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I was looking at the escapologist archetype for rogue, which gives you an ability to full action escape from mind affecting effects, and calls out being able to do so even while paralyzed. My question is, will this ability work with compulsions?
I feel like the intent is yes, it should be useable, however most compulsions are going to force you to do other things with your turn so you don't get the action to try to break free. If you think it does work, would it override the compulsion so you just stand there struggling to break free, or would your body perform the compelled activity while your mind struggles separately. It seems wrong if you could use this ability to escape from being paralyzed or put to sleep, but couldn't use it to escape from charm/suggestion/confusion/domination.
My reasoning is that hold person is a compulsion, it compels you to stand there not doing anything. By the wording of unfettered mind, it is obvious that it works to try to escape from hold person. Suggestion is another compulsion that forces you to do something, but for some reason because this compulsion makes you do something active you can't try to break from it? This seems the strict raw reading, but makes no sense.
Since it is a purely mental action, I think it would work for Charm/Suggestion/etc etc. While your body is obeying the commands of the spell, your mind is still locked back there trying to wiggle out.
...also the Rogue just really needs to be thrown a bone.
No, I don't imagine it allows you to take a 'mental' full-round action Besides what your body is already doing. Its effectiveness depends on the compulsion. Seems appropriate for what a single ability can do. Would advise the Slippery Mind advanced talent and a Master's Spy constant Mind Blank and ability to fool the caster into thinking a compulsion worked, if you want to go nearly immune.
I don't think this ability was designed to be strong enough to escape from, say, irresistible dance. That spell explicitly says the target can't do anything but caper and prance. Nor could it help one escape Hideous Laughter or Hold Person. unfortunately. Aside from the full-round actions that those spells already allow their victim, they say the target "can take no actions" and "cannot take any actions" respectively. If it only said you were paralyzed, sure, but the wording is clear.
But, it can probably help you escape from a lesser geas, confusion if you're lucky on the roll, Dominate Person if you have even a moment's respite, or even Modify Memory (Single chance, since the duration is permanent).
What you ought to look out for is whether your rogue is aware of the compulsion or not, and if they're predisposed to or capable of taking that full-round-action.
As a side note, nothing states that a sleeping person is incapable of taking actions; They're merely helpless, and probably lack the awareness to try. Lucid-dream your way out of that Deep Slumber!
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So it 100% raw works with hold person. Hold person paralyzes you. The ability specifically calls out "She can attempt to escape even if paralyzed."
This is precisely the reason I think it should work with other compulsions. Working to break free from a compulsion that forces you to stand still, but not with a compulsion that forces you to move is very arbitrary and a nonsensical distinction imo.
So it 100% raw works with hold person. Hold person paralyzes you. The ability specifically calls out "She can attempt to escape even if paralyzed."
The spell does more than just make you paralyzed, though.
The subject becomes paralyzed and freezes in place. It is aware and breathes normally but cannot take any actions, even speech. Each round on its turn, the subject may attempt a new saving throw to end the effect. This is a full-round action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. A winged creature who is paralyzed cannot flap its wings and falls. A swimmer can't swim and may drown.
Yes, the spell causes its target to be paralyzed. Yes, it allows them the chance to escape in the form of a full-round action included in the spell. However, it also clearly states that the subject "cannot take any actions".
Because it's explicitly stated as one of the effects, by RAW, the subject cannot take any actions in addition to being paralyzed. The spell puts forth a general rule of 'You cannot act', and offers a single exception. You could interpret this as merely summarizing what the paralysis condition already does. Understandable, Fair, it's probably how I'd rule it in an actual game, and I assume that's how you see it. At least I can show that it's debatable based on the RAW.
Edit: I re-evaluate my position and agree that it should that it should work with Hold Person, based on that last segment. Will leave the above up there as it still shows how I reached my previous conclusion, but I still disagree that you would be able to use it under a compulsion that forces you to take additional actions within a turn.