What action is using Iaijutsu Focus? [Archive] - Wizards Community

What action is using Iaijutsu Focus? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mindolin
07-31-07, 11:58 PM Okay, I was just reading up on the skill and from what I've seen it's use is part of the drawing and striking with the sword. Is this correct or am I missing something? Will Iaijutsu Focus be able to be used multiple times per round, if each attack meets the requirements for it's use?
Fallenangel359
08-01-07, 01:11 AM attack

that means a 4 attack full round attack can do iaijutsu focus 4x in a round

Greatcleave +iaijutsu focus can cause some interesting combinations, when you have high CHA and strike from the void
Ranger REG
08-01-07, 02:33 AM Okay, I was just reading up on the skill and from what I've seen it's use is part of the drawing and striking with the sword. Is this correct or am I missing something? Will Iaijutsu Focus be able to be used multiple times per round, if each attack meets the requirements for it's use?
Iaijutsu Focus is used in place of your initiative check.
Mindolin
08-01-07, 12:02 PM It states that that is the case for in formal duels, not when using it against some random goblin I find in the woods.
Twylyght
08-01-07, 10:57 PM The targets do need to be flat footed.
koiulpoi
08-02-07, 12:05 AM attack

that means a 4 attack full round attack can do iaijutsu focus 4x in a round

Greatcleave +iaijutsu focus can cause some interesting combinations, when you have high CHA and strike from the void

Provided you have some way of drawing your sword before each one of those attacks, yes.
Ranger REG
08-02-07, 02:30 AM Provided you have some way of drawing your sword before each one of those attacks, yes.
While that may sound mechanically right, practically you look STOOPID sheathing and drawing your weapon before each attack. They don't even do that in any of the samurai films I have watched.
koiulpoi
08-02-07, 02:43 AM While that may sound mechanically right, practically you look STOOPID sheathing and drawing your weapon before each attack. They don't even do that in any of the samurai films I have watched.

I don't think you'd look that bad. Zhou Tai from Dynasty Warriors has an attack sequence of drawing and sheathing in quick succession, and it looks pretty cool.

However, it doesn't work within the rules, unless you can find a way to sheathe your weapon as a free action.
Mindolin
08-02-07, 09:42 AM Who said I was going to be redrawing the same sword? My idea was to collect a number of shortswords, wear about six of them, and then draw them all in a flurry of two weapon fighting and Iaijutsu strikes. It's a free action to drop the sword, so I can do it that way.
Kalis Atrud
08-02-07, 12:57 PM Provided you have some way of drawing your sword before each one of those attacks, yes.

Actually, the RAW says that you just need to draw a weapon once and you get as many Iaijutsu Focus strikes as you can manage in the round. You only need the one sword and one draw. Evidence is
here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=12478565&postcount=64).
koiulpoi
08-02-07, 01:15 PM Mindolin - the multishortsword idea would work.

Kalis Atrud - I would personally disagree with that interpretation, but if we consider the full round "attack" action to be a singular unit rather than a series of attacks, it would work as described in that post. Perhaps I was wrong, no?
Mindolin
08-02-07, 01:57 PM How does CS keep coming up with those idiotic rulings? I don't think that's how it works, because the full attack action is not just one unit of attacks, it's a number of different attacks. If it's all one unit of attacks, why doesn't True Strike go for all of them, since you've seen how the enemy will move and can aim your attacks accordingly.
Platstud
08-02-07, 02:03 PM How does CS keep coming up with those idiotic rulings? I don't think that's how it works, because the full attack action is not just one unit of attacks, it's a number of different attacks. If it's all one unit of attacks, why doesn't True Strike go for all of them, since you've seen how the enemy will move and can aim your attacks accordingly.

GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEADS, PEOPLE. Rules are driven by balance, not reason.
koiulpoi
08-02-07, 05:59 PM By the by, am I correct in thinking that Feint doesn't help Iaijutsu Focus at all, as it simply causes the opponent to lose their dex bonus, not become flat-footed?

If so (this would be a houserule, then), I would allow it to work, as you'd have to either re-sheathe your blade or draw another one, which fits very well with the whole "bluff" idea - even if the opponents have already seen you do it.
Mindolin
08-02-07, 06:36 PM GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEADS, PEOPLE. Rules are driven by balance, not reason.

Then please explain the balance behind that. It's not beyond a character to deal 60d6 damage with one check if you go by their idea on how it works. Or where you agreeing with me, I can't tell on here.

And for koiulpoi, no you cannot just feint, you have to have them truly flat-footed.
Platstud
08-03-07, 11:11 AM Then please explain the balance behind that. It's not beyond a character to deal 60d6 damage with one check if you go by their idea on how it works. Or where you agreeing with me, I can't tell on here.

And for koiulpoi, no you cannot just feint, you have to have them truly flat-footed.

I'm not actually agreeing or disagreeing with either side here. I'm simply stating that it's pointless to suggest that Iajitsu Focus should work one way because True Strike works that way. They are two different effects and each is given its own rules based on balance, not reason. I'm not saying that the designers never get the balance wrong, just that their intent is to create a balanced game that is fairly realistic, not a realistic game that is fairly balanced.
Tissue_Paper
08-03-07, 05:21 PM I belive that the Gnome Swiftblade or somesuch can be drawn and sheathed as a swift action. I can't remember what book it is in though.
Tealgorthian
08-03-07, 06:14 PM While that may sound mechanically right, practically you look STOOPID sheathing and drawing your weapon before each attack. They don't even do that in any of the samurai films I have watched.

