D&D 3E/3.5 Traps and AC question -3.5-

[gilthan3]

You guys have a font of D & D knowledge, here's my groups' question number 3!

Let's say a PC is walking down a hallway and triggers a blade trap. The trap makes an attack on the player to see if it hits him.
Here's where my question comes in, does it go against the player's Flat-flooted AC or normal AC? The PC is unaware of the trap, wouldn't that make him/her flat-footed? I couldn't seem to find this anywhere in the rules though, just that the trap attacks the player.

On that same note, if a player IS aware that there is a trap about, does he get his full AC then if it's triggered, whether he knows where the trap is or not?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Nebten]

He is flat-footed unless he has ability that says otherwise (ie Uncanny dodge). If he was aware of the trap, I don't think he would try to set it off .

 

[jefgorbach]

flat-footed unless he detected/determined the trap existed then either failed to disarm (or intentionally triggered) it.

 

[gilthan3]

That clears it up, thanks guys!

 

[radmod]

flat-footed unless he detected/determined the trap existed then either failed to disarm (or intentionally triggered) it.

I'm not sure what you are getting at here. It sounds like you are saying that one is also flat-footed if you you fail to disarm or intentionally trigger the trap.
I don't think that's right.
There's nothing I can think of that says you don't get your Dex if you fail to disarm or intentionally trigger. In fact, I'm pretty sure that you can get bonuses, if not circumstance bonuses, to triggering, intentionally, a trap.

Now, in practice (not RAW), many DMs, especially the old school or lazy DMs, simply treat traps as a DC check. If you fail the check you take the damage regardless of AC. The idea is that the trap is something that can't be avoided, or circumstances make it unavoidable so it's an auto-hit.
For example, suppose the trap is a falling portcullis. Technically, a CR 1 portcullis trap has +10 attack and 3d6 damage. Often, however, if you make your Reflex save you jump back (or forward) and take no, or lesser, damage. If you fail it but the damage doesn't kill you then it's a grazing blow. If you fail and the damage kills you, then you got squished.

 

[green slime]

Now, in practice (not RAW), many DMs, especially the old school or lazy DMs, simply treat traps as a DC check.

Care to rephrase?

 

[radmod]

Hmm, how about:
Now, in practice (not RAW), many DMs, especially the old school or lazy (both, me) DMs, simply treat traps as a DC check instead of having an attack, etc. So AC doesn't come into play.

 

[tlantl]

In most campaigns the use of traps is a deliberate and well thought out obstacle. I am about as old school as you can get and I am never lazy using them. I include them to reduce hit points, separate the party to weaken them, and to waste resources.

As for denying a player his dexterity to ac against a trap they are aware of, I would never do this. You can assume that someone who is tense and ready to act at the first sign that the trap was triggered, will do his utmost to avoid being hurt. I have at times trapped the traps to increase the likelihood of catching them off guard, though.

Traps seldom introduce unwanted gear or money into your game, while still challenging your players. This encourages them to use their skills and to work as a team to overcome the problem the trap represents. Or suffer the fall, explosion, missiles, gases, or the huge block of stone crushing one or more of them.

I love traps.