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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PaulKemp" data-source="post: 3602665" data-attributes="member: 2809">IMC, we treat flat-footedness as a relative condition that has applicability only in combat, i.e., it is a state that has in-game relevance only as between two combatants -- one is flat-footed as to the other, which results in certain consequences.  We base this on the language of the "flat footed" condition:  A character who has not yet acted during a combat is flat-footed, not yet reacting normally to the situation. Basically, we deem flat-footedness to be a term with no meaning outside of a combat.  In combat, it serves to designate the respective states of one combatant to another.  Outside of combat, it has no meaning.This makes sense to us conceptually and makes for generally easy adjudication.  Outside of combat, immediate actions can be cast at any time (since one is never flat footed, within the meaning of the term as defined in the rules).  In combat, one may be restricted from casting an immediate action because one is flat footed relative to one's opponent.  This does not mean that the flat footed PC suddenly went from alert (non flat footed out of combat) to lax (suddenly flat footed in combat).  It simply means that within the context of the combat, the non-flat footed combatant is able to act more quickly, before the flat footed combatant can "react normally to the situation."Works for us.</blockquote>