You can also use Bluff to feint in combat, causing your opponent to be denied his Dexterity bonus to his AC against your next attack. The DC of this check is equal to 10 + your opponent’s base attack bonus + your opponent’s Wisdom modifier. If your opponent is trained in Sense Motive, the DC is instead equal to 10 + your opponent’s Sense Motive bonus, if higher.
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Feinting is a standard action. To feint, make a Bluff skill check. The DC of this check is equal to 10 + your opponent's base attack bonus + your opponent's Wisdom modifier. If your opponent is trained in Sense Motive, the DC is instead equal to 10 + your opponent's Sense Motive bonus, if higher. If successful, the next melee attack you make against the target does not allow him to use his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any). This attack must be made on or before your next turn.
So, at what range can you do this? Currently I'm working on a build with a Mesmerist that feints with a whip, which would typically be at a range of about ten feet. But there's nothing in the rules that says that you can't feint with a ranged weapon; indeed, I haven't found anything that says that your opponent even has to see you (while common sense dictates that feinting wouldn't be required, advanced uses of feint lose the opponent's Dex bonus for a whole turn).
Is there any reason why the crack of a whip could't spook somebody at a pace of fifteen or thirty or even fifty feet? A gunslinger with a whip and improved feint could be a deadly combo.
Is there an FAQ on this?
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RAW: Its not defined so I'd default to Line of effect.
Personally I'd houserule you have to be able to make an attack into the square the enemy is in. You could feint with a ranged weapon, by drawing back and pointing toward the enemy for example, or with a melee weapon by faking a swing. I don't see how you could feint outside of your reach without a weapon though.
I can't think of any situations in which you would want to feint a creature you don't threaten with a melee weapon, since it only effects your next melee attack.
@joeyfixit: Fortunately, a whip is not a ranged weapon; it's a melee weapon with reach. Therefore, you don't need to worry about whether fainting works differently with a ranged weapon.
Feint has no listed range. One could presume that line of effect would be a requirement, but other than that range shouldn't be an issue. Since attacks with a whip are melee attacks, the feint works fine to set up further whip attacks.
I would allow an archer with a bow to feint an attack by pointing and drawing back their bow. I might require the archer actually fire the arrow, not sure on that.
This could be useful if they have greater feint, because (according to some interpretations) it would cause the enemy to lose dex bonus to all melee attacks made until your next turn.
I can't think of any situations in which you would want to feint a creature you don't threaten with a melee weapon, since it only effects your next melee attack.
It effects your next attack, not just your next melee attack. Someone with sneak attack could use this to set up an opponent for a ranged sneak attack. It could also be used to reduce touch AC for a ranged touch attack.
I can't think of any situations in which you would want to feint a creature you don't threaten with a melee weapon, since it only effects your next melee attack.It affects your next attack, not just your next melee attack. Someone with sneak attack could use this to set up an opponent for a ranged sneak attack. It could also be used to reduce touch AC for a ranged touch attack.
No it affects your next melee attack:
Feint in the PRDFeinting is a standard action. To feint, make a Bluff skill check. The DC of this check is equal to 10 + your opponent's base attack bonus + your opponent's Wisdom modifier. If your opponent is trained in Sense Motive, the DC is instead equal to 10 + your opponent's Sense Motive bonus, if higher. If successful, the next melee attack you make against the target does not allow him to use his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any). This attack must be made on or before your next turn.
Now I do wish there was a feat or ability that let you take advantage of feint at range because it is a fun way to run a rogue (one of my gm's allowed it once and in our group it was not overpowered) but that isn't currently an option in the rules.
the confusion is that the bluff skill ALSO describes the feint action, but does not include the Melee qualifier.
Doesn't help that there isn't a hyperlink to feint in the combat section from the bluff skill, which would help clear it up.
(Actually feint doesn't even have its own in-page header, I had to do a direct link to trip to get close.)
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I contend that the "range" of feinting in combat be left undefined so as to continue to allow for GM discretion. I say this as there is little need for changing its usage by a lone combatant as the melee requirement forces them to enter into danger in order to reap the benefits of the usage of feinting.
A party using teamwork feats has spent the feat(s) necessary to gain access to the target and they too must enter melee to attack the feinted foe.
For the rare instance of a character having the ability to share their teamwork feats with other characters, the range of feinting is still a non-issue. The "sharer" has invested feats as well as sacrificed rather significant class features in order to have that privilege. (E.g.: The Holy Tactician paladin has sacrificed both their ability to smite as well as their aura of courage and the divine bond in order to do so.) The allies of such characters still must engage the foe in melee to benefit from this.
As for the GM's discretion, let them arrive at their own decisions for whatever cases may arise at their respective tables.
No it affects your next melee attack:
Feint in the PRD
Feinting is a standard action. To feint, make a Bluff skill check. The DC of this check is equal to 10 + your opponent's base attack bonus + your opponent's Wisdom modifier. If your opponent is trained in Sense Motive, the DC is instead equal to 10 + your opponent's Sense Motive bonus, if higher. If successful, the next melee attack you make against the target does not allow him to use his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any). This attack must be made on or before your next turn.Now I do wish there was a feat or ability that let you take advantage of feint at range because it is a fun way to run a rogue (one of my gm's allowed it once and in our group it was not overpowered) but that isn't currently an option in the rules.
Thanks for clearing that up. I was going off the description under the Bluff skill.
The Archer fighter archetype can feint at a range of 0-30 feet with a -4 to his CMB if he takes it as a trick shot.