What can you do during Total Defense?

[Chaldfont]

Do you threaten squares while taking a Total Defense action? Can you make AOOs?
One of my players has the Karmic Strike feat from OA. Would you allow the use of this feat with Total Defense?

 

[Caliban]

Do you threaten squares while taking a Total Defense action?

Yes.

Can you make AOOs?

Yes.

One of my players has the Karmic Strike feat from OA. Would you allow the use of this feat with Total Defense?

From the Oriental Adventures section of the D&D FAQ:

Can you use the Karmic Strike feat when fighting
defensively? Can you use Karmic Strike when using the
total defense option?
Yes. It's not a very good option, but you can do it.
Note that you decide whether Karmic Strike is on or
off during your turn, and the -2 armor penalty and ability
to make attacks of opportunity against foes who hit you
remain until your next turn. Also note that any attacks of
opportunity you make via this feat count against your number
of attacks of opportunity you are allowed. You won't get a
lot of attacks from the feat unless you also have Combat
Reflexes and a decent Dexterity score.

You could likewise choose to fight defensively when it's
your turn, and the +2 dodge bonus to Armor Class and the -4
attack penalty apply until your next turn. Thus, the attack
penalty applies to any attacks of opportunity you might make
by virtue of Karmic Strike.

You also can use Karmic Strike when you're using the
total defense option. Since total defense doesn't carry an
attack penalty, any attacks of opportunity you might make as
a result of using Karmic Strike are unaffected. On the other
hand, the +4 dodge bonus to Armor Class might well limit
the number of foes who hit you and, thus, the number of
attacks of opportunity you'll make.

 

[Legildur]

Don't forget that any AOO during total defense (as with fighting defensively) is made with a -4 penalty to the attack bonus.

And you can only move your speed during total defense.

Expertise is a good feat to have.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Don't forget that any AOO during total defense (as with fighting defensively) is made with a -4 penalty to the attack bonus.

Doesn't that directly contradict the FAQ quote above?

-Hyp.

 

[Caliban]

Don't forget that any AOO during total defense (as with fighting defensively) is made with a -4 penalty to the attack bonus.

That's not an actual rule, that's a suggestion the Sage made during an earlier answer on this subject.

 

[Legildur]

Thanks Caliban,

I wasn't precisely sure where I had seen the information. I thought it was from the Sage, but didn't want to inappropriately credit someone to it without the info in front of me.