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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Menexenus" data-source="post: 3379405" data-attributes="member: 8951">Maybe I'm missing something really obvious here, but how does one find out whether a monster's Supernatural or Extraordinary ability can be activated as a free action or as a standard action?  My assumption would be that activating an ability is always a standard action unless the description specifically states otherwise.  But that doesn't seem to be borne out by the descriptions I've read.For instance, many creatures have the Stench extraordinary ability.  Is this something that is "always on" and therefore does not require a standard action?  Or is it something that the creature does (like the way a skunk has to stand on its forelegs and arch its back)?  If it were the latter, I would expect the ability to require a standard action, but I'd also expect the effects to require a ranged touch attack or to have a cone-shaped area of effect.How about Telepathy?  Many outsiders use a supernatural ability to communicate telepathically with those who don't speak their language.  Does this require the use of a standard action?  I assume that it doesn't, but the description doesn't say so.The Apostle of Kyuss at the end of the Champions Games had an extraordinary ability called "Tendrils" which allowed it to ignore damage from mundane missile weapons.  Is this something that needs to be activated (using a standard action) or is it always on?  If it needs to be activated, does it need to be activated each round in order to continue functioning?...Responders: please don't just respond to the 3 situations listed above.  Although I am curious about each of them, they are just examples.  What I really want is some definitive way of deciding whether a monster's special ability is always on or requires the use of an action in combat.  (Presumably, those that require actions will require standard actions and not move-equivalent actions.  If I'm wrong about this assumption, please also tell me when I can have the monster use a move-equivalent action instead of a standard action.)Thanks.P.S.  If my terminology is out of date, that's because I still primarily use 3.0 sources.  Feel free to update me to 3.5 terminology.</blockquote>

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