Does Lesser Spirit Totem need an action to attack?

[Gidonihah]

Is an action needed to make the Lesser Spirit Totem attack while raging? Does it need to be part of a Full attack or Attack Action, or is it entirely independent of any actions on your turn?

[Melkiador]

Quote:

While raging, the barbarian is surrounded by spirit wisps that harass her foes. These spirits make one slam attack each round against a living foe that is adjacent to the barbarian. This slam attack is made using the barbarian’s full base attack bonus, plus the barbarian’s Charisma modifier. The slam deals 1d4 points of negative energy damage, plus the barbarian’s Charisma modifier.

It says “while raging” and doesn’t give another action type, so that should mean there is no action needed.

It’s not actually the barbarian making the attack, but the “spirit”, so it doesn’t rely on your actions. No attack is necessary on the part of the barbarian for the spirit to attack

The only thing that may be questionable is the timing of the proximity. Does it matter if I start or end my turn adjacent to the target? Could I tumble past someone and get the spirit attack as I pass by?

[Pizza Lord]

Just reading the text Melkiador quoted, it looks like it's independent of the barbarian. For mechanics purposes, the GM likely decides based on available targets and chooses one adjacent at the start of the barbarian's turn. If none, then a target at the end of their turn if they moved adjacent. I probably wouldn't have the spirits otherwise 'delaying' or 'holding' their attack off turn (if another attacker runs up or runs past) like it was a readied action or something (if I did, I would then feel obligated to give the spirits their own initiative to 'reset' their attack before they could attack again, and that kind of method tends to lead to forgetting about them or their action).

In other words, it doesn't require an action by the barbarian for them to attack, but unless there's other wording in the class feature not quoted, they don't choose the target or when it happens, but they can influence it (by only standing adjacent to the desired enemy or holding or delaying their action or rage).

[Gidonihah]

Pizza Lord wrote:

Just reading the text Melkiador quoted, it looks like it's independent of the barbarian. For mechanics purposes, the GM likely decides based on available targets and chooses one adjacent at the start of the barbarian's turn. If none, then a target at the end of their turn if they moved adjacent. I probably wouldn't have the spirits otherwise 'delaying' or 'holding' their attack off turn (if another attacker runs up or runs past) like it was a readied action or something (if I did, I would then feel obligated to give the spirits their own initiative to 'reset' their attack before they could attack again, and that kind of method tends to lead to forgetting about them or their action).

In other words, it doesn't require an action by the barbarian for them to attack, but unless there's other wording in the class feature not quoted, they don't choose the target or when it happens, but they can influence it (by only standing adjacent to the desired enemy or holding or delaying their action or rage).

Well there is atleast a FAQ for the targeting part.

Quote:

Barbarian, Lesser Spirit Totem: Who decides who the spirits attack, and what effects affect the spirits?

The barbarian decides who the spirits attack each round. The spirits are not affected by effects that aid their attacks or damage (such as bardic performance or bless) or penalize their attacks or damage (such as bane or darkness). The spirits always strike from your direction. They do not get flanking bonuses or help a combatant get one.

So what im getting is it doesnt take an action, happens 1/round. But it seems like the timing of when the attack can happen is ambiguous.

[Azothath]

Barbarian Rage Powers scroll down...

under Greater Spirit Totem ... Living enemies adjacent to the barbarian at the start of her turn take 1d8 points of negative energy damage. In addition, the spirit wisps can now attack foes that are up to 15 feet away from the barbarian and the slam attack deals 1d6 points of negative energy damage. A barbarian must have the spirit totem rage power and be at least 10th level to select this rage power.

APG FAQ on Spirit Totem

When it is unclear, it's best to read the intro or other powers in the themed group or highly similar spells for clarity.

It's clear it is a GM run power (as written). The Barbarian(FAQ) chooses an adjacent foe and the spirits attack on their own at their whim (at the start of the Barb's action acc'd to Grtr Spirit Totem) using +(Barb's BAB +CHA) to hit for (1d4 +Barb's CHA)[negative] dmg.
The spirits don't get any of the barbarian's buffs or AoE buffs(like Prayer) BUT things that would raise the Barb's CHA would flow through.

I'd let the player roll as the FAQ put the targeting in their control and I'd have them act at the start of the Barb's turn. It is usually just plain old damage as the energy type was added for resistances/damage reduction (from cleric An evil cleric (or a neutral cleric who worships an evil deity) channels negative energy and can choose to deal damage to living creatures or to heal undead creatures.) BUT the targeting allows the spirits to inform the barbarian if an adjacent creature is Undead as they refuse to attack it (so not a totally wasted action on the spirit's part). Shame it's not an incorporeal touch attack. Probably best for the PC to direct the spirits against weak/low AC opponents.