Flyby Attack

[Xenrac]

Does Flyby Attack give a free standard action?

Flyby Attack wrote:

This creature can make an attack before and after it moves while flying.

Prerequisite: Fly speed.

Benefit: When flying, the creature can take a move action and another standard action at any point during the move. The creature cannot take a second move action during a round when it makes a flyby attack.

Normal: Without this feat, the creature takes a standard action either before or after its move.

I'm certain this is not RAI. I know this isn't PFS eligible. And I would almost certainly houserule that you may only take one standard action per turn even with this feat. But... This wording seems to imply that it allows a Monster to take two standard actions on its turn.

I would like to see some conclusive interpretation that I'm wrong. But given that this is all the information on the topic that there is, I'm fully aware that it is unlikely. Mostly, just discuss, perhaps FAQ if you feel there is some ambiguity, but I personally don't think there is.

[Kazumetsa Raijin]

I'm fairly certain it only let's you move, take a standard at any time during the movement, and continue the rest of your movement - similar to Spring Attack. However, this isn't a full-round action.

The benefit makes it sound like you get an extra standard.

The normal makes it sound like you just get to move, standard, and finish moving - as opposed to making the usual standard action after or before a movement.

I can see how this could be misleading.

[blahpers]

No, this lets you attack, move, then (or simultaneously) attack, which is kind of the opposite of Spring Attack. It's pretty powerful, but they really should have specified an attack rather than a standard action.

Note that this is a monster feat. Does PFS even allow characters to take these?

Edit: At least, that's how I read it, but it is possible that the writer wasn't paying attention to how they were wording the feat. RAI, you're probably right. RAW, it could be interpreted either way--except for the flavor text, which is pretty unambiguous.

[Brf]

The benefit section sounds more like spring attack, as if the description of fly-by is wrong.

[ErrantPursuit]

Just for a debating point: Could it not be that because using a feat is a standard action in many cases, this is written to cover that angle?

"I use my standard action to activate Flyby Attack. I move to the jerk I'm fighting, I hit him in the face. I move safely out of his reach and turn around."

This is a pretty old feat, after all. It could simply be a legacy language hiccup.

[Xenrac]

The weirdest part of it is that it is Not (explicitly) a Full-round Action, but it explicitly says you cannot use another move action in the same round. Not even a second Movement (which would allow for stand alone move actions like retrieving an item).

If it were a Full round action then the fact that you couldn't take any other Move action would be implied. But it doesn't rule out taking another standard action, and even says explicitly "another" standard action.

It's not PFS applicable, I know that. Kinda glad. This would be a Go-to spellcaster munchkin feat if it were legal. Even without the second Free Standard action.

[blahpers]

Honestly, I'd run it in any game as Ride-By Attack.