defence vs arrows

[notjer]

Im not sure about this, my DM say's that the player or NPC can't use defence or greater defence vs arrows, but in the book havent I found anything about this... do people have any opinion about this?

 

[Darklone]

Advancing slowly with full defense against a bunch of archers when you can't shoot back is sometimes a very good idea.

Did your DM give any reason why it shouldn't work?

 

[Piratecat]

I'll slide this over to the rules forum. I don't recognize the terms defense and greater defense, and that might be a translation problem between editions -- is there a possibility you mean expertise? Or fighting defensively?

 

[Darklone]

I'll slide this over to the rules forum. I don't recognize the terms defense and greater defense, and that might be a translation problem between editions -- is there a possibility you mean expertise? Or fighting defensively?

Yeah, I assumed fighting defensively or full defense.

 

[notjer]

Yes I am talking about fighting defensively or full defence - we are calling it defence or greater defence(maybe bcuz of that we are Dane ), but in fact - can a player/npc use defence or greater defence vs arrows?

 

[Camarath]

Yes I am talking about fighting defensively or full defence - we are calling it defence or greater defence(maybe bcuz of that we are Dane ), but in fact - can a player/npc use defence or greater defence vs arrows?

Yes a Dodge bonus to AC gained from Fighting Defensively or Total Defense does apply against ranged attacks.

 

[Greybar]

from the SRD:

Total Defense

You can defend yourself as a standard action. You get a +4 dodge bonus to your AC for 1 round. Your AC 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 (since both of those require you to declare an attack or full attack). You can’t make attacks of opportunity while using total defense.

The AC is not conditional on "melee", so it applies to both melee and ranged.

As it should, in my opinion.

john

EDIT: the same language is used in the SRD for Fighting Defensively and Combat Expertise btw.