[RPG] Does using Combat Expertise count as fighting defensively

class-featurecombatdnd-3.5efeats

The wording of the combat expertise feat states…

Normal

A character without the Combat Expertise feat can fight defensively while using the attack or full attack action to take a -4 penalty on attack rolls and gain a +2 dodge bonus to Armor Class.

Since the bonus granted for combat expertise changes that instead to a 1/1 tradeoff, does the use of this feat count as fighting defensively for the purposes of class features?

Examples include the thief acrobat's agile fighting and the duelist's elaborate parry.

Best Answer

No, by the RAW it does not.

You can actually both fight defensively and use Combat Expertise at the same time, if you wish. While very similar in effect, they are treated as fundamentally different by the rules.

Fighting defensively is a special combat action, and you don't need to use that action to use Combat Expertise. If you did, the wording of the feat would be very different. This interpretation is also backed up by the official FAQ, bottom of p.36, as well as the wording of the Total Defense action.

However!

I personally think this is a little silly, and think these sorts of mechanics should really have been unified. If you houserule it, allowing the bonuses to trigger if you take a -4 to attack would be playing it safe. (Though probably not necessary unless it seems overpowered in play.)