Okay, negative dex mod. That negatively affects my AC, right?
So if I lose my dex bonus to AC, does that mean I gain AC...?
I know, it can't possibly work like this, but I'm drawing a blank on how it's suppose to work. Help please?
There is a difference between dexterity modifier and dexterity bonus. A bonus is always positive. A modifier can be positive or negative.
If you lose your dexterity bonus to AC, you only lose the positive modifier. If your dexterity modifier is negative, it isn't a bonus, so still remains.
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Okay, negative dex mod. That negatively affects my AC, right?
So if I lose my dex bonus to AC, does that mean I gain AC...?
I know, it can't possibly work like this, but I'm drawing a blank on how it's suppose to work. Help please?
There is a difference between dexterity modifier and dexterity bonus. A bonus is always positive. A modifier can be positive or negative.
If you lose your dexterity bonus to AC, you only lose the positive modifier. If your dexterity modifier is negative, it isn't a bonus, so still remains.
Thanks.
Nearly understood this question wrong... Damn flu!
I am a bit unsure. Low dex means you either trip or dodge into blows. Being flat means you cannot react to it. Making your AC higher against what you cannot see coming. It's weird, but some characters are just that special.
I thought of another interesting topic, sort of related. If you wear full plate. and have so little dex to get a -2 penalty to your dex score or lower. Would you only take a -1 penalty? The armour is so heavy and hard to move in that you have a harder time tripping or dodging into attacks.
Never dump dex.
Though often described as "stumbling into attacks", low Dex is mechanically less and less reactions, perhaps less and less innate movement (particularly side-to-side movement).
Dex 0 - usually objects, don't move at all. Dex 1 (most Oozes), move very slowly, and nearly always in one direction in a solid block. Constructs often have low Dex and they move predictably and in straight lines.
Dex 10 is the dodgy motion of an average person, or an unaware dextrous person. Lower is people with below average motion, or slow last-minute reflexes. Like how far you might step on a nail in the floor before yanking your foot back - similarly how far that sword might get your armor, or skin, before you flinch.
Only someone with a 12+ Dexterity has enough reaction time to actually intentionally move to prevent an attack when otherwise focused on combat. However even a 5 or 7 Dex can fight defensively, or take the total defense action to try to block entirely.
To give specific examples of what Jeraa is talking about:
A character who has not yet acted during a combat is flat-footed, unable to react normally to the situation. A flat-footed character loses his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) and cannot make attacks of opportunity.
Feinting is a standard action. To feint, make a Bluff skill check. The DC of this check is equal to 10 + your opponent's base attack bonus + your opponent's Wisdom modifier. If your opponent is trained in Sense Motive, the DC is instead equal to 10 + your opponent's Sense Motive bonus, if higher. If successful, the next melee attack you make against the target does not allow him to use his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any). This attack must be made on or before your next turn.
So you lose your Dexterity bonus. Any penalties remain in place.