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I'm wondering what the consensus is for abilities with phrasing like the thread title.
What kind of action is it to discontinue use of such an ability?
I'm thinking specifically of the inquisitor's bane ability, but there are many others with similar wording.
In the case of Bane, it's a swift action to enact. At that point, do you decide how long it's going to last, or do you enact it and then each round decide whether to keep it going to let it drop? If you can make the choice to keep it up or to drop it each round, what action is it to drop the effect?
I've been playing it as the designated action to turn the ability on (swift in the case of Bane) and a free action to turn it off (decided at the beginning of a round).
How do others interpret it?
I interpret it the same way.
I've been playing it as the designated action to turn the ability on (swift in the case of Bane) and a free action to turn it off (decided at the beginning of a round).
Yes, assuming that the round in which you use the free action to turn it off doesn't count against your rounds used.
That sounds pedantic, but that's how things like Rage work according to the rules.
I would let ceasing Bane (or Rage, for that matter) be a free action that can be taken outside your turn. Otherwise you've got to burn another round for starting your turn before you can take the action to stop it.
It is an action to turn on the ability in its first round, but is no action to either sustain or cancel the ability in the following rounds.
there is such a thing as "no action" is there not?
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there is such a thing as "no action" is there not?
Yup there is; under the table "Actions in Combat" scroll down until you find the section "not an action".
Yes, assuming that the round in which you use the free action to turn it off doesn't count against your rounds used.That sounds pedantic, but that's how things like Rage work according to the rules.
Because you can only take the free action on your turn and people figure even if you use that free action immediately before you cull any benefit at all from rage it still counts? *sigh*
I would let ceasing Bane (or Rage, for that matter) be a free action that can be taken outside your turn. Otherwise you've got to burn another round for starting your turn before you can take the action to stop it.
In that case, I agree. I'd make it a non-action, in fact. I mean, rage can be ended immediately and against your wishes by dropping unconscious, so i always saw it as a thing you were consciously keeping up, and you should be able to stop it whenever just by ceasing to put in whatever effort it takes.
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Just use the same rules as Bardic Performance, since it is run the same way (rounds per day).
Starting a bardic performance is a standard action, but it can be maintained each round as a free action.
So basically it lasts 1 round at a time unless you choose to maintain as a free action and have it stay in effect for consecutive rounds. IF you choose not to maintain it, it ends immediately just before the start of your turn