denied dex to AC and AoOs

[Ciaran Barnes]

It is clear that a flat-footed combatant can't normally make attacks of opportunity. However, I can't find anything that speaks to combatants who have lost their dexterity bonus to AC and attacks of opportunity. I am left to believe that these combatants are therefore allowed to make an AoO. Is this correct?

[Kazaan]

That's correct. Flat-footed is different from Denied Dex. All Flat-Footeed characters are denied dex and flat-footed also denies AoOs, but not all chars Denied Dex are Flat-Footed.

[kinevon]

Kazaan wrote:

That's correct. Flat-footed is different from Denied Dex. All Flat-Footeed characters are denied dex and flat-footed also denies AoOs, but not all chars Denied Dex are Flat-Footed.

Note that there is at least one feat (Combat Reflexes) that allows a flat footed character to actually be able to take AoOs, as long as they have a wielded weapon.

Another reason to have a spiked gauntlet or cestus, if you don't have IUS.

[Kazaan]

Specific trumps general. The general default is what I specified for Flat-Footed. Combat Reflexes trumps the "cannot take AoOs" part and a different ability, Uncanny Dodge, negates flat-footed itself which covers AoOs, Dex to AC, and any other tangential factors. The Robe of Eyes negates the denied Dex to AC of being flat-footed, but does nothing to let you take AoOs. But the main point is to elaborate on the differences between Flat-Footed and Denied Dex to AC.