Killing some birds here.
You can defend yourself as a standard action. You get a +4 dodge bonus to your AC for 1 round. Your AC improves at the start of this action. You can't combine total defense with fighting defensively or with the benefit of the Combat Expertise feat. You can't make attacks of opportunity while using total defense.
You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your turn. Generally, that means everything in all squares adjacent to your space (including diagonally). An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you. If you're unarmed, you don't normally threaten any squares and thus can't make attacks of opportunity.
If my ally and I are flanking an opponent and on my turn I decide to take the total defense action, it states I can't make any AoO. It doesn't say I stop threatening and therefore still provide flanking for my ally. Threatened squares is described under the Attack of Opportunity section, but that's not a defining attribute of the text.
So, my understanding is that I still threaten my opponent, I just can't make an attack if he provokes one. Is this the correct consensus?
Similar situation, if I've already taken an AoO this round and don't have combat reflexes, and it's not my turn, would I still count as threatening an opponent for purposes of providing flanking? Once again, just because I can't take an AoO, doesn't mean I don't threaten.
Final scenario; if on my turn I use my standard action to total defense, then I use a swift action to cast and quickened shocking grasp (why I didn't cast it prior to total defensing is irrelevant), clearly I would be able to make a touch attack, therefore I am a threat even when in total defense. Just not one who can capitalize on an opportunity.
In melee tatics handbook, I think it's in some book, it says that total defense still threatens so thus total defense still provide flanking and stuff. It's just unable to take AoO.
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In melee tatics handbook, I think it's in some book, it says that total defense still threatens so thus total defense still provide flanking and stuff. It's just unable to take AoO.
Thanks, just looked it up.
Using the total defense action prevents you from attacking— including making attacks of opportunity—but you still threaten foes for the purposes of flanking.
Wow, I guess this cancels out my last scenario. I'd get the spell off, but be forced to hold the charge.