Citan from Xenogears does this, and he looks like an utter badass.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mindolin 07-31-07, 11:58 PM	Okay, I was just reading up on the skill and from what I've seen it's use is part of the drawing and striking with the sword. Is this correct or am I missing something? Will Iaijutsu Focus be able to be used multiple times per round, if each attack meets the requirements for it's use?
Fallenangel359 08-01-07, 01:11 AM	attack that means a 4 attack full round attack can do iaijutsu focus 4x in a round Greatcleave +iaijutsu focus can cause some interesting combinations, when you have high CHA and strike from the void
Ranger REG 08-01-07, 02:33 AM	Okay, I was just reading up on the skill and from what I've seen it's use is part of the drawing and striking with the sword. Is this correct or am I missing something? Will Iaijutsu Focus be able to be used multiple times per round, if each attack meets the requirements for it's use? Iaijutsu Focus is used in place of your initiative check.
Mindolin 08-01-07, 12:02 PM	It states that that is the case for in formal duels, not when using it against some random goblin I find in the woods.
Twylyght 08-01-07, 10:57 PM	The targets do need to be flat footed.
koiulpoi 08-02-07, 12:05 AM	attack that means a 4 attack full round attack can do iaijutsu focus 4x in a round Greatcleave +iaijutsu focus can cause some interesting combinations, when you have high CHA and strike from the void Provided you have some way of drawing your sword before each one of those attacks, yes.
Ranger REG 08-02-07, 02:30 AM	Provided you have some way of drawing your sword before each one of those attacks, yes. While that may sound mechanically right, practically you look STOOPID sheathing and drawing your weapon before each attack. They don't even do that in any of the samurai films I have watched.
koiulpoi 08-02-07, 02:43 AM	While that may sound mechanically right, practically you look STOOPID sheathing and drawing your weapon before each attack. They don't even do that in any of the samurai films I have watched. I don't think you'd look that bad. Zhou Tai from Dynasty Warriors has an attack sequence of drawing and sheathing in quick succession, and it looks pretty cool. However, it doesn't work within the rules, unless you can find a way to sheathe your weapon as a free action.
Mindolin 08-02-07, 09:42 AM	Who said I was going to be redrawing the same sword? My idea was to collect a number of shortswords, wear about six of them, and then draw them all in a flurry of two weapon fighting and Iaijutsu strikes. It's a free action to drop the sword, so I can do it that way.
Kalis Atrud 08-02-07, 12:57 PM	Provided you have some way of drawing your sword before each one of those attacks, yes. Actually, the RAW says that you just need to draw a weapon once and you get as many Iaijutsu Focus strikes as you can manage in the round. You only need the one sword and one draw. Evidence is here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=12478565&postcount=64).
koiulpoi 08-02-07, 01:15 PM	Mindolin - the multishortsword idea would work. Kalis Atrud - I would personally disagree with that interpretation, but if we consider the full round "attack" action to be a singular unit rather than a series of attacks, it would work as described in that post. Perhaps I was wrong, no?
Mindolin 08-02-07, 01:57 PM	How does CS keep coming up with those idiotic rulings? I don't think that's how it works, because the full attack action is not just one unit of attacks, it's a number of different attacks. If it's all one unit of attacks, why doesn't True Strike go for all of them, since you've seen how the enemy will move and can aim your attacks accordingly.
Platstud 08-02-07, 02:03 PM	How does CS keep coming up with those idiotic rulings? I don't think that's how it works, because the full attack action is not just one unit of attacks, it's a number of different attacks. If it's all one unit of attacks, why doesn't True Strike go for all of them, since you've seen how the enemy will move and can aim your attacks accordingly. GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEADS, PEOPLE. Rules are driven by balance, not reason.
koiulpoi 08-02-07, 05:59 PM	By the by, am I correct in thinking that Feint doesn't help Iaijutsu Focus at all, as it simply causes the opponent to lose their dex bonus, not become flat-footed? If so (this would be a houserule, then), I would allow it to work, as you'd have to either re-sheathe your blade or draw another one, which fits very well with the whole "bluff" idea - even if the opponents have already seen you do it.
Mindolin 08-02-07, 06:36 PM	GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEADS, PEOPLE. Rules are driven by balance, not reason. Then please explain the balance behind that. It's not beyond a character to deal 60d6 damage with one check if you go by their idea on how it works. Or where you agreeing with me, I can't tell on here. And for koiulpoi, no you cannot just feint, you have to have them truly flat-footed.
Platstud 08-03-07, 11:11 AM	Then please explain the balance behind that. It's not beyond a character to deal 60d6 damage with one check if you go by their idea on how it works. Or where you agreeing with me, I can't tell on here. And for koiulpoi, no you cannot just feint, you have to have them truly flat-footed. I'm not actually agreeing or disagreeing with either side here. I'm simply stating that it's pointless to suggest that Iajitsu Focus should work one way because True Strike works that way. They are two different effects and each is given its own rules based on balance, not reason. I'm not saying that the designers never get the balance wrong, just that their intent is to create a balanced game that is fairly realistic, not a realistic game that is fairly balanced.
Tissue_Paper 08-03-07, 05:21 PM	I belive that the Gnome Swiftblade or somesuch can be drawn and sheathed as a swift action. I can't remember what book it is in though.
Tealgorthian 08-03-07, 06:14 PM	While that may sound mechanically right, practically you look STOOPID sheathing and drawing your weapon before each attack. They don't even do that in any of the samurai films I have watched. Citan from Xenogears does this, and he looks like an utter badass.