Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LordHumungus 12-02-05, 01:34 AM	Basically, I've never been that fond of automatically being flatfooted at the begining of combat to anyone who happens to have higher initiative than you. I have thought about getting rid of it entirely, but I feel that would just be too unbalancing, especially to the Rogue. I am thinking of a house rule that would make a natural roll of 20(or 19-20) on initiative negate flatfootedness. I was also considering adding that Improved Initiative would add 1 or 2 to this range. What do you think? Is it too overpowering? Has anyone else implemented anything like this? I think it seems fair, but won't have a chance to playtest it for at least a week.
Thelon Fairblade 12-02-05, 09:16 AM	a 5% chance to avoid being flatfooted, on the off-hand chance that someone rolls an initiative that beats your roll of 20 + DEX + bonuses. Hmm... seems like an unnecessary complication for the tiny effect it has. The only people who beat you when you roll a 20 are going to be the super-dex rogues, and/or people who have invested a feat in order to be able to beat you. So take your lumps, and return the blows with your specialty (which apparently isn't super-dex or Improved Initiative). Yes, I realize this means the rogues get to Sneak Attack you on that first round of combat. But that's why you are armored up like a tank, you low-dex example guy... and armor bonuses aren't negated by flat-footed. Maybe the rogue will miss you! Now, if you want a more "logical" rule, try something with a skill basis or an RPG basis. For example, perhaps you decide that "flat-footed" should only occur when one party is surprised or otherwise not expecting the attack. For example, maybe the fighter hears something approaching (made his Listen check) and is not surprised, but just doesn't react fast enough (lost initiative) to the sword that whistles around the corner (flatfooted). The next assassin's blade, though coming before the fighter can retaliate, doesn't catch him flat-footed (even though it still beats his initiative). Or more generally, maybe you are only flatfooted against the first strike that beats your initiative - including strikes from the same opponent. I.e. the high-level rogue who beats your initiative only gets Sneak Attack / flatfooted with his first strike... the other 3 you are prepared for. [This gimps Sneak Attack a little, but doesn't impair his ability to flank you and gut you that way.]