At one of my games we got into a debate about what it means exactly to be helpless.
I know what the RAW says. Thats not really the question. My question is:
If a player sneaks up on a creature/person whom is sitting in a chair reading/knitting/crafting, and said creature/person has not succeeded on a perception check to notice the player; is the creature/person sitting down helpless?
If so, would not the same rules apply (coup de gras) to this creature/person as one who is tied up or otherwise restrained?
If not, why?
Because what you show bcpeery is the exact definition of flat footed a completely different condition that does not allow coup de gras, specifically because they are not helpless... simply unaware... if you were to walk up and specifically try and spend a full six seconds trying to stab them in just the right spot to kill they they will notice and proceed to defend themselves...
(the assassin gets a bit of an exclusion from this but that's his specific class feature)
cool, thanks. we can lay that one to rest.