Barbarian rage boosts defense?

[ohako]

I think I have this right, but I just want to make sure. A Barbarian in rage, while he takes a -2 penalty to AC, actually gains +2 to CMD from the Strength boost, correct?

(You can stab me all you like, just don't try to knock me over or steal my stuff, got it? Stabbing only!)

[Benchak the Nightstalker]

You get a +2 from the Strength boost, but you also take the -2 to AC to your CMD as well, so it breaks even.

"Any penalties to a creature's AC also apply to its CMD."
-PRD

[Quandary]

What Benchak said... It breaks even UNTIL Rage scales to +3 and ultimately +4 modifier.
Meaning while you probably want to have pre-written alt. stats for AC (i.e. normal AC X / rage AC X-2, same for Touch AC) you don´t need to do that for CMD UNTIL Rage scales up at mid-levels. (I place CMD right next to AC on my own custom char sheets, since it more or less shares all the same bonuses/penalties, i.e. IS another alt. AC just like Touch AC)

[pobbes]

Yes, a higher level barbarian is easier to hit with a basic attack, but is more difficult to manipulate in combat. You read that correctly.