Swift aid clarification

[Ardenup]

Hi,

normally the aid another action can grant a +2 to an ally's attack or ac etc.

The swift aid feat states you can use aid another as a swift action to grant an ally a +1 to attack or AC.

Is this a unique ability rather than simply using aid another as a swift action for the usual +2?
Is it a typo.

Further how does this interact with an order of the dragon cavalier who can use aid another to grant up to +5? Could he use swift aid to grant his +5?

Cheers.

[Quantum Steve]

Aid another is typically a Standard Action, even for the Cavalier. The Swift Aid feat is an example of specific>general. It allows you to use a swift action for a special case of Aid Another. This special case specifically only grants +1. If you want to use your Cavalier ability, you have to use a standard action.

[Serisan]

Thread necro.

I ran into this conflict myself last night by complete accident as I had never noticed this feat before. I'm not entirely convinced either way. I question whether the specific of the feat overrides the specific of the class ability. Per the class ability, it does state that it's "whenever [you] use the aid another action" while the feat states that you can "attempt an aid another action" as a swift action.

PRD wrote:

Swift Aid (Combat)

With a quick but harmless swipe, you can aid an ally's assault.

Prerequisites: Int 13, Combat Expertise, base attack bonus +6.

Benefit: As a swift action, you can attempt the aid another action, granting your ally either a +1 bonus on his next attack roll or a +1 bonus to his AC.

Normal: Aid another is a standard action.

Order of the Dragon, PRD wrote:

Aid Allies (Ex): At 2nd level, whenever an order of the dragon cavalier uses the aid another action to assist one of his allies, the ally receives a +3 bonus to his Armor Class, attack roll, saving throw, or skill check. At 8th level, and every six levels thereafter, this bonus increases by an additional +1.

[Weirdo]

Yeah, specific overrides general but these are both specific modifications to the general aid another rule, so I'm not sure which of them should have priority. Serisan is right that the cavalier's ability should trigger "whenever you use the aid another action," including when you use the Bodyguard feat or Swift Aid. But Swift Aid does specify that you only grant +1 while using that feat.

If I were to house-rule I'd say that Swift Aid grants half the bonus to Aid Another, after making adjustments to your aid another value from the cavalier ability or a Benevolent weapon or Benevolent armour. So an 8th level Order of the Dragon cavalier with Swift Aid would grant +4 when aiding as a standard action or +2 when aiding as a awift action. I think that follows the spirit of the abilities, but I'm not sure what the letter of the RAW would be.

[Turgan]

Thread Necro II
because I also like to know, and though I follow the argumentation of Quatum Steve, I 'd rather have it the other way...