Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Phaseroth 03-04-06, 03:08 AM	Page 137 of the PHB states that, "You can't use your Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) while flat-footed." The way I've been interpreting this, it means that you lose whatever part of your Dex bonus is actually contributing to your AC. For example, assuming a character with a Dex of 18 (+4) wearing full plate (armor bonus +8, Max Dex +1) and carrying a heavy shield, base AC would look like this: Base 10 + Dex 1 + Armor 8 + Shield 2 = AC 21 If the character was flat-footed, he would lose that +1 Dex bonus, making his flat-footed AC 20. That's my interpretation. This seems to be how flat-footed AC is calculated in the published stat blocks for monsters and NPCs as well. I'm asking because a piece of d20 character-management software I just downloaded is calculating flat-footed AC by subtracting the character's entire Dex modifier, e.g., the character above would actually end up with a flat-footed AC of 17 (21 - 4). My interpretation assumes that the Max Dex of +1 on full plate indicates that the PC has already given up 3 points of Dex bonus to AC — if the Max Dex modifier wasn't in place, his AC would actually be 24. In that case, losing the entire +4 Dex bonus would still reduce his AC to 20: the same number I get with my formula. Which interpretation is correct?
allenchan 03-04-06, 03:11 AM	Seems like a glitch in the program, it doesnt make sense any way you slice it. 21 -1, or 24 -4, but not 21 -4. Your initial interpretation is correct.
Phaseroth 03-04-06, 03:37 AM	Thanks :)