Feat penalties and stacking... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Feat penalties and stacking... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Warric
03-19-07, 04:25 PM Could someone please tell me how the following example works?

A character has Combat Expertise and Power Attack. In combat, on his turn he decides to take -2 to hit for Power Attack and -3 to hit for Combat Expertise. Do these stack for a total of -5 for all attacks during that round or do they overlap for a total of -3?

Also, I know you can use Combat Expertise in conjunction with fighting defensively, so do these penalties stack as well? For instance say a character decided on -5 to hit to get +5 AC and also decided to fight defensively (-4 to hit, +2 AC). Would the total penalty be -9 to hit or -5 to hit?

Thanks in advance
WinterPsionic
03-19-07, 04:30 PM -5 and -9
tarkin
03-19-07, 04:31 PM Say you have a BAB of 4.

You combat expertise for -2 (not wishing to take the full -4 you could take).

Then you Power attack for -3 (again, not taking the full -4 you could take).

You have a net -5 penalty to hit.

Then you throw in fighting defensively, -4 to hit, +2 to AC)

You are now a net -9 to hit, with +4 AC (2 expertise, 2 fighting defensively) and do an extra +3 damage (assuming using a one handed weapon).
Ranger REG
03-19-07, 08:51 PM Could someone please tell me how the following example works?

A character has Combat Expertise and Power Attack. In combat, on his turn he decides to take -2 to hit for Power Attack and -3 to hit for Combat Expertise. Do these stack for a total of -5 for all attacks during that round or do they overlap for a total of -3?
They must be paid for separately, so the penalties stack: -5.

Also, I know you can use Combat Expertise in conjunction with fighting defensively, so do these penalties stack as well? For instance say a character decided on -5 to hit to get +5 AC and also decided to fight defensively (-4 to hit, +2 AC). Would the total penalty be -9 to hit or -5 to hit?
Both Fighting Defensively and Combat Expertise benefits and penalties stack: boost +7 to AC, but suffer -9 to attacks.
Nom
03-19-07, 09:38 PM and do an extra +3 damage (assuming using a one handed weapon).And that you are actually capable of hitting with a -9 penalty. :)

All other things being equal, the character in Tarkin's example would have been better to use CE for -4 and not fight defensively. They'd still get +4 AC, but would only suffer a -7 to hit (-4 CE, -3 PA vs -2 CE, -3 PA, -4 defensive).
Warric
03-20-07, 09:05 AM Thanks much....

Warric
runestar
03-20-07, 09:15 AM All other things being equal, the character in Tarkin's example would have been better to use CE for -4 and not fight defensively. They'd still get +4 AC, but would only suffer a -7 to hit (-4 CE, -3 PA vs -2 CE, -3 PA, -4 defensive).
Depends. If you are going to be hitting on a natural 20 anyways, might as well fight defensively as well, since you aren't really any worse off. Your chance of hitting will never go below 5%, regardless of how big a penalty you take to your to-hit rating.

So in the most extreme case, just go all out power attack and expertise + fighting defensively.:)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Warric 03-19-07, 04:25 PM	Could someone please tell me how the following example works? A character has Combat Expertise and Power Attack. In combat, on his turn he decides to take -2 to hit for Power Attack and -3 to hit for Combat Expertise. Do these stack for a total of -5 for all attacks during that round or do they overlap for a total of -3? Also, I know you can use Combat Expertise in conjunction with fighting defensively, so do these penalties stack as well? For instance say a character decided on -5 to hit to get +5 AC and also decided to fight defensively (-4 to hit, +2 AC). Would the total penalty be -9 to hit or -5 to hit? Thanks in advance
WinterPsionic 03-19-07, 04:30 PM	-5 and -9
tarkin 03-19-07, 04:31 PM	Say you have a BAB of 4. You combat expertise for -2 (not wishing to take the full -4 you could take). Then you Power attack for -3 (again, not taking the full -4 you could take). You have a net -5 penalty to hit. Then you throw in fighting defensively, -4 to hit, +2 to AC) You are now a net -9 to hit, with +4 AC (2 expertise, 2 fighting defensively) and do an extra +3 damage (assuming using a one handed weapon).
Ranger REG 03-19-07, 08:51 PM	Could someone please tell me how the following example works? A character has Combat Expertise and Power Attack. In combat, on his turn he decides to take -2 to hit for Power Attack and -3 to hit for Combat Expertise. Do these stack for a total of -5 for all attacks during that round or do they overlap for a total of -3? They must be paid for separately, so the penalties stack: -5. Also, I know you can use Combat Expertise in conjunction with fighting defensively, so do these penalties stack as well? For instance say a character decided on -5 to hit to get +5 AC and also decided to fight defensively (-4 to hit, +2 AC). Would the total penalty be -9 to hit or -5 to hit? Both Fighting Defensively and Combat Expertise benefits and penalties stack: boost +7 to AC, but suffer -9 to attacks.
Nom 03-19-07, 09:38 PM	and do an extra +3 damage (assuming using a one handed weapon).And that you are actually capable of hitting with a -9 penalty. :) All other things being equal, the character in Tarkin's example would have been better to use CE for -4 and not fight defensively. They'd still get +4 AC, but would only suffer a -7 to hit (-4 CE, -3 PA vs -2 CE, -3 PA, -4 defensive).
Warric 03-20-07, 09:05 AM	Thanks much.... Warric
runestar 03-20-07, 09:15 AM	All other things being equal, the character in Tarkin's example would have been better to use CE for -4 and not fight defensively. They'd still get +4 AC, but would only suffer a -7 to hit (-4 CE, -3 PA vs -2 CE, -3 PA, -4 defensive). Depends. If you are going to be hitting on a natural 20 anyways, might as well fight defensively as well, since you aren't really any worse off. Your chance of hitting will never go below 5%, regardless of how big a penalty you take to your to-hit rating. So in the most extreme case, just go all out power attack and expertise + fighting defensively.:)