| 1 person marked this as FAQ candidate. |
Hey, so I have a question about how the action economy of this trait works out.
The d20pfsrd link is here.
Your total indifference to the law even as you're breaking it is such that those watching you are stunned.
Benefit(s): Whenever you commit an unexpected and outrageously unlawful act (such as knowingly destroying or stealing something) that would elicit a hostile response from another creature, you may attempt a Bluff check opposed by the opponent's Sense Motive check. If you're successful, you and any allies who were willfully expecting your unlawful deed may act in a surprise round. For each ally willfully expecting your unlawful deed, you take a cumulative –2 penalty on your Bluff check. If your Bluff check fails, there is no surprise round. Regardless of whether your Bluff check succeeds, you and any allies willfully taking advantage of your unlawful deed treat your initiative checks for the duration of combat as though you had each rolled a 1.
So the question I pose is this: does the illicit action take up the action of the surprise round?
For example, say that triggering action here was to lob a dagger at a passing guard in broad daylight. Let's assume that's a shocking enough action to activate this effect. I succeed my Bluff check. Can I now use Quickdraw to retrieve another dagger and throw it during the surprise round, or have I already used my action?
No, you don't have actions for bookkeeping purposes until combat starts. But I think your action has to be one that wouldn't trigger a "I'm in combat!" fear and a roll for initiative. So nothing with a weapon, you can't spit in their face, etc. But you can expose yourself, say some horribly filthy insult, or something that shocks the conscience but doesn't make them fear they might be attacked.
Note that Bluff rules in Ultimate Intrigue obsoleted this trait. Anyone can use Bluff now to try to get a surprise round attack Ina social situation, and without the penalty for failure in this trait. Only the "bring your friends" clause of this trait remains unique.
Oh. Good to know, thanks!
For reference, page 184 of Ultimate Intrigue:
Surprise: Not every surprise round begins with an ambush from unseen assailants. If a character or several characters unexpectedly attack in the midst of a conversation or other normal activity, their victims might be surprised. To determine if a victim is surprised, he should attempt a Sense Motive check opposed by the assailant’s Bluff check rather than a Perception opposed by the assailant’s Stealth check. This is also a good way to adjudicate several abilities, including several vigilante talents that trigger when the target thinks the vigilante is an ally.
[\quote]