FASA Games, Inc.

Acrobatic strike works (if i have understood it well) in this way

1) you use it against the highest PHISICAL DEF of the opponents in close combat with you
2) if you strike a success (or better) you can follow with a close combat attack
3) if that attack hits, you can add the AS rank to your defense against those attacks incoming from opponents in CC range (1 hex) at start of the round

question number 1
if the opponent isnt in range of your AS at start of round, you cant add the ranks to your PD if that opponent attacks you ? (i will say YES, you CANT add AS to your PD)

question number 2
the CC attack that must hit is the first one ? (the standard action one) or can be a second attack ? (not momentum, since it works only on good results, and so you have already hit the target once (i dont know, i will say only the attack that is generated by the Standard action can fulfill the AS requirement, but i am not sure)

Id go with it only effecting the opponants aroud the character when the talent was used, personally.

I also would alow a character to use acrobatic strike during secong attacks, provided they used it again and took the strain for it.

I dont know if that is strictly speaking how it is ment to work, but allowing it has never been an issue for our gaming group.

Some of your older/alt characters have.