Aldgar
2012-01-04, 02:37 AM
Well, given the fact that PA multipliers exist, and PA is capped only by BAB, I was thinking about how Combat Expertise compares to Power attack.
In short: Badly.
CE only allows 1:1 ratio of attack penalty/AC gained, and there are no CE multipliers that I know of.
Hence, I thought about introducing such multipliers, but soon realized that doing so could turn combat into a very long series of misses, something I'd rather avoid.
Hence, I looked at Pathfinder and copied their Power Attack/Combat Expertise mechanic.
Now, Combat expertise in Pathfinder still has the 1:1(penalty/AC) ratio, and the penalty is limited by your (BAB/4)+1, so it's actually worse in Pathfinder than in 3.5.
However, if you make shields a x2 CE multiplier, and the Dodge feat a x2 CE Multiplier, you'd have a 1:4 ratio (penalty/AC) vs your dodge target, and 1:2 ratio vs everyone else when using CE and a shield.
That is, a fighter 1 with Combat expertise and Dodge, using a shield, could take a -1 penalty to attack and gain +2 AC vs all, and +4 AC vs his Dodge Target.
At level 4, he'd have +4 AC vs all, and +8 vs his Dodge Target...
-> at level 20, he'd have +10 AC vs all and +20 vs the Dodge Target
Since Combat expertise requires a melee attack action, it isn't compatible with spells that don't use melee attacks, limiting the benefit Spellcasters can draw from these bonuses.
In short: Badly.
CE only allows 1:1 ratio of attack penalty/AC gained, and there are no CE multipliers that I know of.
Hence, I thought about introducing such multipliers, but soon realized that doing so could turn combat into a very long series of misses, something I'd rather avoid.
Hence, I looked at Pathfinder and copied their Power Attack/Combat Expertise mechanic.
Now, Combat expertise in Pathfinder still has the 1:1(penalty/AC) ratio, and the penalty is limited by your (BAB/4)+1, so it's actually worse in Pathfinder than in 3.5.
However, if you make shields a x2 CE multiplier, and the Dodge feat a x2 CE Multiplier, you'd have a 1:4 ratio (penalty/AC) vs your dodge target, and 1:2 ratio vs everyone else when using CE and a shield.
That is, a fighter 1 with Combat expertise and Dodge, using a shield, could take a -1 penalty to attack and gain +2 AC vs all, and +4 AC vs his Dodge Target.
At level 4, he'd have +4 AC vs all, and +8 vs his Dodge Target...
-> at level 20, he'd have +10 AC vs all and +20 vs the Dodge Target
Since Combat expertise requires a melee attack action, it isn't compatible with spells that don't use melee attacks, limiting the benefit Spellcasters can draw from these bonuses.