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For FAQ efficacy:
Do the 8th and 16th level features of Chakra Expertise allow for chakra benefits to be gained from the rounds where maintenance of chakras does not require the normal expenditure of resources or requisite actions?
See Occult Origins (pg20.) Serpent-Fire Adept, Chakra Expertise (EX).
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| 1 person marked this as FAQ candidate. |
For FAQ efficacy:
Can I choose to gain the benefits of my chakra as normal under the chakra rules (usually by spending Ki and a swift action) during rounds where Chakra Expertise does not require me to take actions or expend resources to do so?
See Occult Origins (pg20.) Serpent-Fire Adept, Chakra Expertise (EX).
And also Occult Adventures(?) for the Chakra rules.
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As I read it, you do gain the benefits of maintaining your chakra, despite Chakra Expertise removing the requirement to spend ki or swift actions.
I read it this way because Chakra Mastery implies that you gain a benefit when using Chakra Expertise when it allows you to spend ki to benefit from more than one at a time.
When maintaining her open chakras with chakra expertise, she can spend 1 point of ki to gain the benefits of two chakras rather than one in that round.
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You make a pretty good point. That feat does suggest that you would gain the usual benefits from maintaining a chakra even if Chakra Expertise removes the conditions which are normally required.
But it's a good thing to know, one way or the other. The intent seems clear that you are not sacrificing all your bonus feats and one fifth of your Ki powers, as well as a versatile class feature so that you can gain no benefits, and lose no advantage (anyone can do that without having a class feature). But when you start to look at making something really good or that does a bit more than expected, hard readings of the rules can often come into play. As an example, chakra powers are not particularly potent. However, if one is able to utilize the swift action and Ki point to benefit from a chakra on rounds where Chakra Expertise is allowing you to forego those requirements, then it may be possible to have multiple chakra effects online (withy a continued or heavy Ki investment). This would be pretty cool and provide the concept with much needed usefulness, however, the better or more useful or advantageous a reading of the rules is the less likely it is to actually work that way. Paizo doesn't want players to be too strong (not that this is strong by a mile) but the theme is probably applied more or less universally (spellcasters excluded). :)
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The Chakra Mastery ability answers both questions pretty neatly. You can't benefit from more than one chakra until 10th level, because that is when you gain the ability.
I don't think a FAQ is required. Chakra Expertise is worded vaguely, but your questions are answered by the Chakra Mastery ability gained later. Any other interpretation of Chakra Expertise would not make any sense with Chakra Mastery.
In summary, Chakra Expertise allows you to benefit from a chakra as if you were maintaining your chakra normally. You cannot use ki to benefit from a second chakra until 10th level.
This does let you use your ki and swift actions for cool monk things like an extra attack or bonus armor on rounds that you don't need to spend ki to maintain your chakras.