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General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
Flat-footed, surprise and initative.
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<blockquote data-quote="Friend of the Dork" data-source="post: 5736229" data-attributes="member: 91954"><p>I realize that is RAW, but there is nothing preventing you from starting a combat is there? I've always allowed PCs to take actions out of combat and assume the same rules apply - for example drinking a potion is a standard action, but by the same rationaly used above you can't drink it until the DM tells you to roll initative.... So where in the rules does it say you can't ready an action outside combat?</p><p></p><p>Of course, characters can do much outside combat, I'd say that there are many more limitations in combat that out of it. </p><p></p><p>Your example with the fighter and the door is valid: It should be possible to do what he says outside of combat. If the enemy in the room is unaware of the party, the party is essentially acting in the surprise round: Fighter opens the door while the rogue readies a shot. Door opens, shot is made, and then the surprise round is over (the rogue acting after the fighter in the 1st round). </p><p></p><p>If the enemy is aware they might be ready themselves, in which case a normal initiative test is made. Now by RAW everyone are flat-footed but this seems unfair to my players. Will it nerf the Rogue alot to allow people their dex to AC in this case?</p><p></p><p>Because in a weird example the party might decide to fight one another beforehand, hitting each other with nonlethal attacks. Of course any DM worth his salt should strike down on such ridiculous metagame behavior, but the fact remains that they benefit from it by making sure none of them are flat-footed before the one on the last initiative opens the door. </p><p></p><p>I'm a bit undecided so far - I don't mind the Rogue having the benefit of sneak attack, and having the AC 34 lvl 5 fighter in my group be somewhat hittable in the first round is not bad for balance. </p><p></p><p>Any other views?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Friend of the Dork, post: 5736229, member: 91954"] I realize that is RAW, but there is nothing preventing you from starting a combat is there? I've always allowed PCs to take actions out of combat and assume the same rules apply - for example drinking a potion is a standard action, but by the same rationaly used above you can't drink it until the DM tells you to roll initative.... So where in the rules does it say you can't ready an action outside combat? Of course, characters can do much outside combat, I'd say that there are many more limitations in combat that out of it. Your example with the fighter and the door is valid: It should be possible to do what he says outside of combat. If the enemy in the room is unaware of the party, the party is essentially acting in the surprise round: Fighter opens the door while the rogue readies a shot. Door opens, shot is made, and then the surprise round is over (the rogue acting after the fighter in the 1st round). If the enemy is aware they might be ready themselves, in which case a normal initiative test is made. Now by RAW everyone are flat-footed but this seems unfair to my players. Will it nerf the Rogue alot to allow people their dex to AC in this case? Because in a weird example the party might decide to fight one another beforehand, hitting each other with nonlethal attacks. Of course any DM worth his salt should strike down on such ridiculous metagame behavior, but the fact remains that they benefit from it by making sure none of them are flat-footed before the one on the last initiative opens the door. I'm a bit undecided so far - I don't mind the Rogue having the benefit of sneak attack, and having the AC 34 lvl 5 fighter in my group be somewhat hittable in the first round is not bad for balance. Any other views? [/QUOTE]
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Flat-footed, surprise and initative.
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