Breaking the Stance

[EricMcG]

The RAW only offers one explicit way to break a stance and that is to voluntarily change to a different stance. Most people interpret this as allowing you do enter a stance once you get the feat and remain in that stance for the rest of your life (and beyond in some cases).

The definition of Stance is "the way in which someone stands, esp. when deliberately adopted". I believe this implies that any movement breaks the stance and if using a swift action to enter a stance, ends movement there. Paizo has such restrictions on word count, that it seems reasonable to use flavour text and any other wording that makes it through editing as RAW.

I'm no martial artist, but a while ago a monk using Crane Style moved all through combat triggering AoOs. I picture him doing this hopping on one foot based on the "Karate Kid" movie. I like the way they do it in "Last Airbender" (animation): Move, move, move, stance, do the thing.

Assuming movement breaks the stance, what other conditions would have the same effect? Prone. Sleep/Unconscious. Confusion. Mounted or Ridden. Medium or Heavy Load. Bound. Grappled. Some of these still allow you to enter the stance (i.e. Prone, Grappled) on your turn.

Conditions not breaking the stance: 5' step, teleports that don't require movement, Reposition, most others such as Sickened, Fatigued, etc.

Opinions?

[Zhayne]

If it doesn't say it ends a stance, it doesn't end a stance. The RAW is clear; once you're in a stance, you say in it.

[EricMcG]

Agreed. I feel RAW is clear as well, once you enter a stance movement ends and you remain stationary until you voluntarily end the stance. They chose the word "stance" rather than a more flexible term such as "assume the Style's form".

[Zhayne]

That's because everything in the game needs a moniker, but that moniker is flavor text, not rules text.

[Rynjin]

The Design Team already broke Crane Stye's legs, now you want to kick it in the nuts too?

And for good measure, do the same to every other Style?

You're an evil, evil man.

[Flamephoenix182]

Yep got to go with Zhayne on this. There is no mention of them not being able to move.

Contrast this with the Stalwart Defenders "defensive stance"

Defensive Stance (Ex) (trimmed to just the relevant part)

"While in a defensive stance, a stalwart defender cannot willingly move from his current position through any means (including normal movement, riding a mount, teleportation, or willingly allowing allies to carry him). If he enters a defensive stance while on a moving vehicle he does not control (such as a wagon or ship), he can maintain the stance even if the vehicle moves. If the stalwart defender moves under his own power as a result of an enemy’s successful use of the Bluff skill or an enchantment spell, his stance ends."

Paizo chose to make it very clear the movement description that they could not move. but chose not to apply this to combat style feats.

So I think it's pretty Clear that being able to move in style feat stances are RAW and RAI