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So, my group came across a predicament and couldn't find anything regarded towards this. Now, our group cleric fell under a paralysis effect, but was still conscious and cognitive (in mind if not body!)and he attempted to use a channel effect. Now, is this legal? channel describes itself as needing nothing but the cleric to focus his mind. IE no words or fancy finger movements. Can he legally channel while paralyzed? -thanks.
You have to present the holy symbol which would require movement.
Channel Energy (Su):...... A cleric must be able to present her holy symbol to use this ability.
Depends on the wording of the effect. Hold person explicitly states that you can do nothing but save, and I'd probably say most other paralysis effects are the same, (no still silent spell for you). However if the effect states that the subject can take mental actions, I'd say yes. If not explicitly stated though I'd say look at hold person, no.
He would need to be presenting his holy symbol yes, but it does not appear that this is an issue in this particular case.
Up to your DM but I'd allow it. I'm also lenient on the "presenting" part. As long as it's visible on the cleric I'm okay. So wearing it on a chain or such... you're good. If it's under your robes or in a pocket, not so much.
Really, paralyzed isn't stunned, so I wouldn't apply more penalties than there are. If your action doesn't require movement, it works. Remember, you're still breathing so why not channel?
There really its no definition of a purely mental Action in game I'm aware of.you cannot channel while paralyzed because paralysis seats you cannot tale actions.the fact that you cannot present three holy symbol just further support t.his.
Depends on the wording of the effect. Hold person explicitly states that you can do nothing but save, and I'd probably say most other paralysis effects are the same, (no still silent spell for you). However if the effect states that the subject can take mental actions, I'd say yes. If not explicitly stated though I'd say look at hold person, no.
He would need to be presenting his holy symbol yes, but it does not appear that this is an issue in this particular case.
Paralysis effects do not inflict the Hold Person condition. They inflict the Paralyzed condition.
"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. A winged creature flying in the air at the time that it becomes paralyzed cannot flap its wings and falls. A paralyzed swimmer can't swim and may drown. A creature can move through a space occupied by a paralyzed creature—ally or not. Each square occupied by a paralyzed creature, however, counts as 2 squares to move through."
You have to present the holy symbol which would require movement.
Channel Energy (Su):...... A cleric must be able to present her holy symbol to use this ability.
Does an Oracle of Life require a holy symbol to channel? I never stopped to think about it before this thread, sorry if that's a random tangent...
From the Oracle Spells section is this "Oracles do not need to provide a divine focus to cast spells that list divine focus (DF) as part of the components."
But it doesn't call out specifically non-spells like channel that also require a holy symbol. And... since Oracles aren't even bound to a god, what symbol would they even use??
You have to present the holy symbol which would require movement.
Channel Energy (Su):...... A cleric must be able to present her holy symbol to use this ability.Does an Oracle of Life require a holy symbol to channel? I never stopped to think about it before this thread, sorry if that's a random tangent...
From the Oracle Spells section is this "Oracles do not need to provide a divine focus to cast spells that list divine focus (DF) as part of the components."
But it doesn't call out specifically non-spells like channel that also require a holy symbol. And... since Oracles aren't even bound to a god, what symbol would they even use??
Oracles do not need holy symbols. They have divine power, but it is within them. They are not the conduit for the divine power like clerics are. The question of whether or not channeling is a purely mental action per RAI still remains though.
I have my holy symbol tattooed on my face. It is always present.
I think something being present/viewable, and presenting it are two different things. Me wearing a diamond ring, and presenting the diamond ring as an example would not be equal.
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A long time ago, the Devs stated that a Cleric (or similar class) could use Channeling while Paralyzed if their Divine Focus was present. It does not need to b "held", just plainly visible and not covered or packed. Birth Mark, Holy Symbol Tattoo, and other gear that counts as a Divine Focus helps with this, as Channeling is a Mental Action. It also depends on the specific circumstances, and if they are allowed to take actions, but not able to move their body, or if they are not allowed to take actions at all.
Oracles, and similar classes that do not need a Divine Focus are generally pretty unrestricted.
