D&D 3.5 Combat Attack Check, Combat(Special Attack) - New
| Shadow d20 Notes: Most of the different Special Attack options have been changed to use the same system. This new system will be called a Combat Attack Check or CAC for short. The size modifier was also lowered as in the groups experience in core grapple checks it was too great of a discrepancy. The CAC change has helped speed up combat by allowing the same mechanics for all special attacks. Instead of a player having to remember what opposed roll Bull Rush uses compared to Disarm the players just rolls a CAC(Combat Attack Check) and the action is quickly resolved. |
| Example: A level 5 medium sized fighter with a base attack bonus of +5 and a +3 Str modifier has a total Combat Attack Check modifier of +8. This fighter gets trip attacked by a gnoll with a flail. The DM tells the fighter's player to roll his CAC against the gnoll's trip attack. The fighter rolls 1d20 and adds +8 to the result of the roll. It would work exactly the same if a giant squid was attempting to grapple the same fighter character. |
A Combat Attack Check is calculated as follows:
1d20 + Base Attack Bonus + Strength or Dexterity Modifier + Size Modifier + Feats + Weapon Bonus
Strength or Dexterity: You may use either your strength modifier or your dexterity modifier which ever is higher.
Size Modifier: The size modifier for a combat attack check is as follows: Colossal +8, Gargantuan +6, Huge +4, Large +2, Medium +0, Small -2, Tiny -4, Diminutive -6, Fine -8. Use this number in place of the normal size modifier you use when making an attack roll.
Feats: Some feats give a bonus specific to a Special Attack. Some examples of these are Improved Bull Rush, Improved Disarm, Improved Feint, Improved Grapple, Improved Overrun, Improved Sunder, and Improved Trip which provide a +4 bonus when doing a specific Special Attack. In these new rules you can also apply Weapon Focus if you are weilding the weapon you have weapon focus in when making your CAC. For example if you are doing a Fient with a Rapier and have Weapon Focus(Rapier) you may also apply that bonus to the Combat Attack Check. If you are attempting a Grapple and you have Weapon Focus(Unarmed Strike or any Light Weapon) you may apply the +1 to your Combat Attack Check.
Weapon Bonus: If you are doing a special attack or defending against a special attack and you are wielding a masterwork or magic weapon you may apply its enhancement bonus to your Combat Attack Check. If in a grapple you may only apply this bonus if your weapon is a light weapon as those are the only weapon types that can be used in a grapple.
FAQ
Q: Does using feats like Power Attack or Combat Expertise affect my CAC as these both affect my bonus to hit for more than one round?
A: To put simply NO. Power Attack or Combat Expertise have no affect on your CAC score. This is similar to how these feats would not have affected the old Grapple Check. CAC is an abstract idea that shows how good your character is in doing Combat Special Attacks and that's it.
Q: Since Fighting Defensively improves my ability to defend myself shouldn't this also improve my CAC score then?
A: No. You're already getting an improvement to your AC which affects the first step of several Special Attacks. If you want a higher CAC in order to defend yourself please see the Defensive CAC Feat that was added just for this purpose.
Q: As CAC is some type of an attack then can I use it when I am flat-footed? Or do I need some type of special feat like Combat Reflexes to use it?
A: CAC is a defensive ability and an offensive ability. As such it always works even if you are flat-footed or even unaware of your target. If an invisible fighter bull rushed you in combat you wouldn't get an AoO, but you would get an opposed CAC as you would instinctively fight back as soon as you were touched. Also there is no additional negative of any sort to your CAC roll.
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