Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground XCI

[Darrin]

does the aura of confidence require an action to activate, or is it always running?

It's a continuous ability.

My reasoning:

1) Auras are usually passive and continuous. Unless the text says otherwise, it's usually safe to assume that an aura is "always on" and requires no action to activate it.

2) "This ability functions only while the fatemaker is conscious." This text would be unnecessary and redundant if the aura was activated with a standard action, since you don't get any actions when you're unconscious. I think we can interpret this to mean "this ability functions" to mean that "this ability is active".