I am playing in Black Waters (Season 0) and was paralyzed by a Ghast. When I failed the check from the second Ghast the DM was not sure whether to stack my paralysis duration or give me the higher duration. We looked around quite a bit for the answer and gave up to keep playing instead. Anyone know of a definitive answer for this?
I don't think there are actually any rules, but track the durations separately: the character will stop being paralysed when both effects end. Don't extend the duration unless an ability explicitly tells you to do so.
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I agree with Chemlak with the additional qualifier that one should, perhaps, consider attacks across multiple rounds to account for subsequent hits, failed saves and duration overlap.
For example (leaving out bite, disease and possible coup de grace for the sake of discussing paralysis duration):
Round 1 - hit by 2 claws, failed 1 save. 1d4+1=3
Result 1: Paralysis 3 rounds
Round 2 - hit by 2 claws, failed 2 saves 1d4+1 x 2= 4,2
Round 1: 2 rounds left
Result 2: Additional Paralysis 2 rounds, Additional Paralysis 4 rounds
The 2 round effects (Rnd1 & Rnd2) overlap and expire together. However, the 4 round effect from Rnd2 is greater, so paralysis continues for 2 additional rounds beyond the initial hit in round 1, or 5 rounds total, assuming the character is still alive at that point.
If using this model, advancing rounds and new instances of paralysis from failed saves may extend the duration, albeit with overlap with existing effects.
On a related note, Season 0 presents some interesting (and/or maybe even lethal) 3.5->Pathfinder conversion challenges. If the CR ratings are different between 3.5 and Pathfinder versions of creatures, the 3.5 stats must be used (with CMB/CMD/Skill mods). Otherwise, the Pathfinder monster can be substituted. In 3.5, ghasts are CR3 and in Pathfinder, they are CR1(ghoul)+1(Advanced Template) = CR2.
Ghasts are tough creatures and would seem to extend beyond the range of a typical CR2 monster, so maybe the 3.5 CR3 rating is more appropriate (however, where the 3.5 version is also tougher).
If there is a formal ruling on paralysis stacking, I would be very interested in learning more! :)
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I don't have a quote really, but I always assumed that duration "refreshes" each time you are paralyzed again. If ghoul N.01 paralyzes you for 2 rounds, but ghoul N.02 paralyzes you for 4 rounds, you are obviously paralyzed 4 rounds. Simply take the highest number. There is very rare possibility that both paralysis affects should be tracked if some ability eliminates negative effects from a single creature, but as much as I know, there is no such abilities really.
Adam
They overlap, not stack, and if you get hit with it twice in the same round then it is better to go by the init of the 2nd ghoul unless the first one gave you more rounds of paralyzation.
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I agree that, all things considered, they should overlap, as in the above posts.
I just did some more searching and found the following, which seems to agree with the current discussion:
Tendriculos Paralysis Question
Also, in terms of a formal rule, the SRD that supports applying the longest duration effect (which would, intuitively, be the most "severe"):
If more than one condition affects a character, apply them all. If effects can't combine, apply the most severe effect.[/url]
In the case of paralysis, the effects don't "combine" and it also wouldn't matter if it were being applied from different sources, since there is no escalation or stacking (as in shaken, fear, etc.). It still comes down to duration overlap.