From the Panicked condition entry:
"If cornered, a panicked creature cowers and does not attack, typically using the total defense action in combat."
From the Cowering condition entry:
"The character is frozen in fear and can take no actions."
This seems contradictory. Is the use of the word "cowers" in the panicked condition entry simply descriptive, or as a game term?
Any official word?
I say... Both. When a creature is panicked, he flees. If he can't flee, he cowers. What happens when he cowers? Look under Cowering.
Ultradan
I say... Both. When a creature is panicked, he flees. If he can't flee, he cowers. What happens when he cowers? Look under Cowering.
Ultradan
Except that, by the rules, a panicked creature can take a Total Defense action as he "cowers", and a "Cowering" creature can take no action.
My interpretation is to assume the word "cowers" is just descriptive in the "Panicking" rule. I'd allow the character the Total Defense option.
From the Panicked condition entry:
"If cornered, a panicked creature cowers and does not attack, typically using the total defense action in combat."
From the Cowering condition entry:
"The character is frozen in fear and can take no actions."
This seems contradictory. Is the use of the word "cowers" in the panicked condition entry simply descriptive, or as a game term?
Any official word?
Based on the two descriptions, it seems that 'panicked' is less debilitating than 'cowered':
- A panicked victim in a melee can still actively defend itself, taking full defense actions and applying the AC bonus to himself while seeking a path or means to escape;
- A cowered victim has lost all morale and simply submits to the dominating force present - the enemy; if the enemy attacks the cowered victim, he will not be able to take full defense as an action nor be able to escape by moving away - he simply suffers the -2 to AC and the loss of Dex, as he sits there and takes the attack.
As painful as it may have been to form these mental examples, the reactions of a beaten dog or small child (cower), compered to the reaction of a beaten teen or spouse (panic), would be indicative of each reaction and state of morale.
Based on the rules, a cowered victim has an AC at least 6 worse than a panicked one, assuming that a panicked target will be full defensive.
M
From the fine folks at WotC customer service:
The panicked description is incorrect in this case. The line that states "typically using the total defense action" should be removed and ignored. Sorry for the confusion.
I say... Both. When a creature is panicked, he flees. If he can't flee, he cowers. What happens when he cowers? Look under Cowering.
Ultradan
Except that, by the rules, a panicked creature can take a Total Defense action as he "cowers", and a "Cowering" creature can take no action.
My interpretation is to assume the word "cowers" is just descriptive in the "Panicking" rule. I'd allow the character the Total Defense option.
You make an excellent point, my friend. I therefore change my point of view on the matter. Thanks!
Ultradan
From the fine folks at WotC customer service:
The panicked description is incorrect in this case. The line that states "typically using the total defense action" should be removed and ignored. Sorry for the confusion.
Mr. Boredeflak, why do you ask for our opinions on all these questions if only to find the answer by yourself the next day and then correct us? Our opinions need not to be corrected.
That's only my opinion.
Ultradan
Mr. Boredeflak, why do you ask for our opinions on all these questions if only to find the answer by yourself the next day and then correct us?
Sorry about that. I've had a hard time getting any responses from WotC with rules questions and I was flabbergasted when I received a fast, knowledgeable, polite response from the WotC customer service. Of course, I'd never actually tried submitting questions via the WotC customer service site before. Duh.
Mr. Boredeflak, why do you ask for our opinions on all these questions if only to find the answer by yourself the next day and then correct us?Sorry about that. I've had a hard time getting any responses from WotC with rules questions and I was flabbergasted when I received a fast, knowledgeable, polite response from the WotC customer service. Of course, I'd never actually tried submitting questions via the WotC customer service site before. Duh.
submit the question again, twice more before you accept WotC Custserv's response, WotC customer service is widly regarded as a joke because they are well known for giving several different contradictory answeres to the same question... sometimes from the same custserv rep.