Xeph Burst ability (Su) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Xeph Burst ability (Su) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mesiolan
07-05-07, 03:56 AM Sorry if this has been asked before. The answer is not in the SRD and not in the XPH.

The burst ability of the Xeph race increases the speed for three rounds. What kind of action is required to activate a burst?

Is it a free action?
Is it a swift action (as the burst power)?
Is it "Not An Action? (competence bonus)"?

Thank you!
Millenia
07-05-07, 04:04 AM I would personally assume it'd be a swift action, like the power.
munin
07-05-07, 09:06 AM It's a standard action. There are a couple different places where supernatural abilities are defined, but the one under monsters (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm) is the only one which defines the action required and no other definition conflicts with that rule.

Using a supernatural ability is a standard action unless noted otherwise.

Burst (Su): Three times per day, a xeph can put on a burst of speed to increase her speed by 10 feet, plus 10 feet per four character levels beyond 1st, to a maximum increase of 30 feet at 9th character level and higher. These bursts of speed are considered a competence bonus to the xeph’s base speed. A burst of speed lasts 3 rounds.
Fleem
07-05-07, 04:04 PM RAW vs. RAI. Sounds like a prime candidate for house-rule.
sijigs
07-08-07, 06:04 PM RAW vs. RAI. Sounds like a prime candidate for house-rule.

I agree.

It seems silly that you activate it using a standard action.. get a move action and that's already one round gone.
runestar
07-08-07, 10:42 PM I would just make it part of the move action itself.
pawsplay
07-10-07, 03:25 PM Not an action.
runestar
07-13-07, 03:06 AM Sage just tackled this question.

Q: Dear Sage
What kind of action is required for the xeph’s burst racial ability? Is it the same as the burst psionic power (a swift action)? And does it provoke attacks of opportunity?
--Dave

A: Though the xeph’s racial ability shares the same name as the psionic power, it doesn’t refer to that power. Thus, the activation time would be 1 standard action, as normal for supernatural abilities.

Activating the burst power does not provoke opportunity attacks (though the xeph’s movement would as normal, of course).

Screw...:(
sijigs
07-13-07, 07:21 AM Crap... you only really have 2 rounds of it to use.. :eek:
The_Ditto
07-13-07, 08:14 AM Houserule time!!!
(and considering the recent plethro of Sage-screwups lately .... I'm not going to feel bad about this one!!!) :rolleyes:
Noodles2375
07-13-07, 08:16 AM This seems to me like a perfect candidate for a house rule also. I don't think it would break the game to allow a Xeph to use its burst of speed as a swift action so he can actually use it for 3 rds. I mean, RAW is RAW, and its certainly not unfair to have it be a std. action like the majority of supernatural abilities, but I think it would sweeten the deal a bit. What do you all think?
The_Ditto
07-13-07, 08:48 AM This seems to me like a perfect candidate for a house rule also. I don't think it would break the game to allow a Xeph to use its burst of speed as a swift action so he can actually use it for 3 rds. I mean, RAW is RAW, and its certainly not unfair to have it be a std. action like the majority of supernatural abilities, but I think it would sweeten the deal a bit. What do you all think?

I played a Xeph scout and we played it as swift action to activate ... didn't seem unbalancing at all ...

In fact, if it had been standard action .. I'm serious: I would never have used to power at all ...
Fleem
07-13-07, 10:27 AM Could be useful for spring attacks, I suppose. When you want to get in and out of extreme reach.
sijigs
07-13-07, 06:11 PM Yeah, I agree. Houserule.

I haven't seen a 3 round lasting ability anywhere in a while now.. hardly seems worth it.

Either:

1) swift action
2) extend duration (1 min?)
runestar
07-13-07, 10:34 PM I prefer the swift action activation time.:)
Salla
07-13-07, 10:37 PM Whether you like it or not, folks, the Sage is right. There's nothing that indicates the Xeph's Burst takes anything less than a standard action to activate. :)
runestar
07-13-07, 11:26 PM Whether you like it or not, folks, the Sage is right. There's nothing that indicates the Xeph's Burst takes anything less than a standard action to activate.
They already said it was a houserule. Meaning they know the Sage is technically correct, but they are revising it for their own games nonetheless.:)
snakeman830
07-14-07, 05:45 PM I personally houserule it to not take an action, but I can easily see the reasoning behind having a swift action activation.

