Hello, I am attempting to get an official/semi official response to this particular question, as it may be something many others are having an issue with.
On a character of mine I have taken the Defensive Strategist Trait which states the following:
Benefit: You are not flat-footed when you are an unaware combatant. This includes a surprise round that you don’t get to act in, and before you get to act at the start of a battle.
The rule debate began when my character and the party traveled along a road. On either side was thick forest, rough terrain, and our way was blocked by a large log. Archers attacked from behind the log, and so I intended to disappear into the forest to go around the log and try to get at the archers. My trait had functioned just fine then - I hadnt acted first in combat, and we were surprised when arrows came flying over the log.
However, upon entering the forest, I apparently failed a perception check and received an attack of opportunity from the enemy in there when I moved through their threatened square. I believe this had deemed me 'unaware' of them, and thus flat foot. However, the written rules clearly state specifically that I am not flat-footed when I am an unaware combatant. The attack did hit me as a result.
I think the essential issue here is after combat starts and surprise rounds are resolved, is it still possible to be an unaware combatant?
According to: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/combat#TOC-Surprise unaware combatant 'status' appears to only happen during a surprise round, in which case I suppose my GM would be correct in saying that my Defensive Strategist trait only applies during the surprise round.
The issue here though is, isnt it entirely possible for a character to use a bluff check to create a distraction, and then make a stealth check in order to hide from enemies? At which point, those enemies, although they are still in initiative order, and may be in combat with the hiding PC's allies, are now unaware of that character?
I suppose the simplest way to put my question though is this: Is it possible for an enemy to use a stealth check to hide from me, and when I fail a perception check to detect them, still become flat-foot despite having a trait that clearly states that I cannot become flat foot due to surprise? That seems to defeat the entire purpose of the trait, in my own opinion. There are plenty of other ways in which to put me into a flat foot condition - feinting, flanking, knocking me prone - the trait is supposed to make surprise one of the ways I cant be caught in this way.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer!
