Dex and AC

[Terrivar]

I'm working on building a character whose dexterity modifier is -1. If flat-footed AC denies the dex bonus, does that mean his flat-footed is higher than his regular AC?

[Nefreet]

-1 is not a "bonus".

[Derek Vande Brake]

Exactly. It is a penalty, not a bonus. You are denied positive modifiers, but still have to take negative ones.

[Terrivar]

Thanks guys! That's what I thought but I wasn't 100% sure.

[DM_Blake]

The rule you're looking for is in the Combat section on Armor Class:

"Sometimes you can't use your Dexterity bonus (if you have one). If you can't react to a blow, you can't use your Dexterity bonus to AC. If you don't have a Dexterity bonus, your AC does not change."

Combine that with the fact that everyone has a DEX modifier, even if it's negative or 0, and now you have all you need to know. You never lose your DEX modifier, you only lose your DEX bonus, if you have one, and if you don't, your AC does not change.