I'm in total agreement here that the standard action activation is stupid.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mesiolan 07-05-07, 03:56 AM	Sorry if this has been asked before. The answer is not in the SRD and not in the XPH. The burst ability of the Xeph race increases the speed for three rounds. What kind of action is required to activate a burst? Is it a free action? Is it a swift action (as the burst power)? Is it "Not An Action? (competence bonus)"? Thank you!
Millenia 07-05-07, 04:04 AM	I would personally assume it'd be a swift action, like the power.
munin 07-05-07, 09:06 AM	It's a standard action. There are a couple different places where supernatural abilities are defined, but the one under monsters (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm) is the only one which defines the action required and no other definition conflicts with that rule. Using a supernatural ability is a standard action unless noted otherwise. Burst (Su): Three times per day, a xeph can put on a burst of speed to increase her speed by 10 feet, plus 10 feet per four character levels beyond 1st, to a maximum increase of 30 feet at 9th character level and higher. These bursts of speed are considered a competence bonus to the xeph’s base speed. A burst of speed lasts 3 rounds.
Fleem 07-05-07, 04:04 PM	RAW vs. RAI. Sounds like a prime candidate for house-rule.
sijigs 07-08-07, 06:04 PM	RAW vs. RAI. Sounds like a prime candidate for house-rule. I agree. It seems silly that you activate it using a standard action.. get a move action and that's already one round gone.
runestar 07-08-07, 10:42 PM	I would just make it part of the move action itself.
pawsplay 07-10-07, 03:25 PM	Not an action.
runestar 07-13-07, 03:06 AM	Sage just tackled this question. Q: Dear Sage What kind of action is required for the xeph’s burst racial ability? Is it the same as the burst psionic power (a swift action)? And does it provoke attacks of opportunity? --Dave A: Though the xeph’s racial ability shares the same name as the psionic power, it doesn’t refer to that power. Thus, the activation time would be 1 standard action, as normal for supernatural abilities. Activating the burst power does not provoke opportunity attacks (though the xeph’s movement would as normal, of course). Screw...:(
sijigs 07-13-07, 07:21 AM	Crap... you only really have 2 rounds of it to use.. :eek:
The_Ditto 07-13-07, 08:14 AM	Houserule time!!! (and considering the recent plethro of Sage-screwups lately .... I'm not going to feel bad about this one!!!) :rolleyes:
Noodles2375 07-13-07, 08:16 AM	This seems to me like a perfect candidate for a house rule also. I don't think it would break the game to allow a Xeph to use its burst of speed as a swift action so he can actually use it for 3 rds. I mean, RAW is RAW, and its certainly not unfair to have it be a std. action like the majority of supernatural abilities, but I think it would sweeten the deal a bit. What do you all think?
The_Ditto 07-13-07, 08:48 AM	This seems to me like a perfect candidate for a house rule also. I don't think it would break the game to allow a Xeph to use its burst of speed as a swift action so he can actually use it for 3 rds. I mean, RAW is RAW, and its certainly not unfair to have it be a std. action like the majority of supernatural abilities, but I think it would sweeten the deal a bit. What do you all think? I played a Xeph scout and we played it as swift action to activate ... didn't seem unbalancing at all ... In fact, if it had been standard action .. I'm serious: I would never have used to power at all ...
Fleem 07-13-07, 10:27 AM	Could be useful for spring attacks, I suppose. When you want to get in and out of extreme reach.
sijigs 07-13-07, 06:11 PM	Yeah, I agree. Houserule. I haven't seen a 3 round lasting ability anywhere in a while now.. hardly seems worth it. Either: 1) swift action 2) extend duration (1 min?)
runestar 07-13-07, 10:34 PM	I prefer the swift action activation time.:)
Salla 07-13-07, 10:37 PM	Whether you like it or not, folks, the Sage is right. There's nothing that indicates the Xeph's Burst takes anything less than a standard action to activate. :)
runestar 07-13-07, 11:26 PM	Whether you like it or not, folks, the Sage is right. There's nothing that indicates the Xeph's Burst takes anything less than a standard action to activate. They already said it was a houserule. Meaning they know the Sage is technically correct, but they are revising it for their own games nonetheless.:)
snakeman830 07-14-07, 05:45 PM	I personally houserule it to not take an action, but I can easily see the reasoning behind having a swift action activation. I'm in total agreement here that the standard action activation is stupid.