Slow is naaasty

[Berandor]

What? No 5ft-step when slowed?

Can you say "ouch"?

ETA: Actually, does someone have a direct link or quote for that?

 

[drunkmoogle]

You can only take a 5-foot-step if your movement isn’t hampered by difficult terrain or darkness. Any creature with a speed of 5 feet or less can’t take a 5-foot step, since moving even 5 feet requires a move action for such a slow creature.

and...

Here’s what it means to have a clear path. First, you must move to the closest space from which you can attack the opponent. (If this space is occupied or otherwise blocked, you can’t charge.) Second, if any line from your starting space to the ending space passes through a square that blocks movement, slows movement, or contains a creature (even an ally), you can’t charge. (Helpless creatures don’t stop a charge.)

Seems to me like one could still (partial) charge and 5' step when slowed. Only physical obstacles and darkness prevent a 5' step and charge.

 

[mikebr99]

Can't find the part in the SRD, which says you cannot make a 5 ft. step then, but it is in the glossary in the back of the PHB under "half-speed" (or so).


Bye
Thanee

​

half speed: When restricted to moving at half speed, count each square moved into as 2 squares, and every square of diagonal movement as 3 squares. If you are restricted to half speed, you can’t run or charge, nor can you take a 5-foot step.
​

​

Mike​

​

​

 

[jodyjohnson]

That Glossary entry is really weird.

So if your movement rate is 30 and you take a reduce movement effect the spells cut your rate in half. But then you pay double?

If you cannot charge across a square that requires that you pay 2 movement to enter then we couldn't charge diagonally either since the second diagonal costs you 2.

Is 'half-speed' ever used as a game term besides the glossary?

Slow: "A slowed creature moves at half its normal speed (round down to the next 5-foot increment)"

That's a bit different than the glossary definition where the costs is paid by square.

Blinded: "Blinded: The character cannot see. He takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class, loses his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), moves at half speed"
Also Exhausted and Disabled, Move Silently and Hiding.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

No. When you're speed is halved (when you're at half-speed), you pay double the normal movement costs per square. Not halved and then double. The second part is simply describing what the first part means.

 

[EricNoah]

Yeah ... I'm just gonna ignore that ... everyone gets a 5' step if they can move at least a speed of 5.

 

[DreamChaser]

This sounds logical to me. After all, melee characters gain the most benefit from slow's complement haste. They can make better use of the extra attack action than anyone else. It stands to reason that the opposite should hurt them the most...although casters might be in some trouble too.

DC

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I go with Eric on that one, except that with speed 5, you can't take a 5-ft-step, since that's a move action. But with speed 10, it's OK.

So slowed melee fighters only have to fear those with spring attack or an elocator with capricious step.

 

[Patlin]

If you are able to take only a standard action or a move action on your turn, you can still charge, but you are only allowed to move up to your speed (instead of up to double your speed). You can’t use this option unless you are restricted to taking only a standard action or move action on your turn.

This seems to be directed specifically at the slow spell to me. I'd say you can move more than 5' as long as their aren't impediments in addition to the slow spell.

Edit: Oops, I get it now. Problem is the minimum charging distance, right?

 

[Deset Gled]

No. When you're speed is halved (when you're at half-speed), you pay double the normal movement costs per square. Not halved and then double. The second part is simply describing what the first part means.

I forsee a long discussion as to whether or not "your speed is halved" means the same thing as "half-speed".

I'll start: Half-speed is a game term, not merely a descriptive one. If a spell (slow) says a player moves "at half its normal speed (round down to the next 5-foot increment)", that is not the same as "half-speed". The fact that the spell actually clarifies that "half its normal speed" works differently mechanically than "half-speed" does (one uses division, one uses the mechanic of 1 square counting as 2) strengthens this arguement.