Grabbed/Immobilized/Slowed/Lame

[JiffyPopTart]

So, last week I was running the KotS adventure, and the PCs had to fight a few of the zombies with the "Zombie Grab" ability.

I was all happy that the wizard had been grappled and was going to have to fight his way out when on his turn he said "I use scorching burst". "HA HA" I countered, "you forgot you were grabbed!"

Then it was pointed out to me that being grabbed really doesn't do anything to you other than keep you from moving.

I was similarly disheartened when a famous paralyzing type of undead immobilized someone only to get smacked back in the face because it didn't actually prevent that someone from attacking back.

These former fun conditions (slow thrown in also) all seem to be gimped too much.

Just a rant.

DS

 

[Mort_Q]

They're low level monsters. You'll get to daze your PCs soon enough.

 

[erik_the_guy]

Immobilized only prevents them from walking etc, not attacking, this is true. Which undead is this? Anyways, if you want there to be actual paralyzing, you can always use the same monsters ability but stun them for the duration. Just make sure you make the creature worth more exp, since it would then be much stronger.
If the wizard casts the spell while he is grabbed, he is going to provoke opportunity attacks from all of the zombies. Seems balanced to me. Remember, the PCs are heroes, not fodder characters from some zombie flick. Being surrounded by zombies does not mean you will die.

 

[keterys]

Curiously, I suspect 'former fun conditions' might be reversed if you flipped perspective.

 

[mdonais]

Fun

I don't think that word means what you think it means.

Mike.

 

[Tony Vargas]

So, last week I was running the KotS adventure, and the PCs had to fight a few of the zombies with the "Zombie Grab" ability.

If you've every failed a save vs a paralyzation or hold effect and been left entirely out of a combat, you'd aplaud the less overwhelming nature of 4e conditions. The idea is to keep everyone enjoying the game, or, at least, engaged in the game.

By the same token, there aren't really 'save or dies' on the PC side of the equation, either, anymore.

 

[Switchback]

Bah, the new conditions are lethal enough. Mostly because a lot of the effects trigger off the enemies hit and they get immediately slapped on you.

 

[KarinsDad]

Bah, the new conditions are lethal enough. Mostly because a lot of the effects trigger off the enemies hit and they get immediately slapped on you.

Lethal

I don't think that word means what you think it means.

 

[Saeviomagy]

These former fun conditions (slow thrown in also) all seem to be gimped too much.

Maybe fun for the DM. Recipes for boredom and frustration if you're a player. There's nothing worse for fun than being told "No, you can't do anything at all. You're grabbed. Your character may as well be dead if it weren't for the fact that you have to stay at the table to mark off damage each round"

That said, scorching burst provokes OAs.

 

[Andur]

Up immobolize powers to restrained...