Statue

[Bad Paper]

Is the basic combat effect of Statue that you are made of stone when it is not your turn? So basically you have hardness 8? I assume that you would not threaten squares..?

 

[Rkhet]

I wouldn't use that in combat. As a statue you can't move. That means you'd be Helpless. It's good for disguise and ambush, but that's about it.

 

[Bad Paper]

I wouldn't use that in combat. As a statue you can't move. That means you'd be Helpless. It's good for disguise and ambush, but that's about it.

ahh, OK
I was referencing this bit from the spell description:

The subject of a statue spell can return to its normal state, act, and then return instantly to the statue state (a free action) if it so desires, as long as the spell duration is in effect.

So even if you can jump in and out of your regular form to act, you're still vulnerable to CdG. I was hoping this would turn into some funky blink effect.

 

[Infiniti2000]

It doesn't say you can't move. Why can't you walk around and fight as a statue, sorta like a stone golem?

 

[Philip]

I wouldn't use that in combat. As a statue you can't move. That means you'd be Helpless. It's good for disguise and ambush, but that's about it.

Not able to move != helpless. Entangled creatures cannot move, and they are not helpless.

As a statue you are immune to critical hits, and thus immune to CDG, which is the the most dangerous consequence of being helpless.

As someone with a transmuter wizard who regular uses the Statue spell, I can give a few tips.

1. Cast Fly. With the spell active you can still move, since it only requires a mental action to fly. This cancels the most significant disadvantage of statue.

2. As stone you don't only have hardness 8, you also suffer from energy damage as if being a stone object, quarter damage from fire for example. Activate it when the red dragon is about the breathe on you.

3. As a stone statue you are immune to sneak attacks and critical hits, which can be quite helpful in specific situations.

4. You can be invisible and truly not make a sound if you stay put.

5. If you polymorph into a Remorhaz, grapple someone with your fangs (and possible swallow someone), then you can turn to stone to make escape practically impossible (did this once actually).

 

[Philip]

It doesn't say you can't move. Why can't you walk around and fight as a statue, sorta like a stone golem?

It says you turn into a statue. A statue cannot move. If the spell did turn you into a animate creature like a stone golem, it would say so. A statue is just a statue.

 

[Rkhet]

Not able to move != helpless. Entangled creatures cannot move, and they are not helpless.

As a statue you are immune to critical hits, and thus immune to CDG, which is the the most dangerous consequence of being helpless.

I do not mean not being able to take a move action. I mean not being able to move at all, which is the consequence of being a statue. That means you cannot defend yourself. If you cannot defend yourself, then you are helpless, or more like an inanimate object in this case.

You also act as if having dex 0. You'll get hit a lot more. Hardness 8 won't really offset that.

 

[Infiniti2000]

It says you turn into a statue. A statue cannot move.

Actually, it doesn't say that. Statue is merely the name of the spell. It says: "A statue spell turns the subject to solid stone, along with any garments and equipment worn or carried." Then, any references to "statue form" or "statue state" are clearly the fact that you are solid stone and nothing else should be inferred. It never says that you become a statue with all the associated unspoken and undefined limitations that that entails (the SRD doesn't anyway, let me know if this is yet another contradiction with the PH).

If the spell did turn you into a animate creature like a stone golem, it would say so. A statue is just a statue.

Don't you think that if the spell were so limiting as to not allow you to move at all, that would be more important to mention? The fact that it doesn't say, "While in statue form, you cannot move at all, are considered helpless, etc." is a big clue that that's not what it does.

The only other interpretation you could make is that you cannot act while in statue form. This, of course, has the inherent contradiction that if you cannot act while in statue form you cannot dismiss the spell or change out of statue form.

 

[werk]

It's a 7th level spell, so it would make sense for the statue to be able to walk/fight as normal. SO, if allowed movement as normal, all the spell does is give the statued person hardness 8 and no need to eat or breathe...compared to plane shift, summon monster 7, delayed blast fireball, finger of death, and limited wish...which are also lvl 7.

Compare to tree shape, which calls out inability to move.

 

[Bad Paper]

It's a 7th level spell, so it would make sense for the statue to be able to walk/fight as normal. SO, if allowed movement as normal, all the spell does is give the statued person hardness 8 and no need to eat or breathe...compared to plane shift, summon monster 7, delayed blast fireball, finger of death, and limited wish...which are also lvl 7.

Compare to tree shape, which calls out inability to move.

The statue cannot walk/fight as normal. Compare to the Iron Body spell, which grants damage reduction. Statue grants hardness, which is something objects have.

Does the changing back and forth always happen for free? In one round, can I: change to flesh, act, move, and change to stone?

Edit: whoops, I see that Animated Objects keep their hardnesses. OK, so maybe Statue makes you an animated object?