[3.X] Iaijutsu Focus - untrained?

[Thurbane]

Something odd just came to my attention yesterday.

I had always believed Iaijutsu Focus to be a trained only skill, but looking at OA, it has no such descriptor next to it's name.

Does this mean (assuming the DM allows the skill in his game), anyone can make a check when they strike a flat-footed opponent after drawing a weapon? Even a character with no ranks can get +3d6 damage on a good roll.

This seems exceedingly strange to me, for such a niche skill not be trained only.

Am I missing something?

Cheers - T

[Alent]

Did 3.0 have untrained skills?

Iaijutsu focus is a 3.0 skill, I know. Maybe that was one of the philosophy changes from 3.0 to 3.5?

[Aethir]

Did 3.0 have untrained skills?

Iaijutsu focus is a 3.0 skill, I know. Maybe that was one of the philosophy changes from 3.0 to 3.5?

You got me to go look at my 3.0 PHB, and yes, it has trained-only and untrained allowed skills.

[Thurbane]

I asked in the Q&A thread, but it seems the 3.5 updates of OA (both the web based (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20040125a) one, and the Dragon magazine one) didn't address this issue.

[Alent]

Wierd. You'd think it would be trained, since it's basically the quickdraw feat spoken in otaku, which gives it extra damage because it's spoken in otaku.

It seems so strange to me that they'd have a Quickdraw feat and then a skill that doesn't require it or a class with it or anything.

[Thurbane]

Well, if it ever makes an appearance in my game, I assure you it will be homebrewed to trained only. It seems far too much of a niche skill to be used untrained.

[Callin]

But anyone can make a precise cut as they draw their weapon.

If you have the manual dexterity for it.