Surprising Traps


Rules Questions


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Traps, by their very nature, are generally concealed until triggered.

Are characters considered flat-footed against a trap they did not spot? Can a character so surprised even benefit from things like evasion?

It seems funny to me that the characters who are best at disarming traps (high Dexterity rogues) would be the most adversely effected by those that are missed (due to their low hp and worthless AC without Dex).


Considering that rogues cannot be caught flat-footed by 4th level, this really only affects those of 1st-3rd level. The only real downside is that 3rd level rogues lose the +1 from their trapsense ability, since dodge bonuses don't apply when flat-footed.

As for Evasion, it still applies, since the ability doesn't specifically mention that being flat-footed negates its use.

*edit* I realized I hadn't directly answered the question. Since the trap is attacking from concealment, I'd say that yes, the target of the trap is considered flat-footed against any attack it makes.


I'd say that if the character is surprised by the trap, he or she would be considered flat-footed... note that that is not always the case though, there are times when you might know a trap is there and spring it anyway, in which case I would say the character is not flat-footed against its effects.

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