Feather Falling and keeping Dex bonus on AC?

[Cloudgatherer]

In my last session, the party's rogue started to feather fall from just above the fight. He fell within reach of a particularly powerful creature and I hade him make an attack. I ruled that someone feather falling could not use their Dex bonus to their AC, since one is simply floating slowly through the air with no control. The point was argued, so I'm asking here.

When feather falling, do you think one should keep his Dex bonus to AC?

Thanks!

 

[Greythax]

I think I would have gone the other way. Just because someone if floating in place doesn't mean they can't react. If a big monster is attacking your legs, you could draw them up and out of reach, change your position, whatever. I have only one rule to offer to back up my viewpoint. When prone (a condition that also makes you imobile) you are still allowed your dex bonus to ac.

Greythax

 

[Dr. Zoom]

He is not floating, he is free falling slower than he ordinarily would (60 feet per round) so that he will not be damaged by the fall. He can still dodge a blow, however, so he retains any dex bonus to AC. He is not helpless or immobile, after all. The spell would have said so if he lost his dex bonus to AC.

 

[Gromm]

The spell would have said so if he lost his dex bonus to AC.

Which is always true of any spell or situation.

 

[Cloudgatherer]

Hm...interesting. So what if someone used telekinesis to hold someone in the air? Would the suspended individual *still* get their Dex bonus? I'd normally interpret a Dex or dodge bonus involves some form of natural movement (walking/running out of the way of a blow), but it seems I'm in the minority. Just because one can move arms and legs does not mean one can actually move out of the way of an incoming attack.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Yes he still gets his dex bonus to AC if telekinesis is being used on him. He does not become helpless or flat-footed. He can still dodge well enough to get the bonus.

 

[MasterOfHeaven]

He should be able to retain the Dexterity bonus to his AC. He can still move out of the way while he's feather falling. Actually, I don't see why you would rule that you would lose your Dexterity bonus to AC during a feather fall, and not a regular fall.

 

[Greythax]

Hm...interesting. So what if someone used telekinesis to hold someone in the air? Would the suspended individual *still* get their Dex bonus? I'd normally interpret a Dex or dodge bonus involves some form of natural movement (walking/running out of the way of a blow), but it seems I'm in the minority. Just because one can move arms and legs does not mean one can actually move out of the way of an incoming attack.

Walking or running out of the way would A: mean that you would be moving your character around the map every time he was swung at, and B: You would get really tired really quick. Dodging a blow can be as easy as moving your arm, or ducking your head, or twisting your upper torso out of the way. Now, in the example of telekinesis, it would really depend on how strong the hold was. One of my players would have a hard time trying to convince me that telekinesis could hold someone so tight that they couldn't wriggle around and make themselves harder to hit, at least without it causing some form of crushing damage.

Greythax

 

[Gromm]

Originally posted by Dr. Zoom
The spell would have said so if he lost his dex bonus to AC.

Which is always true of any spell or situation.


I'll repeat myself until someone believes me.