If I have the rogue talent surprise attack, are my opponents completely flatfooted? aka cannot take AoO's against me? Or, is it like Shatter Defenses and they are only flatfooted to my attacks?
Surprise Attack: During the surprise round, opponents are always considered flat-footed to a rogue with this ability, even if they have already acted.
Additionally, if they cannot take AoO's, can I choose to provoke AoO's?
Thank you!
Edit: according to this post, everyone is always flat footed during the surprise round... so what is the point of this rogue talent?
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ovp2?Are-you-still-flat-footed-after-taking-an -AoO
If they are flat footed against you then they can not make an AoO against you unless they have combat reflexes.
As for you intentionally provoking I would allow it, but the rules assume the ability is always on since most players would never allow an AoO if they can help it.
I think the intention of that ability was to allow the rogue to sneak attack during a surprise round (as long as he acted) against any opponent, even ones that had acted.
Though, I'm not actually sure thats what the ability does. It seems that it would also prevent them from taking an AoO against you. Which, on thinking about it, does make the ability substantially better.
So maybe that's what is intended.
Any thoughts on the link I posted? It seems to say that you're flat footed until you take your non-surprise round turn... meaning this talent is useless?
Any thoughts on the link I posted? It seems to say that you're flat footed until you take your non-surprise round turn... meaning this talent is useless?
Linkified it for you.
Check out this later post in the thread: hereA character who has not yet acted during a combat is flat-footed, unable to react normally to the situation. A flat-footed character loses his Dexterity bonus to AC and Combat Maneuver Defense (CMD) (if any) and cannot make attacks of opportunity, unless he has the Combat Reflexes feat or Uncanny Dodge class ability.
Characters with Uncanny Dodge retain their Dexterity bonus to their AC and can make attacks of opportunity before they have acted in the first round of combat.
Benefit: During the surprise round, opponents are always considered flat-footed to a rogue with this ability, even if they have already acted.
Basically, after they have acted, but still in the surprise round, you get a benefit with this talent.
/cevah