Run, trip, and dexterity checks

[Jeb McDonald]

In several instances, the enemy has managed to run away from the fight. In this instance the bad guy chose to run away and, in the process, passed through the fighter's threatened area in such a way as to incur an AoO. The fighter chose to make a trip attack with his heavy flail as the AoO.
According to the run action on pg 144 of the PHB, the bad guy loses his dex bonus to AC. My question is: does the bad guy also lose his dex bonus to his dex check to avoid the trip attack? My sense is, according to the rules, he gets his dex bonus, but it didn't feel right.

 

[Henrix]

He'd still have a choice between using his Dex or Str to resist being tripped, yes. An agile foe is presumably more agile even when running

 

[PaulGreystoke]

In several instances, the enemy has managed to run away from the fight. In this instance the bad guy chose to run away and, in the process, passed through the fighter's threatened area in such a way as to incur an AoO. The fighter chose to make a trip attack with his heavy flail as the AoO.
According to the run action on pg 144 of the PHB, the bad guy loses his dex bonus to AC. My question is: does the bad guy also lose his dex bonus to his dex check to avoid the trip attack? My sense is, according to the rules, he gets his dex bonus, but it didn't feel right.

It might not feel right, but it is the rules. When a character loses his DEX bonus to AC, he loses his ability to lose his superior quickness to defend himself in combat only, not the other myriad advantages that DEX bestows. It might seem frustrating from this side of the issue, but if the tables were turned, I think you would agree. If your character was caught in a Fireball blast radius while flatfooted, do you think it would be fair to deny him his DEX bonus to the Reflex save? The game system assumes that losing your DEX bonus to AC is a big enough penalty already & I agree. Of course YMMV.

 

[Amal Shukup]

The rules are fairly clear: Running (without the Run Feat) removes the Dex bonus to AC only.

That said, running should put the 'trippee' at some disadvantage. I would apply an ad-hoc -2 modifier to their opposed check.

Other modifiers might apply as well: If the tripper surprised the trippee (Invisible, say), I'd give them a +2 on their opposed roll as well (same as the attack roll bonus).

A'Mal

 

[Jeb McDonald]

Thanks so much for the quick responses!