You can absolutely use it outside of combat. How obvious it is will rely a little bit on your GM's interpretation. As an Ex ability and not Su or Sp it's not likely to come with the big flashy neon warning signs we associate with magic, but especially if someone is familiar with your group and their abilities some more mundane warning sign might tip them off.
You can absolutely use it outside of combat. How obvious it is will rely a little bit on your GM's interpretation. As an Ex ability and not Su or Sp it's not likely to come with the big flashy neon warning signs we associate with magic, but especially if someone is familiar with your group and their abilities some more mundane warning sign might tip them off.
+1
As a GM, I'd probably allow players a sense motive check v. 25 or enemy bluff, whichever is higher, but RAW is silent both ways. If a player did it, I'd probably just let them get away with it unless the NPC was already very familiar with that PC's tricks.
RAW isn't entirely silent, you just need to know where to look.
Let's have a look at Recall Intrigues from Spymaster's Handbook!
You can identify feats and the class features of various classes with successful Knowledge checks when you observe the feats or class features being used.
Check: You can attempt a skill check to identify a feat or class feature when you observe it in use, similar to how Spellcraft can be used to identify a spell. The feat or class feature must have some observable effect in order for you to attempt the Knowledge check. For example, you can’t see the internal determination of Iron Will, so this ability can’t identify that feat. In general, if a feat or class feature creates a noticeable effect (such as the extra attack from using Cleave) or has a variable modifier a character must choose to use (such as Arcane Strike, Combat Expertise, or Enlarge Spell), it can be identified. If it creates a static bonus (such as Dodge or Lightning Reflexes), there’s no telltale sign to give it away.
The Knowledge skill required to identify a feat or class feature varies depending on the type of feat or class feature to be identified and is outlined in the Recall Intrigues (Knowledge) table above, along with the DCs of such skill checks
So Martial Flexibility probably falls under "no observable effect", since all it would be is adjusting your mindset and considering your approach before you even act. Which makes sense.
I'd force initiative and have you do it in the surprise round at best. Sure you can try to keep negotiations going after that, but it'd be done in initiative rounds.
It lasts for 1 minute. It's showing that at least one character is planning on fighting. And once you plan on fighting I call initiative to see how it plays out round by round.
It lasts for 1 minute. It's showing that at least one character is planning on fighting. And once you plan on fighting I call initiative to see how it plays out round by round.
An effect or ability with a duration doesn't mean they want to initiate combat. That's the most absurd reason for a GM to say that combat begins.
Combat initiation is triggered based on hostile actions. Unless you can prove Martial Versatility is a hostile action, your basis for that claim is a houserule.
Counting initiative rounds helps with time keeping for the duration. as far as pre-buffing for negotiations that may not go correct, 1 min is a very short duration.
Again, work out with your GM on if Martial Flexibility entirely internal thing, or if it is a Bruce Lee flex (which it think is the case with combat styles).
It's the GM's call when he wants to go into initiative. I'd rule that gaining a combat feat is aggressive enough to be worth going into initiative. Sure, most everyone is not going to be attacking since the negotiations are still going on. But make it really clear what's going on during this point that one character think a fight can start really soon.
I can see it being used as a time tracking tool if someone thinks combat might start soon, but otherwise, I fail to see why the GM would do that.
I'd rule that gaining a combat feat is aggressive enough to be worth going into initiative.
Even if it is aggressive (which is a debate point all its own), why would it matter in the slightest if there's no observable stimulus of any kind to give it away?
It's the GM's call when he wants to go into initiative. I'd rule that gaining a combat feat is aggressive enough to be worth going into initiative. Sure, most everyone is not going to be attacking since the negotiations are still going on. But make it really clear what's going on during this point that one character think a fight can start really soon.
Yes, it's the GM's call, which means it's not a hard rule.
Quite frankly, if I played by your rule, that means whenever a Wizard casts Mage Armor before entering a dungeon, I have to ask every player what they want to do for 6 seconds for HOURS UPON HOURS, because the Wizard was preparing himself for any potential traps or creatures that lurk within? Not only does that kill the pace of the game, but it's also an absurd requirement, especially when it's something as short as this, and not something with some potential ambiguity (such as minute/level spells or effects).
I listed some rules for what is observable and what isn't. Martial Flexibility is not an observable class feature, it's just gaining a combat feat. Therefore, it is not an obviously aggressive action, and shouldn't initiate combat.
This isn't spellcasting, which has very obvious manifestations. You're literally just gaining a combat feat, which typically is mostly mental put to physical practice, and some combat feats are not even distinctly combat related. Advanced Weapon Training to get Versatile Training, for instance, could be done to increase your Diplomacy.