Improved Uncanny Dodge Question

[rivers77]

D&D 3.5

I've checked over the internet a bit and haven't found the answer to my question, so I thought I'd pose it to the peeps on the board. I appreciate all the help on this.

Improved Uncanny Dodge says that the character can't be flanked unless the ROGUE is at least 4 levels higher than the character.

Is it really only rogues that get to overcome IUC? If someone is playing a 5 rogue/10 assassin, shouldn't it be combined to determine whether or not you can overcome IUC? After all, both classes get full sneak attack progression. Any help on this is much appreciated.

 

[JamesonCourage]

D&D 3.5

I've checked over the internet a bit and haven't found the answer to my question, so I thought I'd pose it to the peeps on the board. I appreciate all the help on this.

Improved Uncanny Dodge says that the character can't be flanked unless the ROGUE is at least 4 levels higher than the character.

Is it really only rogues that get to overcome IUC? If someone is playing a 5 rogue/10 assassin, shouldn't it be combined to determine whether or not you can overcome IUC? After all, both classes get full sneak attack progression. Any help on this is much appreciated.

I haven't looked up any errata, but as far as Rules As Intended go, the Assassin levels should stack with Rogue when making that determination.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Barbarian :: d20srd.org

"Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex)
At 5th level and higher, a barbarian can no longer be flanked. This defense denies a rogue the ability to sneak attack the barbarian by flanking him, unless the attacker has at least four more rogue levels than the target has barbarian levels. If a character already has uncanny dodge from a second class, the character automatically gains improved uncanny dodge instead, and the levels from the classes that grant uncanny dodge stack to determine the minimum level a rogue must be to flank the character."

Essentially, any class with uncanny dodge counts as a "rogue level" for the purposes of improved uncanny dodge. They just poorly named it after the main class it affects, rather than giving it a unique name that'd be less confusing.

 

[Sekhmet]

I'd agree with SotS.

 

[rivers77]

Barbarian :: d20srd.org

"Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex)
At 5th level and higher, a barbarian can no longer be flanked. This defense denies a rogue the ability to sneak attack the barbarian by flanking him, unless the attacker has at least four more rogue levels than the target has barbarian levels. If a character already has uncanny dodge from a second class, the character automatically gains improved uncanny dodge instead, and the levels from the classes that grant uncanny dodge stack to determine the minimum level a rogue must be to flank the character."

Essentially, any class with uncanny dodge counts as a "rogue level" for the purposes of improved uncanny dodge. They just poorly named it after the main class it affects, rather than giving it a unique name that'd be less confusing.

So, using my example from above, a 5 rogue/10 assassin could successfully sneak attack an 11th level character (assuming the levels are in rogue,assassin, barbarian, etc.) with improved uncanny dodge while on the flank?

That gets me thinking about a second question now. Uncanny dodge keeps you from being caught flat footed and you never lose your dex bonus to AC. Would feint even effect you? Acrobatic Backstab? Are these particular abilities that put you flat footed in special situations?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Flatfooted is only one way you can lose dex to AC. Paralysis and being bound are different, and lots of things that cost you dex to AC don't make you flatfooted. Flatfooted is sort of like a subsection of "lose dex to AC," like how all squares are rhombuses. Flatfooted has some unique features of its own, though, such as inability to make attacks of opprotunity, that other forms of "lose dex to AC" may not have.

In summary: Unless the effect/attack/etc... negating dex to AC specifically says it makes the opponent flatfooted, uncanny dodge does not apply.