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I have a new fighter for PFS play, that has Power Attack + Furious Focus.
My understanding of this combo is that for the first attack of each round of combat, I can Power Attack for +3 damage (as a level 1), with no attack bonus penalty. Accordingly this will be my default initial attack each round.
Now, Power Attack indicates that it has to be declared before it is used, so which would be considered better table etiquette:
a) Declaring it every round of every combat of every sessions, or
b) Conferring with the Game Master before the session to indicate that this is my default attack, unless otherwise noted?
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B is a fine way to go, based on my experiences. If you combine that with rolling your attack and damage die together, you'll be appreciated for the time savings you are providing.
-Matt
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It doesn't take any time to rattle off the mods applied to your attack as you roll the dice.
Especially depending on the volume level of the game setting, this is not always true for everyone. In PBP games, I always declare stuff, but that's party because I'm bound to forget something if I don't list out all the modifiers.
I declare as I'm grabbing the die. No time lost. I tactically choose when to apply an attack penalty and when not to. It actually really annoys me when someone just rolls and doesn't announce whats happening, including if there is swift action that is not declared but assumed to be used.
Yup, different GMs will do it differently.
When I GM a PFS or home game, I ask players to declare each and every time they attack. Default is not activating abilities, feats, etc.
There is a point where it just becomes tiresome to declare an attack sequence like that every round. I'm playing a 3rd level archer (oracle 1, fighter 2) and I already have Point blank shot, deadly aim, and rapid shot. It's only going to get more complex from there. I will usually declare "rapid shot" just so the GM knows I am going to roll 2 attacks before hand. Also, my c-sheet has all the weapon lines used up with different attack options of that one weapon.
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Depends on the GM and how they want to run things. I generally require a declaration of anything that uses a non free action (such as Arcane Strike) or anything that will add extra attacks, alter attack or defense modifiers, etc. Saying "I'm using rapid shot with deadly aim, and I'm in Point Blank range", doesn't take long and it clarifies all modifiers in play that round.
I don't usually need numbers though, I rely on the players to have that all written down and figured out for all standard permutations.
Get a small placard: one side says, "POWER ATTACK!" the other says "POWER ATTACK!". Place that in front of you so every one knows you are not doofus enough to forego your significant damage bonus.
Enjoy your +3 to damage :D
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As long as the player knows all the modifiers, includes all the modifiers, is consistent, and isn't making those decisions after he sees the result of the die roll, then I'd rather them keep it to themselves. I don't need to know before every attack that you're making a Focused Power Attack with Bless, Bardsong, Overhand Chop, Vital Strike, and Favored Enemy factored in. I need to know if your total attack roll beats the bad guy's total AC, and if so how much damage he takes.
If something seems off, I can always stop and ask you where you get all your bonuses. As long as I can see the result of the die roll, and the number I'm told seems consistent with what I expect from your class, your level, and your rolls so far that night, I just want to know totals.
As a GM, sometimes I'll even speed things up beyond that. If I've gotten a good idea of their bonus, and I see the number on the die is well in the "hit" range, I'll just tell them they hit without waiting on them to tell me the total.