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<blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 9797890" data-attributes="member: 4937"><p>[USER=86051]@ilgatto[/USER] : Generally speaking, "motionless" and "helpless" are not the same thing in D&D. Or at least, the 3e designers who were trying much as you are to bring forward and codify the 1e rules (but with the intention of bringing them into a more modern framework) had that distinction. In game terms "motionless" has to do with being unable to take most actions, but "helplessness" has to do with being unable to resist attacks in anyway. Most of the time something that is "motionless" is also "helpless" as with sleeping or paralyzation, but not always. For example, someone being violently ill in 3e "actionless" but not "helpless", in that they can take no meaningful actions but you can't outright just slay them because they are still aware and can still wiggle a bit to defend themselves. You might have a major advantage in attacking them, but you have to declare you are attacking them and not just declare you kill them ("coup de grace" action in 3e terms). </p><p></p><p>So yes, something that "just" renders you stunned is not nearly as bad as something that renders you paralyzed. The former is at a big disadvantage, but the later can be killed at the rate of 1 per round by any foe. Stunning something is always probably worth at least an SAXPB (IMO) but paralyzing something (or equivalent) is (IMO) always probably worth an EAXPA since its in many cases nearly as lethal as a death effect.</p><p></p><p>Blinding Spittle: SAXPB either because it is ranged or the effect is similar to stunning.</p><p>Disease (fatal after days/weeks/months): If no special condition prevents removal and its not explicitly debilitating immediately, the SAXPB. If on the other hand, if a certain level caster or high level spell like break enchantment or special ingredient is required to cure, or its lethal in days, or its immediately debilitating, and particularly if its any two of these things (like lycanthropy) then probably an EAXPA.</p><p>Squirt Acid: SAXPB because it's a ranged attack. EAXPA if the maximum damage is high enough to either in combination with other attacks or on its own cross a inflict more damage than usual threshold. </p><p>Minor Breath Weapon: Generally an SAXPB because it's a ranged attack and can potentially threaten multiple foes (similar logic as "having 4 or more attacks).</p><p>8' jump: Neither an SAXPB nor an EAXPA. This is a defensive or attacking advantage too small to qualify as either (equivalent to natural climbing speed or natural swimming speed). Could be an SAXPB if it explicitly grants some other important advantage (like double damage on an attack, such as the Aarakocra dive attack). In general, wouldn't consider something like +1 to hit if it jumps to attack a significant or important advantage.</p><p>Charge: Covered above. It's an SAXPB if the advantage is significant, and an EAXPA if it allows for attacks that inflict above a damage threshold.</p><p>Trample: Ditto, except its usually always an SAXPB because it hits multiple foes.</p><p>Rending: As charge, but usually always at least an SAXPB because doing additional damage is signficant.</p><p>Rear Claws: As charge, but usually always at least an SAXPB because taking additional attacks or doing additional damage is significant.</p><p>Stampede: As trample. Applies to each creature slain, as 1e AD&D has no notion of a "swarm". Most things with stampede will also have trample, so don't double count. </p><p>Drag Into Water: Note a SAXPB or EAXPA unless it explicitly causes some immediate effect like immediately drowning. If the PC can reasonably hold their breath for some duration, this is just a grab or grapple attack. If the PC's lungs explicitly immediately fill up with water or the PC is explicitly held motionless, this an EAXPA as a death attack. In the case of the water weird, I don't think either is true.</p><p>Rotting Poison: Treat like disease. If it's very rapid, it's an EAXPA. It's its rather slow and allows time to cure, it's probably an SAXPB but see long duration disease above.</p><p>Hold Person: It's either major spell use or paralyzation. In either case, it's an SAXPB.</p><p>Catalepsy: If it stuns (puts at a disadvantage) it's an SAXPB. If it paralyzes (renders you completely motionless or unaware) it's an EAXPA.</p><p>Unconsciousness: An EAXPA.</p><p>Pain Poison: If it can only stun it's an SAXPB. If it paralyzes it's an EAXPA.</p><p>Sleep: Unless the monster explicitly only uses it defensively, it's an EAXPA.</p><p>Stunning: Generally a SAXPB. The test on a SAXPB is would it make you subject to the rule you can be slain outright in one round. Sleeping, held, unconscious, or paralyzed creatures can. Generally merely frightened, deafened, blinded, or stunned creatures cannot (though they are at great disadvantages, it's not immediately and automatically lethal).