Arcane Pool & expending points... Action?

[Calimar_T]

Hi,

i could not find the answer in the Class Guide, so i'm asking here... which kind of action is "expending a point from the arcane pool" ?

The only thing i found is that if i want to boost a spell i can expend a point as a free action. But is there a general rule?

I'm especially curious how this works with the Counterspell exploit. Do i have to ready a standard action for it?

Regards, Calimar.

P.S. Here's what the exploit says:

Counterspell (Su): By expending 1 point from her arcane
reservoir, the arcanist can attempt to counter a spell as
it is being cast. She must identify the spell being cast as
normal. If she successfully does so, the arcanist can attempt
to counter the spell as an immediate action and by expending
an available arcanist spell slot of a level at least one higher
than the level of the spell being cast. To counterspell, the
arcanist must attempt a dispel check as if using dispel magic.
If the spell being countered is one that the arcanist has
prepared, she can instead expend an available arcanist
spell slot of the same level, and she receives a +5 bonus
on the dispel check.

[kestral287]

It isn't one.

It's a cost to activate an ability, and each ability will have its own action. For Counterspell, that's an immediate action, so you spend the point as part of the immediate action to use Counterspell.

[Johnny_Devo]

As a general rule, you never spend an action that it doesn't say you're spending. As pointed out, the exploit says "the arcanist can attempt to counter the spell as an immediate action", so the act of using this exploit involves an immediate action, 1 point from her arcane pool, and one spell slot of the appropriate level as described. That's pretty much it.

[FallzQuick]

Immediate actions are swift actions. So Swift.

[Cavall]

To further this, it basically means you can counter spell once when it's not your turn, but it will cost you your swift action NEXT turn, as all immediate actions do.

Magus is a pretty swift action dependant class so this could cost you some nifty tricks. But the trade off is decent and worth it.

[kestral287]

Cavall wrote:

To further this, it basically means you can counter spell once when it's not your turn, but it will cost you your swift action NEXT turn, as all immediate actions do.

Magus is a pretty swift action dependant class so this could cost you some nifty tricks. But the trade off is decent and worth it.

Arcanist, not Magus. :P

[Cavall]

I apologize. I haven't kept up on how they rely on swift actions.

Either way it would eat up your next turns swift action.

[Metux]

And what action is shadow of veil?

By expending 1 point from her arcane reservoir, an arcanist can pull a veil of shadows around her, making her more difficult to spot and strike. The arcanist gains concealment (20% miss chance) and a +5 bonus on Stealth checks. This effect lasts a number of rounds equal to 1 + the arcanist's Charisma bonus.

[DinosaursOnIce]

Metux wrote:

And what action is shadow of veil?

By expending 1 point from her arcane reservoir, an arcanist can pull a veil of shadows around her, making her more difficult to spot and strike. The arcanist gains concealment (20% miss chance) and a +5 bonus on Stealth checks. This effect lasts a number of rounds equal to 1 + the arcanist's Charisma bonus.

I believe Supernatural abilities default to a standard action if no other action type is given.

The actual text is under the combat section in the rules.

[Drahliana Moonrunner]

Spending an arcane pool point isn't an action by itself but is something that's bound to another action.. so it takes whatever time that action takes... that being a standard action if otherwise not defined.