Question about Dodge AC and Uncanny Dodge feat

[Synde]

Hey everyone,

I was just hoping for a little clarification about how dodge AC and Uncanny Dodge work. So I get that normally you lose dodge AC when you're caught flatfooted or unaware of the enemy's presence. I guess my question is when is that exactly? Does that mean if you are fighting multiple enemies, any that are flanking you or behind you are bypassing your dodge AC? In my head, Flat-footed is any time a sneak attack would work, but I'm not sure that's even accurate.

The reason I ask is that I was planning out at a dodge based build, but I realized that I wouldn't have uncanny dodge. Just want to know if I need to rethink that before I invest any time into it.

Thank you!

[Deathgrowl]

Flanking, surprise attacks (before rolling initiative), attacks from stealth...

[Killington]

To my understanding flatfooted is not the same as being flanked. You are flatfooted when the other party is attacking you in a surprise round, in other words, before you've rolled initiative. Additionally you can be flatfooted if someone successfully feints you.

Sneak attack dice apply when the target is flatfooted (the beginning sneak attack flurry or after a feint) and when the target is flanked (the rogue and their ally are adjacent to the enemy and are on opposite sides). When the target is flanked you also get a +2 attack bonus against them, but this is not the same as flatfooted.

I believe that all sources of dodge AC and Dexterity AC bonus are negated when you are flatfooted, unless you have a feat that says otherwise like Uncanny Dodge, but I don't really know how it was implemented in NWN 2.

I hope that helps a bit.

[Deathgrowl]

Oh yeah. He's right.

[Synde]

Thanks for the responses. I think the answer might be in what you said somewhere, but I'm still a little confused. I probably shouldn't have brought up sneak attacks. Let me try again.

If I do not have uncanny dodge and am attacked from behind or the side will my dodge AC apply?

Sorry for making things too complicated with my original post.

Thanks!

[Killington]

Yes. The only time Dodge AC is negated is when you are flatfooted, which is not the same as being flanked.

[Synde]

Ah ok. Thanks for the simple response ^_^

If that's the case is it safe to say that uncanny dodge isn't a huge deal?

Would I be OK building a dodge based defense without it?