Many class abilities, particularly those under the sorcerer bloodlines, don't list what action it takes to activate them. I assume certain abilities (like bonuses to stats) are always ongoing, but things like defensive auras that last only a couple of rounds a day simply don't say what it takes to activate them. Many are Extraordinary, Spell-like, or Supernatural abilities--which all take a standard action to activate unless otherwise stated. Is this really the case though? Or am I overlooking something (it would really suck to activate an ability, effectively wasting one round of the power).
Also, when getting an Improved Familiar, do you actually have to use the familiar table's intelligence score if it is lower than that of the familiar?
Many class abilities, particularly those under the sorcerer bloodlines, don't list what action it takes to activate them. I assume certain abilities (like bonuses to stats) are always ongoing, but things like defensive auras that last only a couple of rounds a day simply don't say what it takes to activate them. Many are Extraordinary, Spell-like, or Supernatural abilities--which all take a standard action to activate unless otherwise stated. Is this really the case though? Or am I overlooking something (it would really suck to activate an ability, effectively wasting one round of the power).
Also, when getting an Improved Familiar, do you actually have to use the familiar table's intelligence score if it is lower than that of the familiar?
Unless otherwise stated the activation of EX, SU, and SP abilities is a standard action.
RAW you have to use the table, but if I were DM I would allow the player to use whichever was higher. It does not make sense for a creature to get dumber to me.