Grapple and Dex to AC

[ShadowTheft]

In the 3.5 PHB it basically states that while grappling, a character loses his or her Dex modifyer to AC to all other opponents except the one he or she is grappling with. My question is as follows.

If a level six Barbarian with Improved Uncanny Dodge is grappling with another character, or a Quall's Feather Token - Whip, does that Barbarian lose its Dex mod to AC to a Rogue attempting to sneak attack it. The reason I'm not sure is that IUD only mentions flanking, being flat footed, and attacks from invisible opponents in its description.

Maybe I'm missing something about grappling making a character flat footed to others, I'm not sure. either way, any help would be appreciated.

 

[Hypersmurf]

The reason I'm not sure is that IUD only mentions flanking, being flat footed, and attacks from invisible opponents in its description.

That's right. Grappling still denies him Dex.

-Hyp.

 

[Mista Collins]

Yup... HS is correct.. no Dex, so therefore a rogue who uses the Quall's Feather Token can then sneak attack all he wants to (unless the grappled opponent escapes and whoops some rogue butt)

 

[Hypersmurf]

Also check out the Locking Garotte in Song and Silence...

-Hyp.

 

[Mista Collins]

Yeah, that item is very nice and nasty. I tend to use it with my rogues sometimes.

 

[Endur]

The rules aren't clear as to whether the grappling 6th level barbarian can be sneak attacked.

However, the Sage thinks that Uncanny Dodge only applies to what it says. So all other sources of Rogue sneak attacking should still work.

In the 3.5 PHB it basically states that while grappling, a character loses his or her Dex modifyer to AC to all other opponents except the one he or she is grappling with. My question is as follows.

If a level six Barbarian with Improved Uncanny Dodge is grappling with another character, or a Quall's Feather Token - Whip, does that Barbarian lose its Dex mod to AC to a Rogue attempting to sneak attack it. The reason I'm not sure is that IUD only mentions flanking, being flat footed, and attacks from invisible opponents in its description.

Maybe I'm missing something about grappling making a character flat footed to others, I'm not sure. either way, any help would be appreciated.

 

[the Jester]

The rules aren't clear as to whether the grappling 6th level barbarian can be sneak attacked.

I never can understand this position when I see people take it.

Uncanny Dodge (and IUD) spells out exactly what it applies against. For the 'basic' UD, it's being flat-footed or struck by an invisible/unseen opponent; for IUD, it's against being flanked. Nothing else. Nowhere in any of the books does it say anything about any other condition being affected by UD or IUD.

Would anyone argue that you could cast a spell with an entry of "Target: One creature" at an object? No- valid targets are spelled out clearly. Same thing with UD and IUD.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I never can understand this position when I see people take it.

I can certainly understand it. I don't agree with it, but I know where they're coming from.

The rule: Uncanny Dodge allows one to retain one's Dex bonus to AC.
The emphasising examples: Even if you're flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker.
The exception: Not if you're immobilised.

But I definitely agree with the Sage on this one - the examples are the examples, not just a subset of the possibilities.

-Hyp.