Being paralyzed and Delaying

[Altamont Ravenard]

Hello all,

There was a thread not too long ago about being stunned and delaying. I'm not sure the situation was resolved, but the point of this thread is:

Can you delay when you are paralyzed (or other condition that affects your body but not your mind)?

The advantage of being able to delay would be that you could act as soon as the condition wears off.

Of course, as I'm thinking about it, 3.5 Hold Person lets the victim make a save at his initiative count, and if the save is successful, the effect is ended, and the victim will be freed at his initiative count no matter what.

Of course, Hold Person isn't the only paralysis-causing ability.

AR

 

[Artoomis]

Absolutely you can. If you are allowed purely mental actions, then you can Delay.

 

[Felix]

The person subjected to a Hold Person spell may Delay if they want, but they then waive any further possible saving throws.

...Each round on its turn, the subject may attempt a new saving throw to end the effect. (This is a full-round action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.)...

Because the once-a-round saving throw is an action, choosing to Delay would mean that you didn't try to shake off the Hold Person spell.

 

[Darklone]

I wouldn't allow any mental actions during Hold Person because it's an enchantment spell.

 

[thorian]

IIRC, Hold Person used to mention something about purely mental actions, but the 3.5 version states "It is aware and breathes normally, but cannot take any actions, even speech."

Delaying is an action, so I would not allow it or other purely mental actions like a psion manifesting a power.

 

[Felix]

Delaying is an action, so I would not allow it or other purely mental actions like a psion manifesting a power.

You would allow no actions?

...Each round on its turn, the subject may attempt a new saving throw to end the effect. (This is a full-round action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.)...

So you wouldn't allow the Held person further saving throws each round? It is a full-round action (a mental one, at that) to make a new saving throw.

 

[Daedrova]

You would allow no actions?

So you wouldn't allow the Held person further saving throws each round? It is a full-round action (a mental one, at that) to make a new saving throw.

I think the point of the spell is that the victim is not able to act because their mental facilities are overcome. They can take no action (not even mental ones) aside from struggling to wrest control of their mind via their Will save.

Paralysis is different, as the person cannot act as a result of the physical body being disabled. Some one who has part of their spine crushed (quadriplegic) has full use of their mind but cannot control their body as normal. Someone who suffers an extremely severe psychological reaction to a trauma may pass out or go into a coma. It affects their mind, and while their mind may be able to communicate with their body otherwise, the condition affecting the mind prevents them from being able to take any action whatsoever, even mental ones (concerning interaction w/ reality).

 

[Felix]

I think the point of the spell is that the victim is not able to act because their mental facilities are overcome. They can take no action (not even mental ones) aside from struggling to wrest control of their mind via their Will save.

Yeah, but that's not what it says in the spell, nor what it says in the description of Paralysis.

...A paralyzed character cannot move, speak, or take any physical action. He is rooted to the spot, frozen and helpless. Not even friends can move his limbs. He may take purely mental actions, such as casting a spell with no components...

And in the spell:

The subject becomes paralyzed and freezes in place. It is aware and breathes normally but cannot take any actions, even speech. Each round on its turn, the subject may attempt a new saving throw to end the effect. (This is a full-round action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.)...

It specifically mentions paralysis, and denies the target any actions. Then, somewhat contradictorally, it says a target may make a full-round action to attempt a new saving throw. This implies the target's ability to take mental actions. This is supported by the Paralysis description in the Condition Summary, which clearly states you may take mental actions, even cast a spell without material, verbal or somatic components, when you are Paralyzed.