Combat Expertise and Power Attack

[roguerouge]

If you were a 5th level fighter, could you both power attack for 5 points and combat expertise for 5 points? If so, would you be at -5 on your attacks or -10?

 

[Herzog]

yes.

at -10.

Herzog

ps: with improved combat expertise, a 20th lvl fighter could get +20 on AC and +20 on damage (or +40 on damage with a two-handed weapon), but take a -40 on attack to do so.

 

[glass]

yes. at -10.

This.

To elaborate a bit, the fact that both penalties are capped to your bab does not alter the fact that they are two separate penalties that are applied (and capped) separately. And they both work with normal attacks, so there is nothing to stop you applying both at the same time.


glass.

 

[glass]

To elaborate a bit [...] and they both work with normal attacks, so there is nothing to stop you applying both at the same time.

To elaborate on my previous elaboration, PA doesn't care about actions -you could declare power attack and then cast a spell if you liked (although that would be a bit odd). CE is a bit more picky, but that doesn't matter if PA isn't.


glass.

 

[roguerouge]

So, in essence, use this tactic when you are in melee with a creature and wish primarily to tank, but want to leave room for hitting with a natural 20?

 

[Darklone]

So, in essence, use this tactic when you are in melee with a creature and wish primarily to tank, but want to leave room for hitting with a natural 20?

Many tanks I know would still hit with a 10+.

Look at the ACs of most CR5-8 monsters in the MM. A level 5 fighter with a few buffs or a bard in the group can easily reach a +20 to hit. so if he does your stunt, he still has a higher than 50% chance to hit most opponents.

 

[phindar]

If you're going to go full expertise, you can throw Active Defense in there as well for another -4 to hit and +2 AC (or higher with Tumble). It's not quite as cost effective, but it's another way to get over the cap. So, a 10th level Fighter with Imp Expertise could put 10 points into Expertise and go Active Def for a total of +12 to AC and -14 to hit. (Tumble, along with certain feats like Two-Wpn Def can raise this even further).

 

[frankthedm]

So, in essence, use this tactic when you are in melee with a creature and wish primarily to tank, but want to leave room for hitting with a natural 20?

Lots of monsters have poor AC for their CRs, notably advanced monsters. They do obscene amounts of damage and have what one would think is a lot of HP, but in the end their crappy AC means they can be power attacked like no tomorrow.