Actions In Combat

This section describes actions in combat that differ from the standard rules found in Chapter 8 of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook.

STANDARD ACTIONS

Parry: Making a parry is a standard action. In order to parry, a defender must make an attack roll that exceeds that of his attacker. A defender who can make multiple attacks in a round and is using the full attack action can make multiple parries. Each parries counts as one of the defender's attacks for that round.

Sword-Bind: A sword-bind is a standard action. A defender must successfully parry his opponent in order to initiate a sword-bind. Without any other action on the part of the defender, the sword-bind will last until the attacker can make his next action (which may be in the same round if he has taken the full attack option and has attacks remaining).

The defender can initiate an opposed Strength check (or Dexterity if using the Weapon Finesse feat). If he wins, the defender has seized the initiative and can use his opponent's initiative in the next round. The loser is considered flat-footed until his next turn.

If the defender possesses them, he can use a number of feats during a sword-bind as opposed to initiating the opposed STR check.

Fighting Defensively as a Standard Action: You can choose to fight defensively when attacking. If you do so, you take a –4 penalty on all attacks in a round to gain a +2 Dodge bonus to Defense until the start of your next turn.

Total Defense: You can defend yourself as a standard action. You get a +4 dodge bonus to your Defense for 1 round. Your Defense improves at the start of this action. You can't combine total defense with fighting defensively or with the benefit of the Combat Expertise feat. You can't make attacks of opportunity while using total defense.

IMMEDIATE ACTIONS

Ascertain Attack: A character who is not flat-footed can, as a Swift Action, attempt to ascertain whether a melee attack or touch attack (but not a ranged or ranged touch attack) will successfully hit him if left unblocked. To do so, make a Perception skill check. The DC of this check is equal to the opponent's attack roll.

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