in Sleep Mode, though you can still spend real money to buy SP Drinks.
The second form of the final boss has a move called New World Order that it can use while the player is choosing commands. It only does mild damage to the party and it's not used often, but new players definitely get surprised the first time they see it.
 Out-of-Turn Interaction / int_ec1ff3ae
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Out-of-turn disruptions are extremely common in Yu-Gi-Oh!. All Spell Speed 2 and 3 effects can be activated in the opponent's turn (if the conditions are fulfilled), and these include Trap Cards, Monster Cards' Quick Effects, and Quick-Play Spell Cards. In addition, Trigger Effects by default can activate in the opponent's turn if their conditions are fulfilled, even though they are not Spell Speed 2. These disruptions have significantly shaped the way YGO is played nowadays, as players focus on building boards by creating disruptions for the opponent's turn, and playing through the opponent's disruptions to break the opponent's board.
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The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Duel Masters (Tabletop Game) / int_5f965a35
type
Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (Tabletop Game) / int_5f965a35
type
Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Exploding Kittens (Tabletop Game) / int_5f965a35
type
Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Munchkin (Tabletop Game) / int_5f965a35
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (Tabletop Game) / int_5f965a35
type
Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Yu-Gi-Oh! (Tabletop Game) / int_5f965a35
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Chrono Ark (Video Game) / int_5f965a35
type
Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Divinity: Original Sin (Video Game) / int_5f965a35
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Divinity: Original Sin II (Video Game) / int_5f965a35
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 For the King (Video Game) / int_5f965a35
type
Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Honkai: Star Rail (Video Game) / int_5f965a35
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Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (Video Game) / int_5f965a35
type
Out-of-Turn Interaction
 Midnight Suns (Video Game) / int_5f965a35
type
Out-of-Turn Interaction
 XCOM: Enemy Unknown (Video Game) / int_5f965a35
type
Out-of-Turn Interaction