Orich Starkhart |
I saw that the Devs clarified that being unaware of an imminent attack results in being unable to react normally, contributing to the loss of dexterity bonus to AC in the flat-footed condition
I believe the notion of ability to react depending upon awareness supports the conclusion of many on these boards that the Uncanny Dodge ability to use one's dexterity bonus to AC applies against attacks from stealthy opponents, not just those from actually invisible ones, as some (few?) maintain from a strict reading of the definition of the ability.
I understand also, that the clause excluding "immobilized" characters from benefiting is about situations in which the character is physically unable to react, regardless of awareness, including those either climbing, balancing, crossing a narrow surface, or in the stunned condition.
From these, I draw the following observations for which I'd appreciate comment (spoilered due to length):
- Someone who missed in an AoO caused by an opponent using the Ultimate Combat feat False Opening, as this situation appears congruent with Feint (given how I understand Uncanny Dodge doesn't help: The one who fell for the feint is busy with that physical reaction and recovery from it, and thus unable to react to a sense of danger. The feinted individual might become aware, by virtue of their Uncanny Dodge ability, of an imminent sword thrust toward their left kidney, but they would be unable physically to do anything to avoid or block it.)
- Uncanny Dodge does *not* impart awareness of the presence of invisible or hidden foes, only of hidden imminent perils like something about to strike their right shoulder.
- Uncanny Dodge does not confer immunity to the flat-footed condition, or to being treated as flat footed, for Uncanny Dodge specifically notes that the character cannot be caught flat-footed. This applies to a surprise round and before the character acts in the first full combat round, and doesn't imply that the Rogue is automatically treated as aware of the opponents in the surprise round, just that if attacked he gets to apply his dexterity bonus to AC and can make AoO. Subsequently, an opponent's action that normally results in a character becoming flat footed to an opponent's attacks may still affect the character with Uncanny Dodge, depending on how the event/ability is described to work.
- Uncanny Dodge does not allow the character to retain their dexterity bonus to AC/Defense when struck by an attacker using the Shatter Defenses feat. The character with Uncanny Dodge is already in the combat and suffering a fear condition, the ability to sense specific danger early doesn't counteract the assailant making use of the fear condition to make its attack more effective.
- Uncanny Dodge will not help a character whose opponent successfully uses Blade Binder feat against him; in this case the character was in combat and aware of danger; it is the fact that the character's weapon is bound by the opponent that creates the flat-footed scenario, until the character breaks free or drops his weapon.
Uncanny Dodge would function for a character against an attack using the Betrayer or Surprise Follow Through feats, the Rogue Surprise Attack talent, the Crossbowman's Improved Deadshot, and probably against the Arcane Trickster's Impromptu Sneak Attack, as all these seem to rely primarily on quickness and surprise.
The Magus' Magus Arcana Prescient Attack presents an interesting situation;] in that ability the magus can predict its opponents defense, and attack accordingly, with the mechanical result that the target is denied dexterity bonus to AC - but Uncanny Dodge already enables a similarly prescient sense of an imminent attack and would restore the dexterity bonus. Which side wins? Maybe it's time for an opposed roll?
I'm thinking that flat-footed and loss of dexterity bonus to AC disproportionately affect high dexterity characters, more significantly reducing their defense while hardly touching average dex folks at all. Perhaps I will explore more satisfyingly crunchy alternatives over on the Homebrew forum.