3.5 Dodge wording

[retaliation08]

"During your action, you designate an opponent and receive a +1 dodge bonus to Armor Class against attacks from that opponent. You can select a new opponent on any action."

What exactly does "...on any action" mean? Does it have to be my action?

[Darrin]

"During your action, you designate an opponent and receive a +1 dodge bonus to Armor Class against attacks from that opponent. You can select a new opponent on any action."

What exactly does "...on any action" mean? Does it have to be my action?

That was most likely the intent. At the time that rule was written, immediate actions (taken outside your turn) didn't exist. The designers probably assumed that "any action" refers to a move, standard, or full-round action you perform on your turn.

[StreamOfTheSky]

As written, it's any action. Which is fine by me (I make it +1 to AC vs. all attacks anyway).

I've seen the wording used by people w/ Elusive Target to use something like Wall of Blades...not for the actual effect, but just for the sake of taking an immediate action so they could suddenly change their dodge buddy and cause an attacker to hit their friend (diverting defense tactic) when the attacker thought it was safe.
Which was pretty awesome. :smallcool:

[Doctor Awkward]

Your actions occur only during your turn (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm#theCombatRound), unless the action you are taking specifically says otherwise, such as in the case of immediate actions (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm#immediateActions) or speaking (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm#speak).

The only abilities that can be done as immediate actions are the ones that specifically say as such.