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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 310284" data-attributes="member: 3146">Plane-Sailing:A quick (and weak) explanation for why low dex characters keep their dex penalty when flatfooted: Ordinarily a flatfooted character is attacked before he's aware of his attacker. Consequently the character is strolling along much as he normally would. Now high dexterity characters stroll pretty much like normal dex characters. They can walk and chew gum at the same time. They move fairly regularly but occasionally turn to look at the companion they're conversing with, etc.Low dex characters, on the other hand, are clumsy. If they don't pay special attention to where they're going, they'll trip and fall. Consequently, they walk cautiously and predictably--more predictably than normal dex characters. It's their method of compensating for the fact of their clumsiness and it works fairly well--they're no slower than high dex characters. However, the predictablility makes them more vulnerable when unaware since their movements are more regular and methodical.As to barbarian levels: I'm surprised you don't see fighters taking them already. Unless a fighter is lawful, it is an excellent multiclass--if only for the ability to rage, uncanny dodge, fast movement in light or medium armor, and a few skill and hit points. A fighter gives up one feat for all that. Most fighters I've seen have a level or two of barbarian.As to non-rogues not getting much for catching their enemies flatfooted, they get to attack first. This is quite significant since in 3e, combats rarely last more than a half dozen rounds and at any particular point in time, the party that went first will have inflicted one round more damage than the party that went second. (Even in a six round combat--which in my experience, is quite a long battle--that amounts to about 15% more damage). Not only that, but any defensive buffs cast before the enemy attacks will decrease the effectiveness of that attack. If you get a haste or shield spell off after your opponent moves, it's not nearly as effective as getting it off before your opponent attacks.</blockquote>

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