Travel Domain: Escape a grapple?

[Liquidsabre]

Wow, no offense guys but I don't think this one is that hard.

"You can act normally regardless of magical effects that impede movement..."

As has been said before a grapple is NOT a magical effect and doesn't apply to the Travel Domain ability. Egads.

 

[Blood Jester]

Wow, no offense guys but I don't think this one is that hard.

"You can act normally regardless of magical effects that impede movement as if you were affected by the spell freedom of movement."

As has been said before a grapple is affected by FoM and does apply to the Travel Domain ability. Egads.

There, fixed it for ya.

 

[Shadowdweller]

Ok, more (somewhat repetitive) semantics for you guys:

"...as if you were affected by the spell Freedom of Movement." is a DEPENDANT CLAUSE. It doesn't make sense if it stands alone, and it doesn't mean anything unless there's something for that 'as if' to reference. What does it reference? Once again: "...you can act normally regardless of magical effects that impede movement..."

As DRN and others keep saying, the meaning is clear, very specific, and absolutely uninclusive.

 

[Tatsukun]

I can see both sides of this issue. If the domain nulls ALL effects that impede movement (magical and mundane alike) we would have Travel Clerics going around every bit of bushes they could. As soon as they wander 5’ off the path they are in dense underbrush (which impedes movement) and after (level) rounds, they have wasted their special thing for the day.

OTOH, the spell it references (freedom of movement) pretty specifically states that you win grapple checks. So a Travel Cleric only wins grapples automatically if he is also in a web spell (or any other magic effect that impedes movement to activate his special ability)? Seems odd.

Personally, I am all for it effecting both magical and non-magical and add that the Cleric can choose to not use the effect (if he wades in some water or something).

-Tatsu

 

[Liquidsabre]

There, fixed it for ya.

Thanks, but thats Freedom of Movement Spell part that only applies to magical effects. Sorry guys, but I think the majority of folk do be reading it correctly.

 

[Nail]

Personally, I am all for it effecting both magical and non-magical and add that the Cleric can choose to not use the effect

.....[/QUOTE]

Of course, this is House Rule territory......

...but I would be okay with this, as long as choosing to activate the power was a Standard Action. ....Just like most other (Su) powers. Anything else wouldn't be balanced.


But, as written, the Domain power is neither "choose-able" nor "applicable to non-magical effects".

BTW, this quote made me LOL:

...the meaning is clear, very specific, and absolutely uninclusive.

 

[evilbob]

TRAVEL DOMAIN

Granted Powers: For a total time per day of 1 round per cleric level you possess, you can act normally regardless of magical effects that impede movement as if you were affected by the spell freedom of movement. This effect occurs automatically as soon as it applies, lasts until it runs out or is no longer needed, and can operate multiple times per day (up to the total daily limit of rounds).

This granted power is a supernatural ability.

I have to go with Artoomis on this one as well. The travel domain gives you the ability to essentially activate the Freedom of Movement spell as a supernatural ability 1 round per level, as you want it. It's like some of the monk abilities that mimic spells. I completely understand the semantics argument here, and it is true that the descriptive phrase is placed poorly - but it seems clear to me that the spirit of what they are saying is exactly what Artoomis is trying to get across. Anything leading you to the conclusion that this ability is somehow more restrictive than the spell means that you are over-interpreting the text.

"...as if you were affected by the spell Freedom of Movement." is a DEPENDANT CLAUSE.

Here's another way to chose emphasis: "For a total time per day of 1 round per cleric level you possess, you can act normally (i.e. regardless of magical effects that impede movement) as if you were affected by the spell freedom of movement."

I also agree with previous statements about WoC writers having lots of problems with semantical specifications. Then again, most writers probably don't have millions of people pouring over every sentence and every phrase of what they write, and getting tremendously upset when something is confusing and interfering with their hobby.

 

[Nail]

Well, sure. And at 1st level, it means you get to avoid one grapple per day (maybe more, but if you're being grappled multiple times in one round, you're probably about to be toast anyway). This is hardly something to break the game.

That may be. But as you well know, judging a power only by it's applicability at 1st level is very suspect.

"Awww, come on, DM! At 1st level I'd only be able to cast Meteor Swarm once per day........."

 

[silentspace]

The travel domain gives you the ability to essentially activate the Freedom of Movement spell as a supernatural ability 1 round per level, as you want it.

I think that's a big part of the difference in interpretation. If it gives you the ability to activate the Freedom of Movement spell, then it will work against grapples. But that doesn't seem to be the case - it doesn't seem to allow the Travel Domain cleric to activate the Freedom of Movement spell at will. Rather, it says "This effect occurs automatically as soon as it applies"

I'm making no judgements on power or balance, just on the text itself...

 

[silentspace]

Personally, I think the example of the ability being activated automatically by walking through underbrush to be quite telling.

It would make much more sense if it were like this (House Rule):

TRAVEL DOMAIN

Granted Powers: You can act normally regardless of effects that impede movement as if you were affected by the spell freedom of movement. This effect can be activated and de-activated as a free action, and can operate multiple times per day (up to a limit of 1 round per cleric level you possess per day).

This granted power is a supernatural ability.

Maybe this is what they meant in the first place...?