How to narrate the immobilized condition

[Nikosandros]

I'm not too sure if this goes here or into general...

Anyway, the immobilized condition is rather straightforward rules wise. You can't move away from your position, but you can be subject to forced movement. Your attack rolls, your skill rolls and your defenses are not penalized in any way. If I understand the rules correctly, you are also allowed to drop prone or to stand up (without leaving your square).

How do you describe this situation in the "in game" narrative?

 

[James McMurray]

It would depend on how the condition came about. Grapples, nets, and ghoul claws have the same end result but different ways of getting there.

 

[fba827]

yeah, it depends on whatever power made you imobile.

Maybe your cloak was pinned down by a sword.
Maybe your tangled in a net
Maybe the very earth has risen over your feet
Maybe roots and vines tug at your legs
Maybe a energy blast numbed your legs

etc

 

[Nikosandros]

It would depend on how the condition came about. Grapples, nets, and ghoul claws have the same end result but different ways of getting there.

Well, in the last session we had three different instances:

1) Ghoul claws.

2) Icy Rays attack from the wizard.

3) Grave Bolt from a Deathlock Wight.

 

[Dracorat]

"You find that you are unable to use your legs; it is remarkable you manage to remain standing."

 

[Skyscraper]

The fighter wants to grab the storm titan and consequently immobilize it? He wedges the titan's boot into a crack in the floor, holding it there with all his strength.

Edit: a storm titan would not be a valid target since you can only grab creatures the same size, one size category larger or one size category smaller.

 

[fba827]

Well, in the last session we had three different instances:

1) Ghoul claws.

Ghouls, known for their paralysis effects, would numb the legs... that feeling that you're legs have fallen asleep, but in a major way.

2) Icy Rays attack from the wizard.

Blocks of ice form around your feet, freezing them to the ground (or encasing your legs together in one block of ice)

3) Grave Bolt from a Deathlock Wight.

[/QUOTE]

Wights.. they used to do level draining type stuff, so I guess this could be weakening your legs.

 

[Nikosandros]

Wouldn't all of this also make the target easier to hit?

 

[Dracorat]

Wouldn't all of this also make the target easier to hit?

Apparently, you can still swing yourself around / parry attacks / block attacks / thumb your nose at your competition / sing "run, run, run, run away fast!" even though your legs don't work.

 

[Lizard]

Wouldn't all of this also make the target easier to hit?

Shhhhhh!

(And don't forget, after your legs are in a block of ice, someone can push you 20 feet and your legs will STILL be in the block of ice. Also, if you're prone, you can stand -- but your legs are still in that ice.)

This is why, frankly, we've stopped narrating 4e combat. There's just too much of that stuff and rather than adding to the game, narration and flavor text now detract from it, raising too many questions and slowing down play. So, basically, when you roll for initiative in 4e, just mentally switch to "Tactical Minis Mode" and don't think too hard -- or at all -- about what's "really" happening. Enjoy the game for being an excellent tactical combat game. Do the roleplaying stuff outside of combat.