Once activated, can a hunter switch his animal focus (using a swift action) without having to spend another minute increment?

[Cuttler]

If a hunter activates his animal focus class ability, the duration is at least 1 minute. During that minute, can he change the type of animal focus (using a swift action) or he has to spend another minute increment when he changes it?

For example: a first level hunter activates his animal focus ability to get the tiger aspect. This will last 1 minute because it has to be spent in 1-minute increments and he only has 1 minute at first level. During this minute, could he change his aspect each round using a swift action?

In ACG (p.27)
Animal Focus (Su): At 1st level, a hunter can take on the
aspect of an animal as a swift action. She must select one
type of animal to emulate, gaining a bonus or special ability
based on the type of animal emulated and her hunter level.
The hunter can use this ability for a number of minutes
per day equal to her level. This duration does not need to
be consecutive, but must be spent in I-minute increments.
The hunter can emulate only one animal at a time.

We came across the question yesterday. Basically, we see two interpretations here:

a) Once activated, the type of focus stay the same for the whole minute. If hunter use a swift action to change the type, he has to use another minute increment

b) Once activated, the type of focus can be changed using a swift action without having to use another minute increment.

This is not for PFS, but we are playing as close as possible to RAW.
Thanks

[Eltacolibre]

a) is most likely the case.

[claudekennilol]

It's A.

One thing I've been wondering, though. Is if the hunter can switch his animal's focus without expending one of his own minutes.

Quote:

At 1st level, a hunter can take on the aspect of an animal as a swift action. She must select one type of animal to emulate, gaining a bonus or special ability based on the type of animal emulated and her hunter level. The hunter can use this ability for a number of minutes per day equal to her level. This duration does not need to be consecutive, but must be spent in 1-minute increments. The hunter can emulate only one animal at a time.

The hunter can also apply one of these aspects to her animal companion. Unlike with the hunter herself, there is no duration on the animal aspect applied to her animal companion. An aspect applied in this way does not count against the hunter's minutes of duration per day—it remains in effect until the hunter changes it. The companion's aspect can be the same aspect the ranger has taken on or a different one. The hunter can select or change the animal foci on both herself and her animal companion as part of the same swift action.

I can only use it 'x' times per day, so it appears I can just indefinitely switch my companion's ability.

[LazarX]

Each time you use it it's for a minimum of one minute. Within that duration, you can use swift actions to change the focus.

[claudekennilol]

LazarX wrote:

Each time you use it it's for a minimum of one minute. Within that duration, you can use swift actions to change the focus.

That may be a valid interpretation, but even with that, you can only switch 'x' times per day where 'x' is your hunter level due to this line "The hunter can use this ability for a number of minutes per day equal to her level".

[wraithstrike]

Lazar is correct. You do not have to use the ability for an entire minute. However it counts as a least one minute of use. .

The minutes per day is letting you know the total number of minutes you have before you run out.

As an example if I have ability X for 5 minutes, and I change it 5 times over the course of 7 rounds then despite only for less than one minute total I am done because each activation counted as one minute.

[claudekennilol]

wraithstrike wrote:

Lazar is correct. You do not have to use the ability for an entire minute. However it counts as a least one minute of use. .

The minutes per day is letting you know the total number of minutes you have before you run out.

As an example if I have ability X for 5 minutes, and I change it 5 times over the course of 7 rounds then despite only for less than one minute total I am done because each activation counted as one minute.

How is this not what option A says?

[LazarX]

wraithstrike wrote:

Lazar is correct. You do not have to use the ability for an entire minute. However it counts as a least one minute of use. .

The minutes per day is letting you know the total number of minutes you have before you run out.

As an example if I have ability X for 5 minutes, and I change it 5 times over the course of 7 rounds then despite only for less than one minute total I am done because each activation counted as one minute.

I generally go with option B myself. After all, the animal companion has the focus on constantly, and you can change it's options with swift actions.

[Cuttler]

The problem here is that maybe option A was RAI, but in a RAW perspective I don't see how option B could not be valid too...I honestly could be convinced of either way at this point.

You activate the ability, it has to be one minute minimum...doesn't say you have to expend another minute if you change. (this would have made the ability clear on that aspect)

Now, if the intention was to limit the change to a number of times per day, would it not had been easier to say: the hunter can use this ability once/level, each time in increments of one minute. ...or something in that sense.

But here, the maximum is set in minutes per level (1 minute increments) which seems to be the same, but could technically be allowed to change the type of animal focus once the ability is activated....

Does anybody know if this came up during playtest and if any answer was provided??

Or, does anybody know of a similar situation with another ability (time increment) that was answered before to give some perspective?

[Just a Guess]

Option B is how I read it.

[claudekennilol]

The action is using a swift action. You can only spend the swift action 'x' times per day? How is that not RAW?

[LazarX]

claudekennilol wrote:

The action is using a swift action. You can only spend the swift action 'x' times per day? How is that not RAW?

Because it's not. The text says that you can use animal focus in total for 1 minute per level per day. Not how many times you can use swift action to change it.

[claudekennilol]

LazarX wrote:

claudekennilol wrote:

The action is using a swift action. You can only spend the swift action 'x' times per day? How is that not RAW?

Because it's not. The text says that you can use animal focus in total for 1 minute per level per day. Not how many times you can use swift action to change it.

Thanks, I misread the ability.