I'm pretty sure the answer to both of these questions is yes, but it never hurts to seek counsel on the matter.
Can I attack defensively with a bow? I've searched through the rules thoroughly and have found nothing that states that this isn't possible.
Can I use the Crane Style feat and/or other not-really-implied-to-be-used-with-a-bow Combat Style Feats with a bow? Again, nothing in rules-as-written says that I can't, but the description(s) continually describe the taker of the feat as using unarmed strikes, so it seems to go against rules-as-intended.
Are there any technicalities that I missed?
Do you mean attack defensively so that you don't provoke? Then no.
If you mean:
Deciding between an Attack or a Full Attack: After your first attack, you can decide to take a move action instead of making your remaining attacks, depending on how the first attack turns out and assuming you have not already taken a move action this round. If you've already taken a 5-foot step, you can't use your move action to move any distance, but you could still use a different kind of move action.
Fighting Defensively as a Full-Round Action: You can choose to fight defensively when taking a full-attack action. If you do so, you take a –4 penalty on all attacks in a round to gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC for until the start your next turn.
Then yes.
As far as Crane Style feat is concerned, that should work fine.
But Crane Wing requires a free hand, and you cannot wield the bow and have a free hand at the same time. Meaning you would need to let go of it at the end of your turn as a free action to use it.
But Crane Wing requires a free hand, and you cannot wield the bow and have a free hand at the same time. Meaning you would need to let go of it at the end of your turn as a free action to use it.
I am referring to only the Crane Style feat, not the feat tree. This feat; here.
Crane Wing and other discussion involving using a free hand with a bow is something that I considered adding to the other two listed questions, but specifically choose to leave out once I had looked up that particular issue. We are not discussing that in this thread; it's not what the thread was made for. If you want to discuss that particular question, go here or here.
I know, I was just warning you that the Crane Wing feat in particular wouldn't work, just in case you were considering following up Crane Style with Crane Wing.
As many players don't know that: having 3 ranks in acrobatics gives you a higher bonus when fighting defensively. So if you plan on using crane style those 3 skill ranks are a worthwhile investment.
As many players don't know that: having 3 ranks in acrobatics gives you a higher bonus when fighting defensively. So if you plan on using crane style those 3 skill ranks are a worthwhile investment.
I know all about that; extremely solid. I have a Zen Archer build with Dodge + Crane Style. +5 AC. I mostly wanted to see if there was any rule that I missed that may interact with fighting defensively and ranged weapons.