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One of my players is an oracle that is following a mystery that gives him the EX ability of Air Barrier. A couple questions here.
First: Air barrier doesn't say what type of action it takes to do. I am assuming a standard but it doesn't say.
Second: Do ex abilities act like spells as far as appearance and sound? is it overly obvious he just activated the ability? I know it says its and invisible wall of air that provides AC but how should we assume it is represented role-playing wise?
Third: and really this question is just for me. Would someone attacking a person with wind barrier know something strange / magical is making it harder for them to hit the person? Like a swing is deflected by strong wind gust moving the character's attack slightly to miss?
Really I just want to know others thoughts on this.
RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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Pretty much all abilities like that are standard actions unless they specify differently.
If it says it's an invisible wall I'd go with invisible. It's wind so it probably makes sound. Someone right next to him would probably hear it. (Ex) abilities aren't magical, so this character somehow has a mundane wind barrier thing going on...I don't see any justification for flashing lights or anything else. The character would concentrate for a few seconds to activate it, I suppose. Now I'm trying to figure out how the heck you make a nonmagical wind barrier around yourself.
Third question I'd go with yes. Anyone proficient in their weapon would know something was deflecting their swings.
Spoiler for tangential musings about this (Ex) ability:
I just have trouble visualizing how this happens. If it required the character to swish their clothes around, deflect things with their weapons or arms, or somehow actually create wind, I'd be able to chalk it up as artistic license. But this barrier can be activated and then the character can go to sleep and still there is nonmagical wind protecting him/her...huh? If the explanation isn't "magic," and it can't be for an (Ex) ability, then how does this thing work? Arg!
Simple. Don't think of it as ordinary. Think of it as extraordinary. Wind itself defends the character. Why? Because the Oracle took a standard action to ask it to. Wind isn't magical therefore, the wind deciding to protect the character isn't magical. It just makes sense.