AC Dex Penalty and Flatfootedness [Archive] - Wizards Community

AC Dex Penalty and Flatfootedness [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
jaxpur
11-10-05, 09:20 AM Simple question that I have not been able to find the answer to elsewhere:

If your Dex is low enough to give you an AC penalty, what happens when you are flat-footed or otherwise would "lose your bonus (if you have one)?"

My PHB (3.0 edition) is not clear on this point and I'm not sure what makes the most sense.

Thanks for your help,

Jax
Pliskit
11-10-05, 09:30 AM My guess would be that if for example your dex is 8, so your dexmod would be -1, you would actually get a +1 to AC when flatfooted.
*NOT!!*

I think it's obvious the "if you have one" indeed refers to no or negative dexmod. Your AC in short would not change when flatfooted.
Ukos
11-10-05, 09:34 AM The Dex penalty continues to apply, because the wording of such circumstances is always "Dex bonus, if any".

If you look in the glossary, you'll see that the difference between a stat modifier, stat bonus, and stat penalty are all carefully defined. If flat-footedness made you lose your Dex modifier to AC, it would be different. In fact, you might find yourself in circumstances that being flat-footed is better!

I've just reread your post. Certainly, in the 3.5 PHB what I've said is right...But I don't know about the glossary in the 3.0, sorry.

Ukos
jaxpur
11-10-05, 10:48 AM I guess it's just one of those places where realism and the rules clash. Dex of 20 and Dex of 10 are put on the same footing (pardon the pun) when "flatfooted" but Dex of 8 has an additional penalty. In contrast to the more realistic situation for helpless characters, who are ALL treated as having a dex of 0.

Thanks for the feedback,

Jax
StormCrow42
11-10-05, 11:05 AM I guess it's just one of those places where realism and the rules clash. Dex of 20 and Dex of 10 are put on the same footing (pardon the pun) when "flatfooted" but Dex of 8 has an additional penalty. In contrast to the more realistic situation for helpless characters, who are ALL treated as having a dex of 0.

Yes but when you're flatfooted you're not helpless. Your just caught a bit unaware. That doesn't suddenly make the truely clumsy any less so.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jaxpur 11-10-05, 09:20 AM	Simple question that I have not been able to find the answer to elsewhere: If your Dex is low enough to give you an AC penalty, what happens when you are flat-footed or otherwise would "lose your bonus (if you have one)?" My PHB (3.0 edition) is not clear on this point and I'm not sure what makes the most sense. Thanks for your help, Jax
Pliskit 11-10-05, 09:30 AM	My guess would be that if for example your dex is 8, so your dexmod would be -1, you would actually get a +1 to AC when flatfooted. NOT!! I think it's obvious the "if you have one" indeed refers to no or negative dexmod. Your AC in short would not change when flatfooted.
Ukos 11-10-05, 09:34 AM	The Dex penalty continues to apply, because the wording of such circumstances is always "Dex bonus, if any". If you look in the glossary, you'll see that the difference between a stat modifier, stat bonus, and stat penalty are all carefully defined. If flat-footedness made you lose your Dex modifier to AC, it would be different. In fact, you might find yourself in circumstances that being flat-footed is better! I've just reread your post. Certainly, in the 3.5 PHB what I've said is right...But I don't know about the glossary in the 3.0, sorry. Ukos
jaxpur 11-10-05, 10:48 AM	I guess it's just one of those places where realism and the rules clash. Dex of 20 and Dex of 10 are put on the same footing (pardon the pun) when "flatfooted" but Dex of 8 has an additional penalty. In contrast to the more realistic situation for helpless characters, who are ALL treated as having a dex of 0. Thanks for the feedback, Jax
StormCrow42 11-10-05, 11:05 AM	I guess it's just one of those places where realism and the rules clash. Dex of 20 and Dex of 10 are put on the same footing (pardon the pun) when "flatfooted" but Dex of 8 has an additional penalty. In contrast to the more realistic situation for helpless characters, who are ALL treated as having a dex of 0. Yes but when you're flatfooted you're not helpless. Your just caught a bit unaware. That doesn't suddenly make the truely clumsy any less so.