Ac Boost

[Anditch]

I have a quick question to ask. Does the AC bonus from Expertise or superior expertise stack with the AC bonus given from using the Tumble skill ? If it does or doesnt why ?

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Yes it does. You can fight defensively and use combat expertise at the same time.

I had a character who had combat expertise, many ranks in tumble, AND a +6 definding sword. I could get +16 AC for -15 attack.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I have a quick question to ask. Does the AC bonus from Expertise or superior expertise stack with the AC bonus given from using the Tumble skill ? If it does or doesnt why ?

The Tumble skill does not provide an AC bonus in and of itself. It modifies the Fight Defensively and Total Defense combat options, making them more effective.

According to the core rules, yes, as Kae Yoss said, you can use both Expertise and Fight Defensively at the same time. (You cannot use Expertise and Full Defense together, though.)

It should also be noted that Sean K. Reynolds uses a House Rule where you cannot use both Expertise and Fight Defensively together, as he considers Expertise to be an advanced form of Fight Defensively. But that's a house rule.

 

[Kemrain]

Wow.. I always assumed Sean's rule was official. I'll have to find where it says you can do that in the feat description. Thanks for the info!

- Kemrain the Suddenly Harder to Hit

 

[Hypersmurf]

Wow.. I always assumed Sean's rule was official. I'll have to find where it says you can do that in the feat description.

You'll be looking for a while.

What you will find is that it doesn't say you can't in the Feat description. Both provide a Dodge bonus, and Dodge bonuses stack.

-Hyp.

 

[Kemrain]

Hmmmm.... Interesting. Thanks, Hyp.

- Kemrain the Still Harder to Hit

 

[Ranger REG]

Wow.. I always assumed Sean's rule was official. I'll have to find where it says you can do that in the feat description. Thanks for the info!

When Sean answered that question, Jonathan Tweet gave a different rules answer. So basically, you have a choice between a contributor to the core rulebooks OR the co-designer and part of the Third Edition Game Design Team (includes Monte Cook and Skip Williams).

I went with Tweet's answer, with both bonuses (to AC) and penalties (to attack rolls) stack.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

When Sean answered that question, Jonathan Tweet gave a different rules answer. So basically, you have a choice between a contributor to the core rulebooks OR the co-designer and part of the Third Edition Game Design Team (includes Monte Cook and Skip Williams).

I went with Tweet's answer, with both bonuses (to AC) and penalties (to attack rolls) stack.

Just to clarify: Sean K. Reynolds himself will tell you that his way of looking at it is a house rule. He's never (as far as I know) passed his ruling off as a core rule. Every time I've seen Sean answer this question, it's been along the lines of, "The official rule is that they stack, but I think it should work this way instead..."

So in regards to the Core Rules, there's no disagreement. Sean and Jonathan and Skip and presumably Monte all say they stack. Sean additionally says they shouldn't.