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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ydars" data-source="post: 5532851" data-attributes="member: 62992">There is a reason the state is called 'flat-footed' because in swordplay, if you are not on the balls of your feet and in the correct stance, you cannot move properly to avoid blows or parry and you can't shift your weight to frame a blow of your own safely). Indeed, if you are flat footed, it is very difficult when test cutting (with a sharp sword) to get the sword to 'bite' into the material (it just bounces off even an orange carton full of water despite being razor sharp; I know this sounds surprising but it is totally true and is because straight swords have to be at a perfect angle to cut when moving fast)When I used to study longsword, my instructor used to call the state of not being ready for combat 'flat-footed' and he had never been within a hundred miles of an RPG in his life. You literally are standing with your feet flat because unconsciously you are on the defensive and similarly, if you get your footwork wrong in the middle of a fight you can also end up flat-footed after combat has started.It sounds to me like your player objects to the flat-footed rule because a) he knows nothing about real sword combat and b) he does not actually know the D&D 3.5 rules well enough to understand the difference between surprise and being flat-footed.I would suggest he be given a copy of the 3.5 PHB and told to read it.</blockquote>