Dexterity bonus to AC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dexterity bonus to AC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
snifit
03-08-08, 01:13 PM A gnome in the campaign I'm running has a -1 bonus to his dexterity.

Last session, he was complaining how his dexterity 'bonus' affects his AC: as it turns out, his AC is higher when he is denied his dexterity bonus, such as when he's flat-footed or not aware of his attacker.

I sympathized with him, and told him I'd think about it and maybe house-rule that only a positive dexterity bonus to AC would apply. It seems silly that his gnome is easier to hit when he's aware that a blow is coming. On the other hand, there should be drawbacks to him having a low dexterity score.

The SRD says this on the matter:
Sometimes you can’t use your Dexterity bonus (if you have one). If you can’t react to a blow, you can’t use your Dexterity bonus to AC. (If you don’t have a Dexterity bonus, nothing happens.)

The way it's worded makes it sound like you can choose not use your dexterity bonus to AC, which would protect the gnome from the -1 dexterity bonus to his AC.

What say you? How should I rule on this?
lamrar
03-08-08, 01:59 PM A gnome in the campaign I'm running has a -1 bonus to his dexterity.

Last session, he was complaining how his dexterity 'bonus' affects his AC: as it turns out, his AC is higher when he is denied his dexterity bonus, such as when he's flat-footed or not aware of his attacker.

I sympathized with him, and told him I'd think about it and maybe house-rule that only a positive dexterity bonus to AC would apply. It seems silly that his gnome is easier to hit when he's aware that a blow is coming. On the other hand, there should be drawbacks to him having a low dexterity score.

The SRD says this on the matter:

The way it's worded makes it sound like you can choose not use your dexterity bonus to AC, which would protect the gnome from the -1 dexterity bonus to his AC.

What say you? How should I rule on this?

A penalty to dex always applies, even when you're flat-footed. So his AC doesn't increase under these circumstances.
StevenO
03-08-08, 02:12 PM A -1 stat modifier does NOT provide a bonus, it provides a penalty. Because it is a penalty it will always show up even. Although logic shouldn't come into play why would it be that much harder to hit a surprised rock and an aware rock?
snifit
03-08-08, 03:03 PM Seems obvious now that I know the answer. :)

Thanks for the replies.
Douglasm
03-08-08, 03:33 PM In D&D, the words 'bonus', 'modifier', and 'penalty' have quite distinct meanings and should not be confused.

You lose your dexterity bonus when flat-footed. If your dexterity is below 10, you don't have a dexterity bonus. Your dexterity penalty still applies.

For his AC to improve when flat-footed, the rule would have to state that you lose your dexterity modifier to AC.
Ace_of_time
03-14-08, 07:43 AM He gets a +1 size bonus any way. You can point out some feats that up armor. 4th level give an ability increase if he has a 8-9 dex. He could also grab a dex magic item I think that like 4,000.
pmurray@bigpond.com
03-14-08, 11:14 PM In D&D, the words 'bonus', 'modifier', and 'penalty' have quite distinct meanings and should not be confused.

For that reason, a penalty to dexterity (for whatever reason) can be offset with a bonus. If they were treated as the same thing, they would not "stack" and the result would be that the bonus would override the penalty completely (being higher).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
snifit 03-08-08, 01:13 PM	A gnome in the campaign I'm running has a -1 bonus to his dexterity. Last session, he was complaining how his dexterity 'bonus' affects his AC: as it turns out, his AC is higher when he is denied his dexterity bonus, such as when he's flat-footed or not aware of his attacker. I sympathized with him, and told him I'd think about it and maybe house-rule that only a positive dexterity bonus to AC would apply. It seems silly that his gnome is easier to hit when he's aware that a blow is coming. On the other hand, there should be drawbacks to him having a low dexterity score. The SRD says this on the matter: Sometimes you can’t use your Dexterity bonus (if you have one). If you can’t react to a blow, you can’t use your Dexterity bonus to AC. (If you don’t have a Dexterity bonus, nothing happens.) The way it's worded makes it sound like you can choose not use your dexterity bonus to AC, which would protect the gnome from the -1 dexterity bonus to his AC. What say you? How should I rule on this?
lamrar 03-08-08, 01:59 PM	A gnome in the campaign I'm running has a -1 bonus to his dexterity. Last session, he was complaining how his dexterity 'bonus' affects his AC: as it turns out, his AC is higher when he is denied his dexterity bonus, such as when he's flat-footed or not aware of his attacker. I sympathized with him, and told him I'd think about it and maybe house-rule that only a positive dexterity bonus to AC would apply. It seems silly that his gnome is easier to hit when he's aware that a blow is coming. On the other hand, there should be drawbacks to him having a low dexterity score. The SRD says this on the matter: The way it's worded makes it sound like you can choose not use your dexterity bonus to AC, which would protect the gnome from the -1 dexterity bonus to his AC. What say you? How should I rule on this? A penalty to dex always applies, even when you're flat-footed. So his AC doesn't increase under these circumstances.
StevenO 03-08-08, 02:12 PM	A -1 stat modifier does NOT provide a bonus, it provides a penalty. Because it is a penalty it will always show up even. Although logic shouldn't come into play why would it be that much harder to hit a surprised rock and an aware rock?
snifit 03-08-08, 03:03 PM	Seems obvious now that I know the answer. :) Thanks for the replies.
Douglasm 03-08-08, 03:33 PM	In D&D, the words 'bonus', 'modifier', and 'penalty' have quite distinct meanings and should not be confused. You lose your dexterity bonus when flat-footed. If your dexterity is below 10, you don't have a dexterity bonus. Your dexterity penalty still applies. For his AC to improve when flat-footed, the rule would have to state that you lose your dexterity modifier to AC.
Ace_of_time 03-14-08, 07:43 AM	He gets a +1 size bonus any way. You can point out some feats that up armor. 4th level give an ability increase if he has a 8-9 dex. He could also grab a dex magic item I think that like 4,000.
pmurray@bigpond.com 03-14-08, 11:14 PM	In D&D, the words 'bonus', 'modifier', and 'penalty' have quite distinct meanings and should not be confused. For that reason, a penalty to dexterity (for whatever reason) can be offset with a bonus. If they were treated as the same thing, they would not "stack" and the result would be that the bonus would override the penalty completely (being higher).