Freedom of Movement doesn't work on Hold Person?!

[Ovinomancer]

I think it is apparent that hold person is "magic that usually impedes movement", as it paralyzes you. Thus, freedom of movement should work against it. Of course, I would think that otto's irresistable dance would be considered to "impede movement" as well, as it forces you to stay in one place. I mean, "the spell effect makes it impossible for the subject to do anything other than caper and prance in place" is an impediment to movement.

You move just fine when under the effects of Otto's Dance. You just choose to caper and prance, and nothin's stoppin' ya!

 

[The Souljourner]

You move fine when under Hold Person, you just choose not to.

Both are mind-affecting compulsion. Where's the distinction?

I think it's unclear... since Slow isn't really a physical impediment. Personally, I've always assumed it worked against Hold Person, and I think if it didn't, it would be horribly underpowered as a 4th level defensive spell (although ignoring grapples is awfully nice...)

-The Souljourner

 

[hong]

I solved this problem by banning Otto's irresistible dance.

 

[Thanee]

I solved this problem by banning Otto's irresistible dance.

Haha. But what about Suggestion, Dominate, Geas, etc?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

You move just fine when under the effects of Otto's Dance. You just choose to caper and prance, and nothin's stoppin' ya!

You certainly liked that explanation in the last thread, eh?

Bye
Thanee

 

[hong]

Haha. But what about Suggestion, Dominate, Geas, etc?

Bye
Thanee

Oh, I solved those problems by banning freedom of movement.


Hong "I M SMARTER THAN U KTHX" Ooi

 

[Thanee]

You move fine when under Hold Person, you just choose not to.

Both are mind-affecting compulsion. Where's the distinction?

To me... in the stating of paralysis in the hold person description.

I don't think FoM should work against compulsion effects, that make you stop or move differently. Your movement is not impeded, you just don't use it.

Now hold person is somewhat special there, since it is a compulsion that paralyses you. Basically that's a contradiction, since compulsions cannot paralyse, they can only make you choose not to move - which is no big difference, of course, just from the technical side, which is needed here.

I think it's unclear... since Slow isn't really a physical impediment.

Well, slow is a transmutation. That's quite physical, usually.

Bye
Thanee

 

[borc killer]

I would really like to see a definitive answer on this… I had never even thought about it before I read this thread but it is a glaring mistake in the rules. I am just going to rule that it works on hold person but not on any of the other compulsions… but I really don’t like that because it makes no since now.

Borc Killer

 

[IceBear]

Yes, by the rules I don't think it should work against Hold Person. However, I believe the ring always used to work against Hold Person in the past editions so I think this is a case where the rules are written don't jive with the intent. Yes, I know that just because that's how it used to work doesn't mean that it's how it works now, but Freedom of Motion just seems so weak without it stopping Hold Person.

 

[Particle_Man]

For what it is worth, the flavor text under the dmg description of paralysis gives an example of a cleric of hextor casting a spell that causes the victim's limbs to freeze up. Sounds a lot like Hold Person to me.

I would actually take the analogy the other way. If someone is under a command to "stay" or other compulsion not to move at all, then if that person has freedom of movement then they can move anyhow. So I would err on the side of freedom of movement being powerful, and stopping any and all conditions that prevent one from moving, whether caused by a physical thing or a mental thing.

But that is just me.