ACKS does not have the options of fighting defensively or total defense. I don’t remember the first edition to include these options, but I’d guess Player’s Option (“2.5”), if not sooner.
I just wanted to ask the Autarchs if these options were considered and excluded.
I’ve pulled the options from the SRD, slightly adapted to ACKS terminology below.
If included, what do you think about them being considered (two separate) Special Maneuvers that might benefit from a custom Combat Trickery proficiency selection (-2/+2 or +6, respectively).
Thanks!
"You can choose to fight defensively when attacking. If you do so, you take a –4 penalty on all attacks in a round to gain a +2 to AC until the start of your next round.
You can choose to totally defend yourself in lieu of attacking, gaining a +4 to AC until the start of your next round.
You can’t combine total defense with fighting defensively."