Combat Expertise and Defensive Fighting

[Thanee]

It also gets pretty insane when one considers that CE doesn't stack with the total defense maneuver, so forfeiting all attacks grants a punier bonus than merely attacking at a penalty.

Yep, that's the one thing, that makes the whole rule rather weird.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Darthjaye]

It also gets pretty insane when one considers that CE doesn't stack with the total defense maneuver, so forfeiting all attacks grants a punier bonus than merely attacking at a penalty.

Question though. Would the +4 bonus the Dervish gets apply to Total Defense? If so, suppossing 5 ranks in tumble, they'd at least have a +10 AC (unless it were to somehow double the +4 bonus too, but I very much doubt that).

 

[Stalker0]

It also gets pretty insane when one considers that CE doesn't stack with the total defense maneuver, so forfeiting all attacks grants a punier bonus than merely attacking at a penalty.

That's the power of actually taking a feat that requires a 13 int

 

[Xarls Taunzund]

Don't forget Improved Combat Expertise (Complete Warrior?). Why limit yourself to a +5 bonus? Especially when fighting that BBEG who's AC is so high you have to roll close to a 20 anyways.