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I was wondering if you can combine Fighting Defensively (or Combat Expertise) with taking the Aid Another action?
Aid Another is listed as a special attack that takes a standard action to perform, BUT it involves an attack roll and is listed under special attacks right next to Charge (which, silly as it sounds, I know you can combine with FD/CE)
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I would say yes as it is clearly listed under Special Attacks, and requires a roll against an AC 10, not a DC 10.
Hmm... but how would this work flavor-wise? You're defensively aiding an ally's efforts to hit? I suppose it would work, since balance-wise you're not taking any other actions that round. Though I suppose you could combine it with the Combat Reflexes chain for a melee character who takes more attacks during other people's rounds than during his own.
I was wondering if you can combine Fighting Defensively (or Combat Expertise) with taking the Aid Another action?
Fighting Defensively as a Standard Action: "You can choose to fight defensively when attacking. If you do so, you take a –4 penalty on all attacks in a round to gain a +2 to AC until the start of your next turn."
Aid Another: "If you're in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your friend as a standard action.... You can also use this standard action to help a friend in other ways, such as when he is affected by a spell, or to assist another character's skill check."
I see Aid Another as a specific standalone standard action. It involves an attack roll (or skill check, or, bafflingly, a saving throw) but it's still its own action.
right next to Charge (which, silly as it sounds, I know you can combine with FD/CE)
I don't think so.
Fighting Defensively as a Full-Round Action: "You can choose to fight defensively when taking a full-attack action."
Charge: "Charging is a special full-round action that allows you to move up to twice your speed and attack during the action."
Charge is not a full attack, so not FDaaFRA. The attack part of a charge is not a standard action, so no FDaaSA.
Combat Expertise, however, only needs to be triggered by a melee attack. So it should work with Aid/Charge/Etc.
Though I suppose you could combine it with the Combat Reflexes chain for a melee character who takes more attacks during other people's rounds than during his own.
You'll still take the -4 penalty to your AoOs.