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Hi there,
This is my very first post in this forum, and i wish i'm doing it rightly.
I'm trying to build a cavalier/paladin commander-like character, but facing the paladin archetype "holy tactician" i can't really understand how the battlefield presence class feature works. I'm looking for clarifications about this online for days, but every interpretation made me just more confused.
Battlefield Presence (Su)
At 3rd level, a tactician can direct her allies in battle, granting each ally within 30 feet one teamwork feat she possesses as a bonus feat as a standard action. All allies must receive the same feat, but do not need to meet the prerequisites of this bonus feat. This ability does not function if the paladin is flat-footed or unconscious. Allies must be able to see and hear the holy tactician in order to gain this benefit. Changing the bonus feat granted is a swift action.
This ability replaces aura of courage.
Now, usually when i have some doubt about RAW i try to stick to RAI, but sadly RAI itself isn't clear to me in here.
The feature doesn't explicit any use limitage, so it is at will.
The feature doens't explicit any duration, so its duration is unlimited. The feature replace an aura, so it makes sense.
-The tactician can grant the feat as a standard action.
Why is it if the duration is unlimited? Perhaps the Battlefield Presence was meant to last only the whole combat, so you have to cast it at the start of every combat? Can the feature be used out of combat at all? Maybe the standard action is meant to be used once a day to just activate the feature. (like a mage armor cast)
-The tactician grant one teamwork feat she possesses as a bonus feat.
Some people read this like "one feat she possesses, as a bonus feat", implying that you can grant any feat you own, and your allies receive it as a bonus feat.
Others read it as "one feat, she possesses as a bonus feat", implying that you can share only feats you received as bonus feats (actually i believe this is the right one).
Cheesy question: if it is the second case, can i grant to my allies bonus feats granted by other classes? (Tactician cavalier ability, he receive a bonus teamwork feat to share with others, pretty much the same thing.)
-This ability does not function if the paladin is flat-flooted or unconscious.
what does "not function" means? is the feature completely interrupted or just suppressed? do i have to cast it at the start of every fight since the paladin would be flat-flooted at start?
At last but not leat, is it possible to have some kind of official answer to the question? I mean, the feature change completely its power depending on the intepretation, going from Amazing with capital a, to pretty horrible.
Thanks to everyone in advance, sorry for the long post and for possible writing mistakes since english is not my first language.
Kisses
I've seen this exact question asked a few times, and get different answers every time.
You're unlikely to get an official answer, so my advice is to sit down with your GM and work out how you want to play it before you start playing this character.
For what it's worth I agree with Jared Walter 356.
Thanks a lot to both of you =)
I've already submitted the question to my master, and we will see what to do.
Usually i don't really like to interpret something where i can't understand the RAI itself, so i think that in the end i will scrap the archetype altogether.
Anyway the Jared interpretation seems really good to me.