Warpriest Fervor Question

[Jaime Flores]

There is a clarification I need about the use of Fervor to Harm/heal.

Here's the listing:

By expending one use of this ability, a good warpriest (or one who worships a good deity) can touch a creature to heal it of 1d6 points of damage, plus an additional 1d6 points of damage for every 3 warpriest levels he possesses above 2nd (to a maximum of 7d6 at 20th level). Using this ability is a standard action (unless the warpriest targets himself, in which case it's a swift action). Alternatively, the warpriest can use this ability to harm an undead creature, dealing the same amount of damage he would otherwise heal with a melee touch attack. Using fervor in this way is a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity. Undead do not receive a saving throw against this damage. This counts as positive energy.

Here's the Question:

Is using Fervor to heal an ally as a std action that provokes AO's? Is using it to harm undead as a melee touch atk ALSO provoke AO's?

When they state "Using fervor in this way is a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity." Im not sure if they are referring to healing an ally or harming undead.

It would be super cool if healing an ally does not provoke AO's

[Sebastian Hirsch]

This is a rules question and should be moved to the appropriate part of this forum.

That said, my reading of this ability is that as written it always provokes, which makes it strictly worse than lay on hands. As written, this even happens when the warpriest uses this ability to on himself as a swift action.
Of course I could be dead wrong.

[DesolateHarmony]

Break it down:

Fervor (SU) wrote:

By expending one use of this ability, a good warpriest (or one who worships a good deity) can touch a creature to heal it of 1d6 points of damage, plus an additional 1d6 points of damage for every 3 warpriest levels he possesses above 2nd (to a maximum of 7d6 at 20th level). Using this ability is a standard action (unless the warpriest targets himself, in which case it's a swift action).

Used this way, it does not appear to provoke attacks of opportunity, which makes sense as a supernatural (SU) ability.

Fervor (SU), part 2 wrote:

Alternatively, the warpriest can use this ability to harm an undead creature, dealing the same amount of damage he would otherwise heal with a melee touch attack. Using fervor in this way is a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity. Undead do not receive a saving throw against this damage.

Used this way, Fervor is stated to provoke attacks of opportunity. This is unusual for supernatural (SU) abilities, and also for touch attacks such as from a spell. However, it is specifically called out, and so it is very clear that it does.

[Jiggy]

The text says "using this is a standard action", then goes on to define the anti-undead version, and says "using this ability in this way provokes".

So no, the healing doesn't provoke.