Am I reading the Crane Style feats correctly?

[Ravingdork]

If you have the entire Crane Style feat tree, are in the proper stance, are fighting defensively, have at least 3 ranks in Acrobatics, and have one hand free, you get a +8 dodge bonus to AC in return for a -1 to hit?

.
.
+3 fighting defensively with 3+ ranks in Acrobatics (vs melee and ranged)
+1 Crane Style (vs melee and ranged)
+4 Crane Wing with one hand free (vs melee only)
==
+8 total vs melee attacks

If so, I may start using these feats again!

[TriOmegaZero]

Indeed, but you'll have to remember it turns off for a round when you can't make an attack on your turn.

I recommend carrying shurikens to throw defensively when you can't close to melee.

[chaoseffect]

Note that you lose 4 until your next turn if an enemy ever comes within 4 of your AC. So essentially the bonus from Crane Wing can only ever help you against 1 attack per round.

[Chess Pwn]

Pairs quite well with weapon trick, One-Handed Weapon Tricks, Stylish Riposte

Stylish Riposte:

Stylish Riposte (Combat Reflexes, base attack bonus +4): When your AC exceeds the result of a foe’s melee attack against you by 5 or more, that foe provokes an attack of opportunity from you. Once you make such an attack of opportunity against a foe, you can’t again use this trick against the foe that day.

Because if they miss and don't trigger crane wing's AC loss that means they triggered this ability.

[Alderic]

Also Pairs pretty well with those Halfling feats that start with Cautious Fighter

[Ravingdork]

Nice combos!

I'm not too concerned with a foe's near miss knocking my bonus down. I have an AC of 48 while fighting defensively (or 56 with Mobility against certain AoOs!).

I'm also not too concerned about always needing to make an attack. First, I'm not certain that you really need to attack anything at all (you just need to spend the action). Second, even if I do, there's nothing stopping me from "attacking the ground" or something like that to gain the benefit*.

*:

Idea came from a game developer a while back.

[Alderic]

Please, remember that you want uncanny dodge and blind fighting for any build that relies heavily on dodge bonuses to work

[KingOfAnything]

You never know if there are invisible enemies in the square adjacent to you. Best attack it, just to be safe.

[Ravingdork]

Alderic wrote:

Please, remember that you want uncanny dodge and blind fighting for any build that relies heavily on dodge bonuses to work

Thanks! I didn't think of that. I'm going to retrain my Critical Focus feat for Blind-Fight.

[JDLPF]

Also don't forget that the (extremely feat heavy) combination with Stalwart and Improved Stalwart mean you can easily add 10/- DR with the Crane Style line for -1 attack at the expense of losing the Dodge bonus to AC. Sometimes the DR is better if you know you're gonna get hit anyway.

[Pounce]

Or to make good use out of the trait Aldori Caution for a further +1 dodge bonus when you use Crane Style :)