Command an animal companion and ancestors oracle mystery

[Hikiomaru]

I was wondering what the interaction between the Command an animal action for an animal companion and the ancestors mystery is.

The animal companion rules reads:

Quote:

Your animal companion has the minion trait, and it gains 2 actions during your turn if you use the Command an Animal action to command it; this is in place of the usual effects of Command an Animal, and you don’t need to attempt a Nature check.

And the ancestors mystery minor curse reads:

Quote:

When you try to use one of the types of actions listed for the other ancestors, you must succeed at a DC 4 flat check.

So my question is, assuming i roll a 1 on my first turn of combat and thus i have a martial ancestor, should i try to use the command an animal skill for the nature skill and make a skill check for that (imagine i try it for a random animal) i would have to pass the flat DC in order to use the action since it's a skill check.

But what happens if i instead have an animal companion via an archetype? would the substitute command an animal action have to pass the flat check too or, since it's a different action that doesn't require a skill check i would be able to use it without the need to pass a flat DC?

[HumbleGamer]

Here's the minion trait

Quote:

Minions are creatures that directly serve another creature. A creature with this trait can use only 2 actions per turn and can’t use reactions. Your minion acts on your turn in combat, once per turn, when you spend an action to issue it commands. For an animal companion, you Command an Animal; for a minion that’s a spell or magic item effect, like a summoned minion, you Sustain a Spell or Sustain an Activation; if not otherwise specified, you issue a verbal command, a single action with the auditory and concentrate traits. If given no commands, minions use no actions except to defend themselves or to escape obvious harm. If left unattended for long enough, typically 1 minute, mindless minions usually don’t act, animals follow their instincts, and sapient minions act how they please.

So it seems that, unlike Commanding an animal, commanding a companion would be an available action regardless the spirit which possesses you.

[Ventnor]

I think you would have to make a flat check unless your active spirit is a skillful ancestor. While it is true that having an animal companion modifies the command an animal action in some important ways, it doesn't change the fact that the action is associated with the nature skill and thus a skill action (regardless of the fact that you don't need to actually roll a nature check to command an animal companion).

[Blave]

Quote:

When you try to use one of the types of actions listed for the other ancestors, you must succeed at a DC 4 flat check.

"Try" means "roll a check" in my opinion. If you command an animal companion, you don't "try" but simply do it, since you don't have to roll at all. I would allow you to command your companion without the flat check.

[HumbleGamer]

Also, it is important to look at either moderate or major curse, which give +1/2 status bonus to the check.

If you perform an action which doesn't involve a skill check or casting a spell, it doesn't count towards your ancestor curse limit.

[Hikiomaru]

I read it too as if i can do it without a check, also taking in account the fact that the bonus is to skill checks, but new to PF2 so wanted opinions. So it seems that you can bypass the penalty of the curse in some way while doing something useful, that's nice.