Ac

[zlorf]

So if there is only one value for AC in 4th edition, does that mean that the attacker will
get a bonus (say +4) to attack someone who is flatfooted? Or +4 if they attempt to touch someone?

Cheers
Z

 

[delericho]

So if there is only one value for AC in 4th edition, does that mean that the attacker will get a bonus (say +4) to attack someone who is flatfooted? Or +4 if they attempt to touch someone?

Characters who are flat-footed give their opponents something called "combat advantage". We don't know what that is yet. Touch attacks are resolved by rolling against the character's Reflex Defense.

 

[Riley]

(edited: redundant)

 

[Irda Ranger]

Characters who are flat-footed give their opponents something called "combat advantage". We don't know what that is yet.

Hmmm. I wonder is that's really easier/faster/better than the DM asking "What's your touch AC?"

 

[gizmo33]

Hmmm. I wonder is that's really easier/faster/better than the DM asking "What's your touch AC?"

Seems to me like a touch AC and Reflex save were redundant. If PCs get better at dodging things as they go up in levels, then I think it's consistent to apply that to AC as well. It also solves a bit of the problem AFAICT with the way BAB increases but ability to dodge does not.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Hmmm. I wonder is that's really easier/faster/better than the DM asking "What's your touch AC?"

Not always, but if the "combat advantage" is a static number, say +4 to hit, that is a lot easier for the DM to automatically apply than to ask the player who might go through: "10, plus my buffed Dex, plus my Ring of Protection, plus the Dodge bonus..."

 

[lukelightning]

On a tangent, I can see an opportunity for either feats or class abilities to improve your "combat advantage bonus" so Wimpy MacWizard might only get +4 to hit a flat-footed opponent, but Reflexy O'Rogue gets a +6

 

[Goken100]

On a tangent, I can see an opportunity for either feats or class abilities to improve your "combat advantage bonus" so Wimpy MacWizard might only get +4 to hit a flat-footed opponent, but Reflexy O'Rogue gets a +6

I woulda gone with "Reflexy O'Roguerson", but that's just me.

 

[psionotic]

Big advantage of this system is that the previous one penalized high dex characters who were 'flat-footed' more than low dex ones, which always seemed kinda wonky to me (especially b/c dex penalties were still retained). Now your dex *always* figures into your AC (unless paralyzed) and a creature who has the 'combat advantage' *always* gets a benefit to their attack role. Simple, elegant, and (IMO) more realistic.

 

[Scribble]

I'd make the combat bonus somehow tied to the attackers DEX Bonus... (Or maybe reflex bonus)

It would represent the attacker's ability to "get the jump" on the defender... Slow people will always be slow even if they manage to catch someone off guard.