Captivating song of a harpy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Captivating song of a harpy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ced666
05-27-07, 08:27 AM Hello !

I was reading the description of the harpy and was wondering how exactly the captivate song work. When the harpy start singing, is that considered to be an action ? If yes, which kind of action ?

It is said also that victims will be fascinated until the harpy stop singing. Can it sing and do other things at the same time ? Like attacking its victim and continue singing ?

Thanks for the clarifications.
queenfange
05-27-07, 08:48 AM I'm not sure, but I think it's a standard ability like most supernatural abilities are. So, the harpy could do a move-equivalent action or a free action (though not talk, of course), but could not attack while singing.
Kradlo
05-27-07, 01:28 PM The Sage ruled on the bard's song ability (Inspire Courage), and his ruling is that while it is a standard action to begin the song, it is not an action to maintain the song. Thus, a bard can engage in any activity that doesn't require speech (or however he makes his music).

A harpy's captivating song will preclude her from speech, which includes any further spellcasting requiring verbal components, but will not prevent her from flying about or rending her prey limb from limb.

I played a Dwarf in a game at GenCon who failed his Will save against a harpy's song. He smiled like a drooling idiot while she savaged him with her claws.

This is why bards have Countersong, and clerics have Silence.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ced666 05-27-07, 08:27 AM	Hello ! I was reading the description of the harpy and was wondering how exactly the captivate song work. When the harpy start singing, is that considered to be an action ? If yes, which kind of action ? It is said also that victims will be fascinated until the harpy stop singing. Can it sing and do other things at the same time ? Like attacking its victim and continue singing ? Thanks for the clarifications.
queenfange 05-27-07, 08:48 AM	I'm not sure, but I think it's a standard ability like most supernatural abilities are. So, the harpy could do a move-equivalent action or a free action (though not talk, of course), but could not attack while singing.
Kradlo 05-27-07, 01:28 PM	The Sage ruled on the bard's song ability (Inspire Courage), and his ruling is that while it is a standard action to begin the song, it is not an action to maintain the song. Thus, a bard can engage in any activity that doesn't require speech (or however he makes his music). A harpy's captivating song will preclude her from speech, which includes any further spellcasting requiring verbal components, but will not prevent her from flying about or rending her prey limb from limb. I played a Dwarf in a game at GenCon who failed his Will save against a harpy's song. He smiled like a drooling idiot while she savaged him with her claws. This is why bards have Countersong, and clerics have Silence.