Immobilization by Ghouls - A Fear Effect?

[WereMike]

As DM, I ambushed my players with a pair of ghouls. The ghoul strikes with a Claws melee attack (standard, at-will) and inflicts "1d6+4 damage, and the target is immobilized (save ends)."

These issues came up at the table:

1) Immobilized targets cannot move from their space but they can still melee attack adjacent foes and range attack others, correct?

2) One of the immobilized players was a halfling. When it came time for him to save, he asked if the ghoul's attack was fear-based and if so, would his racial bonus vs. fear apply to the save? A quick dive into the books showed the ghoul's attack had no keywords. Therefore, I ruled that as "undead," the ghoul's power immobilizing the halfling was necrotic, not fear.

Thoughts?

 

[Shroomy]

As DM, I ambushed my players with a pair of ghouls. The ghoul strikes with a Claws melee attack (standard, at-will) and inflicts "1d6+4 damage, and the target is immobilized (save ends)."

These issues came up at the table:

1) Immobilized targets cannot move from their space but they can still melee attack adjacent foes and range attack others, correct?

Yes, they can still attack. You can only willingly move if you can teleport.

2) One of the immobilized players was a halfling. When it came time for him to save, he asked if the ghoul's attack was fear-based and if so, would his racial bonus vs. fear apply to the save? A quick dive into the books showed the ghoul's attack had no keywords. Therefore, I ruled that as "undead," the ghoul's power immobilizing the halfling was necrotic, not fear.

Thoughts?

The ghouls immoblization is not fear based or necrotic; its untyped.

 

[Griogre]

I think it is a nameless type effect. I would not have given a bonus to save if he had a plus vs. necrotic either.

 

[jeffhartsell]

I played that the ghoul attack was untyped damage and without a fear keyword. Basically the filth in the claws immobilizes the target.

 

[WereMike]

Okay, good. Thanks.

But now I'm curious: if immobilizing a target means no willing movement (other than teleport) from the space is allowed...but you can still move to attack, talk, cast spells, then by what power/ability/quality does the ghoul immobilize its opponent?

Or should it simply remain a mystery and that's that? It just seems to be an odd effect when there's no "ecology" to account for it. Not complaining, just questioning...

 

[WereMike]

I played that the ghoul attack was untyped damage and without a fear keyword. Basically the filth in the claws immobilizes the target.

Darn, wish I would have thought of that. Good point.

 

[Shroomy]

Okay, good. Thanks.

But now I'm curious: if immobilizing a target means no willing movement (other than teleport) from the space is allowed...but you can still move to attack, talk, cast spells, then by what power/ability/quality does the ghoul immobilize its opponent?

Or should it simply remain a mystery and that's that? It just seems to be an odd effect when there's no "ecology" to account for it. Not complaining, just questioning...

I just assumed it was some sort of supernatural ability, but I'm not too demanding in this regard.

 

[Gloombunny]

It's a dramatic thing, not a simulationist thing. It's that scene in the action movie where the character is wounded and can't stand up straight and grunts with effort or pain whenever they do something, but can somehow still fight off a horde of ninjas. They just can't move around, 'cuz that would break the dramatic imagery of how weakened they are.

Or, I dunno, maybe ghouls just like to hit people in the legs.

 

[blargney the second]

Or, I dunno, maybe ghouls just like to hit people in the legs.

Well, a little bit higher.

 

[OchreJelly]

If you go by the traditional ghoul from earlier editions, it represents a form of paralysis caused by their filthy diseased claws and teeth.

The flavor I have been giving it, is the player feels his limbs going rigid especially from the waist down. He can still talk and swing a sword but it seems to take great effort.

Remember that the bite stuns, which is basically the same as the old edition ghoul taking a player out of the fight. In this case it takes two separate attacks to achieve the same effect.