Combat Expertise and Fighting Defensively

[jamesseals1980]

How do these work please?

Not as is what do they do, but more WHEN do they do?

I'm using a respec'd Valerie, but have had the same setup on a merc on a previous run and the same thing happened.

I've got Trip right clicked, I've got fighting defensively and combat expertise both selected.

Most fights, she just tries to trip all the time, but sometimes, midway through, she stops tripping and starts fighting defensively and with expertise. When you read the descriptions they should work together as both fighting defensively and combat expertise say you can take a penalty to either melee attack rolls or combat maneuver checks.

I suppose she'd probably be more powerful without the tripping, that's 3 extra feats plus no points in intelligence, but I think the AOO on the way down, and then back up, plus the enemy losing a turn, is well worth it, but I also want her on the highest AC possible.

Any thoughts?

[OnlyOffensive]

trip is bad overall imo, especially since it's full-round action and without improved trip. Enemies seem to have very high CMD on higher difficulties. I use her as dazzling diplay + shatter defenses tank, works better and have very usefull effects + utilize charisma.

I guess you edited her or smth? Since her basic INT is only 9, when expertise require 13.

[jamesseals1980]

Yeah I used the respec from Nexus Mods but, as I said, I've had the same thing on a merc so it's not the mod doing it.

[DEADPOO]

Originally posted by jamesseals1980:

Yeah I used the respec from Nexus Mods but, as I said, I've had the same thing on a merc so it's not the mod doing it.

If there is ever a character that needs a respect, it's her. I used the same mod.