Post/Author/DateTime	Post
sheepeater 02-02-08, 04:25 PM	Half dragons, obtaining the dragon type, gain the trait "Immunity to magic sleep effects and paralysis effects." Obviously this applies to attack such as a gaze attack that freezes someone in place. However, in my regular playing group, there's an individual that claims that hold monster and hold person are different from normal paralysis affects. In fact, the monster manual's definition of paralysis specifies the differences of a paralyzing ability from "hold person or similar effects" in that only 1 save is allowed for a paralysis ability as opposed to a save every round for hold person / hold monster. Hold person specifically states that it paralyzes the target. It is a spell, so it falls under the "Immunity to magic... paralysis" effect. However, Hold person is a Compulsion(Mind Affecting) spell and requires a will save, while the paralysis defined in the monster manual states that it "works on the body" and usually requires a fortitude save. Anyone else have any thoughts or opinions on this?
Fireclave 02-02-08, 04:48 PM	Hold Person/Monster causes paralysis. Half-dragons are immune to paralysis. End of story (barring, of course, some specific effect that explicitly state that it can paralyze half-dragons in spite of their immunity). There aren't different kinds of paralysis in D&D. It doesn't matter what kind of save the effect that causes paralysis forces because paralysis is a specific, defined effect in D&D. A paralyzed character is frozen in place and unable to move or act. A paralyzed character has effective Dexterity and Strength scores of 0 and is helpless, but can take purely mental actions... Your fellow player is mistaken.
Neutronium_Dragon 02-02-08, 05:34 PM	3.0E left it somewhat blurry as to whether Hold was something different than Paralysis. 3.5E leaves no such uncertainty: Hold spells cause Paralysis.