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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hypersmurf" data-source="post: 3521016" data-attributes="member: 1656">As you note, the redefinition of a standard action changes the analysis.What was a standard action in 3E?  It allowed you to move your speed and [do something], where moving your speed could be replaced with a MEA.The attack action is a standard action in both 3E and 3.5.  But in 3E, move your speed and attack something was a standard action (the attack action), while in 3.5, moving your speed is a move action, and attacking something is a standard action (the attack action).So if I move past some bugbears and attack the shaman, then in 3E, it's all part of the attack action.  While I'm moving past the bugbears, I'm taking the attack action.  But in 3.5, while I'm moving past the bugbears, it's a move action.  My attack action doesn't occur until I finish my move action, and then attack the shaman.So in 3E, I could activate Expertise as soon as a bugbear threatened me - I was taking the attack action, and I was engaged in melee combat.But in 3.5, I can't activate Combat Expertise until I'm already past the bugbears... I'm engaged in melee combat, but I am not yet taking the attack action, so I don't meet the conditions for Combat Expertise, until I actually attack the shaman.-Hyp.</blockquote>