Pistol Whip- Surprise!

[DeanHavok]

Hey all,

As written, it sounds to me that the Pistol Whip feat for the Gunslinger class is a surprise action, which would then be resolved against flat-footed AC. However, I cannot find this explicitly stated anywhere in the rules or the forums. Could I get some clarification?

Pistol Whip Description:

Pistol-Whip (Ex): At 3rd level, the gunslinger can make a surprise melee attack with the butt or handle of her firearm as a standard action. When she does, she is considered to be proficient with the firearm as a melee weapon and gains a bonus on the attack and damage rolls equal to the enhancement bonus of the firearm. The damage dealt by the pistol-whip is of the bludgeoning type, and is determined by the size of the firearm. One-handed firearms deal 1d6 points of damage (1d4 if wielded by Small creatures) and two-handed firearms deal 1d10 points of damage (1d8 if wielded by Small creatures). Regardless of the gunslinger's size, the critical multiplier of this attack is 20/×2. If the attack hits, the gunslinger can make a combat maneuver check to knock the target prone as a free action. Performing this deed costs 1 grit point.

Much obliged,
Dean.

[lantzkev]

surprise melee has no mechanical benefit...

[DeanHavok]

Not that I doubt you, but could you cite this information? Looking at the rules for surprise rounds (which is really the only relevant rules section I could find) it says a combatant can either take a move or standard action. Nowhere does it imply that an individual already in range to melee and acting in the surprise round would be denied the benefits of surprising an enemy i.e. an assassin in a crowd or some such.

[DarkPhoenixx]

There is surprise round, but there is no such thing as "surprise melee attack"

But if we look at Catch Off-Guard feat it says

Quote:

You do not suffer any penalties for using an improvised melee weapon. Unarmed opponents are flat-footed against any attacks you make with an improvised melee weapon.

So it may be reasonable to houserule it to work in the same manner.

[DeanHavok]

@DarkPhoenixx

Interesting. So the choice of words used in the description of Pistol Whip was purely fluff, and not intended to be overanalyzed? That sounds reasonable enough. Thanks for the feat mention, should help me to convince the GM to houserule it for me.

[lantzkev]

that'd be a strong buff for no investment....

[DeanHavok]

But if it weren't vs flat footed it would be spending 1 of your character's most likely 2-4 grit points (based off wis mod) to do a basic attack vs regular old AC with a free prone check. Which is.... fine, I guess, but it doesn't seem worthy of spending a grit point. I'd rather 5 foot step back, reload and shoot the foe point blank at that point.