Flat-Footed

[TheGogmagog]

IIRC Complete Adventurer also notes that you are flat footed when someone you are not aware of enters combat even if you are not flat footed to the first party.

 

[Pielorinho]

Note that when you're standing on a Grease spell, you're balancing, and therefore flatfooted. A rogue who focuses on ranged attacks will really like the party sorcerer who keeps the Grease spell handy.

Daniel

 

[kjenks]

Flat-footed is not exactly the same as "denied Dex bonus to AC." When you're flat-footed, you can't cast an Immediate action spell.

 

[KarinsDad]

Note that when you're standing on a Grease spell, you're balancing, and therefore flatfooted. A rogue who focuses on ranged attacks will really like the party sorcerer who keeps the Grease spell handy.

Good point. We just had a new player join our group who is running a Sorcerer with mostly battlefield control spells (e.g. Grease, Web, etc.).

Mental Note: Give all NPCs 5 ranks of the Balance skill.

 

[KarinsDad]

IIRC Complete Adventurer also notes that you are flat footed when someone you are not aware of enters combat even if you are not flat footed to the first party.

Sounds like a poor rule to me. Once in combat, you are moving and fluid. You are no longer flat-footed.

You could be taken unaware in combat (e.g. a hiding or invisible or new foe), but that is not flat-footed. Best to ignore rules added to the Complete books when those rules do not make sense.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Iajitsu Focus (sp?) from 3.0 Oriental Adventures also depends upon the target being flat-footed, as opposed to just losing their Dex bonus.

The Low-Blow feat from FR 3.0 is an attack feat that specifically renders the target flat-footed if successful.

 

[ceratitis]

Good point. We just had a new player join our group who is running a Sorcerer with mostly battlefield control spells (e.g. Grease, Web, etc.).

Mental Note: Give all NPCs 5 ranks of the Balance skill.

you know every time i sneak attack an enemy my DM says: "mental note- must kill this char before next level"

i think the worst thing about being flat footed is trying to buy some shoes, unless you attack the sales person first
Z

 

[RigaMortus2]

Iajitsu Focus (sp?) from 3.0 Oriental Adventures also depends upon the target being flat-footed, as opposed to just losing their Dex bonus.

The Low-Blow feat from FR 3.0 is an attack feat that specifically renders the target flat-footed if successful.

Suffice it to say, beware of Low-Blowing Samurai Halflings...

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Case in point, Iajatsu Focus from Oriental Adventures only works on flat-footed appointments.

Wow. I totally did not expect to see my accountant today!

 

[Hypersmurf]

Note that when you're standing on a Grease spell, you're balancing, and therefore flatfooted.

It's often pointed out that standing on a Grease spell requires no Balance check, but rather a Reflex save each round. A Grease spell only requires a Balance check if you attempt to move within the area.

So it's sometimes argued that a character within a Grease spell is only 'balancing' (and hence flat-footed) during his action, and only if he is attempting to move.

-Hyp.