Dazed & Confused (Which is Worse?)

[The Spectrum Rider]

So is it worse to be dazed for 1 round, or confused for 1 round?

On the one hand, if you'r confused, you might hit a friend (there's a 30% chance of attacking the nearest creature, who might be friend or foe), or run away for 1 round (20% chance). But there's also a chance of attacking the caster (10%), acting normally (10%), or basically acting as if you were dazed (30%).

If you're dazed, you just don't do anything for 1 round (100%). All in all, I think I'd rather be confused (and possibly attacking my enemies). At best, it looks like a wash.

But Lesser Confusion is a 1st-level spell (Bard only), with no limitation on the Hit Dice of the target. Daze Monster is a 2nd-level spell (Bard or Sor/Wiz), and can only affect creatures with 6 HD or less.

Admittedly Daze Monster has a greater range. But doesn't it still seem a little high, relative to Lesser Confusion?

Opinions welcome.

The Spectrum Rider

 

[Scion]

Taking away all actions is certainly worse than having a chance of the spell doing nothing even after a failed save

Although the limitation to daze monster is a bit rough, I guess it is sortof like sleep. It is great for a time, and then worthless. (or better yet, daze vs flare: flare works forever sortof, but daze gets neglected fairly early on)

This looks like it was just moved up a few levels, made slightly better, but all in all the same boat.

Which would you rather be? confused. Confused is the lower level spell, and generally 'weaker' than being dazed.

Then again, sometimes wotc increases the level a spell is at just to make its save higher (ie a stronger spell! woo! umm..). Which is a very odd policy to say the least but that could be, at least partially, what has happened here.

 

[VirgilCaine]

So is it worse to be dazed for 1 round, or confused for 1 round?

Dazed. In a daze you can't do anything, Confusion has the enemy still "active" even if they aren't as effective. After the bodyguards kill the VIP you're trying to kidnap, you'll think twice.

 

[Tatsukun]

Well, it depends.

When we were playing 3.0 we faught some kind of wolf thing (scarred lands) that confused our (3.0 hasted) Evoker. He dropped two maxed fireballs on us and only the pally's mount and my monk lived.

That sucked. So, if it's the evoker, or maybe the barbarian I would vote for daze.

(To barbarian) Krog, are you ok? Krog, you look confused, are you OK man? Krog, put down the axe, oh boy RUN ! ! !

 

[Darklone]

Hehehehehehehe. Go Confusion

I had players beg me to roll the d100 because they didn't want to be lynched by their friends later.

 

[Al]

The other key clause of Confusion is that if attacked you fight back (IIRC). When you're dazed, the enemy just beats on you to kill you off before the daze runs out- if you're confused, chances are that the enemy will just leave you there acting confused (and target the other PCs) rather than actively trying to kill you off.

 

[Plane Sailing]

THen again compare the 2nd level Daze Monster with the 1st level "tashas hideous laughter" on the Bard lists. Which would you rather be hit with?