Ancestor's Council effect and duration


Rules Questions


The Shaman's Ancestors spirit from Cohorts and Companions has the following spirit ability:

Cohorts and Companions wrote:
Ancestor's Council (Su): As a standard action the shaman can call upon her ancestors to provide advice and assistance to one ally within 30 feet. The ally gains a +2 bonus on any attack roll, saving throw, ability check, or skill check made before the beginning of the shaman’s next turn. The shaman can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma bonus.

I am unsure on the wording here. Does this apply only on the very first roll and then the effect is discharged (therefore giving a +2 on only a single roll) or is it essentially a flat +2 bonus on every such roll for 1 round?


As written, it applies a +2 bonus to all the specified rolls.
However, I feel like they left a "one" out in between "on any" and "attack roll,", which would keep it in line with many other similar abilities.


Since most shaman spirits are based around an oracle mystery of the same name, maybe it makes sense to compare it to what was most likely the inspirational revelation:

Ultimate Magic wrote:
Sacred Council (Su): As a move action, you can call upon your ancestors to provide council. This advice grants you a +2 bonus on any one d20 roll. This effect lasts for 1 round. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to your Charisma bonus.

This would support your assumption that there was just a "one" lost in editing. On the other hand, the ability was changed beyond just that and comparing the spirit ability to some of the other spirit's abilities that provide a numerical bonus to rolls, a single +2 for investing a standard action sounds rather underwhelming, so I'm left wondering if it might have been intended? But this admittedly goes beyond RAW.


A very large portion of similar abilities (from domains, bloodlines, etc) are rather underwhelming (in most circumstances). It's unfortunate, but established.
In this instance you do have the luxury of using RAW against your GM to make it a decent early game ability!

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