Is there any way to make the Iatjusu focus skill useful?

[Question]

See title. Currently the only way to get it to work seems to be if you draw the weapon and attack when your opponent is flat footed, which is erm...a tad hard.....

 

[Dracorat]

<bluff skill>

 

[Question]

Is denying dex mod to AC the same as flat footed?

 

[RigaMortus2]

Is denying dex mod to AC the same as flat footed?

Nope. Flat footed only happens at the beginning of a round, before you have time to act. However, there are certain other things that can make a person flat-footed...

Force the opponent to make a Balance check (such as with Grease spell). If the opponent doesn't have at least 5 ranks in the Balance skill, they will be flat footed.

Use the Low Blow feat from FR (3.0 I beleive). You have to be a small race but when you strike the opponent, they are considered to be flat footed.

There may be a few other ways out there to specifically make someone flat footed. Just gotta pour over all the books and find them

 

[pawsplay]

Improved Initiative and Danger Sense can just about guarantee a flat-footed strike.

 

[Question]

The problem is you have to be able to get within melee range of the enemy with a single move action.

 

[pawsplay]

Well, yeah. That's the whole point of the skill. You're standing around drinking tea, when he implies your silk robe suggests your grandfather must have been a turnip farmer, and you cut his head off.

 

[Question]

Well, yeah. That's the whole point of the skill. You're standing around drinking tea, when he implies your silk robe suggests your grandfather must have been a turnip farmer, and you cut his head off.

Thats only pratical for showing off though.

 

[monboesen]

Thats only pratical for showing off though.

Which is what Iatjusu is all about. Samurais staring each other down and then showing off with a lightning killer strike.

It's not meant to be used in normal combat.

 

[Victim]

Considering that it's the only skill which can add directly to damage, even as a very situational ability it still seems valuable.