Skills checks while unconcious

[Tarma]

Can you make skill checks while unconscious? The rules don't say one way or the other. While it seems like it might not come up a lot, there is one critical situation I came across with it. If your cavalier is unconscious but still on his mount, can you still use mounted combat to make ride checks to avoid damage on the mount? Neither the feat or the skill check section says one way or the other.

[concerro]

It depends on the skill check. Things that have to be done consciously would be a no, but you can make perception checks as an example. There is even a modifier for it. I think the DC is +10.

[SlimGauge]

Even though no action type is listed for the use of that feat, it's still an "active" use (that is, you have to choose to do it) rather than passive (like DR or similar).

I can't find in the rules where it says an unconscious character can't take actions. I know they can still make saving throws and ability checks (such as the one to stabilize). As a DM, I'd say no, but I can't find much rule support at the moment.

[concerro]

The rules don't state everything. Sometimes you just have to consider the liklihood of something.

By RAW being paralyzed is worse than being dead since being paralyzed says you can't take any actions, and the dead condition has no such restriction.

I can't think of too many things that an unconscious person can do that a dead person can't however that involve intentional actions.

Slimgauge is correct, there is no rule on it. The unconscious nor helpless conditions come out and say you can not take actions, but most GM's would say no.