Ideally, the best time to use the swashbuckler ability is going to be around lots of enemies, and you may be using it because you're currently the focus of attacks! It makes it hard to use at times, since it being an item means that you'll be going flatfooted and wasting a round of action. An instant-use player tool would alleviate this.
Agreed. I'd suggest this for the commander perk as well.
I already thought it worked off player tools. If not, it really should imo.
I'd suggest the same for many of the player abilities/powers -- where it makes sense, anyway. It's probably good that the Sorcerer perk with animate undead 1/day leaves you flatfooted since it's an item, rather than a free action animation.
I know this is possible because it was done on Prisoners of the Mist (Ravenloft) for abilities like Bardsong, Divine Might, and Divine Shield (making paladins fairly viable even against non undead) BUT i'm uncertain if it can be done without hakpaks which POTM had many of
It can certainly be done without hakpacks. It's just a question of how we want it to be, if we truly wish you to go about it in this way instead of using an item.
The item usage is a huge issue on rogues. It breaks their stealth which is one of the few features that let them hang on the thin thread of usefulness. Any of these feats for the rogues, and also Use Poison should be free actions / player tools IMO.
Agreed, FWIW.
This should be done.
Can we make divine might and shield free actions too while were at it? Simply activating the ability burns up an entire round of a very short duration ability.