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Celebrim, post: 9797890, member: 4937"] [USER=86051]@ilgatto[/USER] : Generally speaking, "motionless" and "helpless" are not the same thing in D&D. Or at least, the 3e designers who were trying much as you are to bring forward and codify the 1e rules (but with the intention of bringing them into a more modern framework) had that distinction. In game terms "motionless" has to do with being unable to take most actions, but "helplessness" has to do with being unable to resist attacks in anyway. Most of the time something that is "motionless" is also "helpless" as with sleeping or paralyzation, but not always. For example, someone being violently ill in 3e "actionless" but not "helpless", in that they can take no meaningful actions but you can't outright just slay them because they are still aware and can still wiggle a bit to defend themselves. You might have a major advantage in attacking them, but you have to declare you are attacking them and not just declare you kill them ("coup de grace" action in 3e terms). So yes, something that "just" renders you stunned is not nearly as bad as something that renders you paralyzed. The former is at a big disadvantage, but the later can be killed at the rate of 1 per round by any foe. Stunning something is always probably worth at least an SAXPB (IMO) but paralyzing something (or equivalent) is (IMO) always probably worth an EAXPA since its in many cases nearly as lethal as a death effect. Blinding Spittle: SAXPB either because it is ranged or the effect is similar to stunning. Disease (fatal after days/weeks/months): If no special condition prevents removal and its not explicitly debilitating immediately, the SAXPB. If on the other hand, if a certain level caster or high level spell like break enchantment or special ingredient is required to cure, or its lethal in days, or its immediately debilitating, and particularly if its any two of these things (like lycanthropy) then probably an EAXPA. Squirt Acid: SAXPB because it's a ranged attack. EAXPA if the maximum damage is high enough to either in combination with other attacks or on its own cross a inflict more damage than usual threshold. Minor Breath Weapon: Generally an SAXPB because it's a ranged attack and can potentially threaten multiple foes (similar logic as "having 4 or more attacks). 8' jump: Neither an SAXPB nor an EAXPA. This is a defensive or attacking advantage too small to qualify as either (equivalent to natural climbing speed or natural swimming speed). Could be an SAXPB if it explicitly grants some other important advantage (like double damage on an attack, such as the Aarakocra dive attack). In general, wouldn't consider something like +1 to hit if it jumps to attack a significant or important advantage. Charge: Covered above. It's an SAXPB if the advantage is significant, and an EAXPA if it allows for attacks that inflict above a damage threshold. Trample: Ditto, except its usually always an SAXPB because it hits multiple foes. Rending: As charge, but usually always at least an SAXPB because doing additional damage is signficant. Rear Claws: As charge, but usually always at least an SAXPB because taking additional attacks or doing additional damage is significant. Stampede: As trample. Applies to each creature slain, as 1e AD&D has no notion of a "swarm". Most things with stampede will also have trample, so don't double count. Drag Into Water: Note a SAXPB or EAXPA unless it explicitly causes some immediate effect like immediately drowning. If the PC can reasonably hold their breath for some duration, this is just a grab or grapple attack. If the PC's lungs explicitly immediately fill up with water or the PC is explicitly held motionless, this an EAXPA as a death attack. In the case of the water weird, I don't think either is true. Rotting Poison: Treat like disease. If it's very rapid, it's an EAXPA. It's its rather slow and allows time to cure, it's probably an SAXPB but see long duration disease above. Hold Person: It's either major spell use or paralyzation. In either case, it's an SAXPB. Catalepsy: If it stuns (puts at a disadvantage) it's an SAXPB. If it paralyzes (renders you completely motionless or unaware) it's an EAXPA. Unconsciousness: An EAXPA. Pain Poison: If it can only stun it's an SAXPB. If it paralyzes it's an EAXPA. Sleep: Unless the monster explicitly only uses it defensively, it's an EAXPA. Stunning: Generally a SAXPB. The test on a SAXPB is would it make you subject to the rule you can be slain outright in one round. Sleeping, held, unconscious, or paralyzed creatures can. Generally merely frightened, deafened, blinded, or stunned creatures cannot (though they are at great disadvantages, it's not immediately and automatically lethal). [/QUOTE]
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