Was this "legal"?

[RigaMortus2]

In last night's game, I needed to break through a wooden door during combat. On my turn I used Combat Expertise (-5 to Hit, +5 to AC), Fighting Defensively (-4 to Hit, +3 to AC because of +5 Tumble) and then a +12 Two-Handed Power Attack (+12 damage, -6 to Hit). I used this on a door.

Note: We play that if you are ever able to automatically hit something (like an inanimate object or a helpless foe via CdG) that even if you would normally get a penalty to hit, you don't.

My question is more for the Combat Expertise and Fighting Defensively, because I didn't actually attack a creature when using these moves, but I was still in combat. Do you actually have to attack a creature when using them?

 

[Caeleddin]

I don't think it is legal. You cannot use Power Attack AND Combat Expertise together, IIRC. Not sure about Fighting Defensively.


As for your question on CE, it is legal. You only have to make a melee attack. You made it vs the door.

 

[Crothian]

Ya, you can do all that together, but with all those minuses you should have to roll to hit the door.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

My question is more for the Combat Expertise and Fighting Defensively, because I didn't actually attack a creature when using these moves, but I was still in combat. Do you actually have to attack a creature when using them?

No, but you must take the Attack or Full-Attack action.

Attacking a door is fine.

You should still suffer the penalties on your to-hit roll.

Note that you cannot benefit from CE or Fighting Definsively on the same round you perform a CdG.

COMBAT EXPERTISE [GENERAL]
Prerequisite: Int 13.

Benefit: When you use the attack action or the full attack action in melee,

-------------------

Fighting Defensively as a Standard Action: You can choose to fight defensively when attacking. If you do so, you take a –4 penalty on all attacks in a round to gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC for the same round.

-------------------

Fighting Defensively as a Full-Round Action: You can choose to fight defensively when taking a full attack action. If you do so, you take a –4 penalty on all attacks in a round to gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC for the same round.

-------------------

Full-Round Action: Attack of Opportunity
Full attack: No
Charge: No
Deliver coup de grace: Yes

 

[IcyCool]

What's the AC of a door? 10 (base) + (-5) (Dex of 0) = 5?

 

[ThirdWizard]

What's the AC of a door? 10 (base) + (-5) (Dex of 0) = 5?

I would say yes, and rule that it is helpless, though I don't know how correct according to RAW that would be since they arn't a "character". That gives you a +4 attack bonus on them.

 

[Caeleddin]

The AC also indicates a sort of hardness. For example, armour gives you AC, and when your attack bounce because of it, it is because your blade literally bounced off. There should be a roll to break down the door if it is time critical, because at -9 to-hit (still pretty sure this is illegal), there is a good chance of bouncing off an AC 5 door.

For example, there could be a bunch of monsters on the other side. If you break down the door, then fine, not a problem. If your attack bounced a couple of times, however, that is two rounds of spellcasting buffing goodness that could be going on on the other side.

 

[kanithardm]

In my campaign you only have to roll to hit an inanimate object if attacking with a ranged weapon or from far away with a ray.

 

[Bront]

I thought Combat Expertise overrode the rules for fighting defensively, so you can't do both.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

I thought Combat Expertise overrode the rules for fighting defensively, so you can't do both.

Nope. You can do both. Combat Expertise, once you can do it, is generally better (since you can trade between AB and AC 1-for-1 rather than 2-for-1), but when the chips are down, doing both is a great way to seriously pump your AC.