This may have been covered in the message boards before, but if it has been since beta, I am unable to find it.
Back in Alpha, Combat Feats were specifically designed so that only one could be used in any particular round. In Beta and Release, it seems that language has been entirely removed from the Feats section, most likely intentionally.
So, my question is this: Since the Power Attack feat says specifically that it is used as part of an Attack or Full Attack action, and not that it is any type of action in and of itself, does that mean that it can be used with other Combat Feats, such as Overhand Chop, Cleave, Vital Strike and Deadly Stroke? Does the wording "As a Standard Action", or "As a Full-Round Action" preclude the use of Power Attack, because even though you are attacking, you are not exactly using a specific "Attack Action" or "Full-Attack Action?" If not, are there some Combat Feats that you can use Power Attack with, and some that you can not?
If it turns out that Power Attack can be used with other Combat Feats, are there other feats Similar to Power Attack that can be used in this way? (aside from Deadly Aim and Combat Expertise)
Power Attack is not restricted to the Attack and Full Attack action, are you thinking of Vital Strike possibly?
The wording on power attack is:
Benefit: You can choose to take a –1 penalty on all melee attack rolls and combat maneuver checks to gain a +2 bonus on all melee damage rolls. This bonus to damage is increased by half (+50%) if you are making an attack with a two-handed weapon, a one handed weapon using two hands, or a primary natural weapon that adds 1-1/2 times your Strength modifier on damage rolls. This bonus to damage is halved (–50%) if you are making an attack with an off-hand weapon or secondary natural weapon. When your base attack bonus reaches +4, and every 4 points thereafter, the penalty increases by –1 and the bonus to damage increases by +2. You must choose to use this feat before making an attack roll, and its effects last until your next turn. The bonus damage does not apply to touch attacks or effects that do not deal hit point damage.
I've highlighted the important bits there. Activating power attack is a non-action, you simply choose to use it (or not) before making any attack roll. If you use it, until your next turn it affects all melee attack rolls, damage, and combat maneuver checks regardless of what type of action they're derived from or what other feats might be affecting them.
Power attack says it can be used on all melee attack rolls and Combat mauever checks for the round. It does not say you use it as part of an attack or full attack action. Technically, you don't even need to be making melee attacks to activate it. So yes, it stacks with all other feats. Its just a modifier on all attacks you make for the round. The other feats you mention give you melee attacks.
It has ben ruled that Spring Attack and Vital Strike can be combined.
Most other feats mention what type of action they are.
Thank you for the replies. I was leaning this way based on the wording of the feat, but I wanted to be sure I wasn't missing anything, since there was specific wording in Alpha about only being able to use one combat feat in a round. I wanted to be sure that that wording was removed intentionally, and that I was not just overlooking something.
No, I'm not still working from Beta, but the campaign my group is running was converted from Beta to Release in the middle, thus some feat changes are taking me by surprise.