Owl Style usage

[Narcolepta]

I was reading through Ultimate Intrigue again (great book) and got stuck on the Owl Style feats. On the surface, they seem like the perfect solution for Vigilantes/Rogues/Slayers and whatnot wanting to Batman their way out of the darkness and get a full round of attacks on unsuspecting villains while also conserving skill points (using BAB for ranks in Stealth/Acrobatics/Fly). The problem comes in when you look at the actual rules for Style Feats:

Quote:

As a swift action, you can enter the stance employed by the fighting style a style feat embodies. Although you cannot use a style feat before combat begins, the style you are in persists until you spend a swift action to switch to a different combat style. You can use a feat that has a style feat as a prerequisite only while in the stance of the associated style.

So that right there completely negates using the style to ambush people, doesn't it? You can't start getting the benefits until initiative is rolled and you have your first combat round? If so, what's the point of the BAB replacing ranks in Stealth/Acrobatics/Fly, but only when you're actively in combat?

Am I misunderstanding the point of this feat, is there some ruling I'm missing, or was the "no stances outside of combat" rule missed when writing? I'm very confused.

[Chess Pwn]

They've done this for a lot of styles and it's very confusing. They maybe think that changes to skills are permanent and not only while in the stance, OR they think you can be in the stance out of combat.

[dragonhunterq]

It is generally accepted (far from universally so) that skill bonuses that appear before "when using this style feat" are always in effect. Such as you find in snake style. So it is likely deliberate.
I can only assume that what is effectively between 3/4 of your level and your full level in free skill ranks at all times was a little too powerful. It would blow skill focus out of the water.

[CampinCarl9127]

Talk to your GM about what he/she considers to be "in combat". If I have one party that is sitting at their dinner table and completely unaware of the looming assassin, and the assassin begins studying their target, that is combat to me.

[Claxon]

Yeah, it's more about how you define when you are in combat.

As a GM, if players want to start setting up an ambush combat begins. Just one side is unaware, but they start getting perception checks and you more carefully track what they are doing.