Power attack / Deadly Aim MUST be applied to all attacks?

[orog58]

does it have to be applied to all attacks you make in the round?

[orog58]

nm, just fully ready it... duh

[Malachi Silverclaw]

There is disagreement on this.

Both Deadly Aim and Power Attack wrote:

You must choose to use this feat before making an attack roll, and its effects last until your next turn.

They say 'an' attack roll, and the second attack roll is an attack roll, right? So you can start using these feats after already attacking without using the feats, right?

But the first attack roll is 'an' attack roll! And we 'must choose to use this feat before making 'an' attack roll, therefore you must use it before your first attack roll of the round. Right?

To be honest, it could be read, quite legitimately, either way!

We've always played it that it had to be chosen before your first attack of the round, but maybe that's because in 3rd ed Power Attack was worded such the you had to use it for the entire round.

As for the intent of the PF devs, in this case it's impossible to devine their intent from the text.

Time to press 'FAQ', I think.

[Cheapy]

Once you turn it on, it's on until the start of your next turn.

Some relevant info for you, although the question was about if you can turn it on during an AoO.

[Malachi Silverclaw]

Cheers, Cheapy!

SKR has spoken! That's good enough for me!

So, you can start using these feats at any time (even if it's not your turn) just before you execute an attack, and when you start to use it it stays on until the start of your next turn.