Paralysis, Initiative and You

[dcollins]

I vote for "you missed your turn, iniative order does not change".

 

[HeavyG]

In 3.5, unless my SRD has errors, hold person contains the following "The subject becomes paralyzed and freezes in place. It is aware and breathes normally but cannot take any actions, even speech." Thus, a held person in 3.5 cannot in fact delay or ready an action, or indeed do any action including purely mental ones.

Also, the paralysis entry has the following text :"A paralyzed character cannot move, speak, or take any physical action. He is rooted to the spot, frozen and helpless. Not even friends can move his limbs. He may take purely mental actions, such as casting a spell with no components."

Thus, it is certain that you can delay while paralyzed, and assuming my SRD is right, you probably can't while held (there is a contradiction in that hold person says you are paralyzed though). It used to be the other way around in 3.0, no ?

I'm not 100% sure readying an action is purely mental though.

 

[Rel]

I don't subscribe to the "you missed your turn" philosophy in the case of Hold Person. If the character was a Sorcerer who could cast a Silent, Stilled Dimension Door, would he miss his turn? Of course not.

You don't skip the player. It is simply the fact that in most cases he won't be able to do anything particularly useful. So what should happen is:

DM: "Grumpy, it's your turn."

Grumpy: "I can't do anything since I'm paralyzed. I'll Delay."

DM: "Ok. That brings up your turn, Doo-Daa."

Doo-Daa: "I cast Remove Paralysis on Grumpy."

Grumpy: "I'd like to stop delaying now please."

 

[smetzger]

I don't subscribe to the "you missed your turn" philosophy in the case of Hold Person. If the character was a Sorcerer who could cast a Silent, Stilled Dimension Door, would he miss his turn? Of course not.

That is debatable. The problem is that Hold Person contradicts itself.

It is aware and breathes normally but cannot take any actions, even speech

Seems to indicate that you can't do anything, no Psionics and no silient + stilled + eschew component spells.

However,

Each round on its turn, the subject may attempt a new saving throw to end the effect. (This is a full-round action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.)

Indicates that you can take a full-round action.

Most likely what they mean is that the only action a Held person can take is attempting a new saving throw.