The effect reads:
You inflict despair on creatures in the area. The effects for each creature are determined by its Will save.
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success For 1 round, the creature can't use reactions and must attempt another save at the start of its turn; on a failure, it is slowed 1 for that turn as it sobs uncontrollably.
Failure As success, but the duration is 1 minute.
Critical Failure As failure, and the creature is automatically slowed 1 for 1 minute.
If a creature fails the save (and doesn't critically fail), what does the 1-minute duration refer to? Which of the following scenarios applies?
1. You can't use reactions for 1 minute. If you fail your 2nd save, you are additionally slowed for 1 minute.
2. You can't use reactions for 1 minute. If you fail your 2nd save, you are slowed 1. You get a new save every round for 1 minute.
3. You can't use reactions for 1 round. If you fail your 2nd save, you are additionally slowed for 1 minute.
4. You can't use reactions for 1 round. If you fail your 2nd save, you are slowed 1. You get a new save every round for 1 minute.
And if you critically fail, how long are you denied reactions?
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The "duration is 1 minute" part of the failure line refers to the whole duration of the spell.
Failure: You can't take reactions for 1 minute. For this whole minute, you also make another save at the start of each of your turns to avoid becoming slowed 1 for that turn.
Critical Failure: You can't take Reactions for for 1 minute and you're slowed 1 for 1 minute.
The fact that crit failure specifies that you are slowed "automatically" implies that this is not the case on a normal failulre.
Nothing in the effect implies that the second save affects the inability to take reactions in any way.
The "duration is 1 minute" part of the failure line refers to the whole duration of the spell.
Failure: You can't take reactions for 1 minute. For this whole minute, you also make another save at the start of each of your turns to avoid becoming slowed 1 for that turn.
Critical Failure: You can't take Reactions for for 1 minute and you're slowed 1 for 1 minute.
The fact that crit failure specifies that you are slowed "automatically" implies that this is not the case on a normal failulre.
Nothing in the effect implies that the second save affects the inability to take reactions in any way.
Thanks, that makes sense. Now as I read it again, it seems like they make a save every round for 1 minute, and are slowed 1 each time they fail? Like, even if they succeed 1 round, they will need to continue making those saves in subsequent rounds until a minute has passed, yes?
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Thanks, that makes sense. Now as I read it again, it seems like they make a save every round for 1 minute, and are slowed 1 each time they fail? Like, even if they succeed 1 round, they will need to continue making those saves in subsequent rounds until a minute has passed, yes?
Yes, for the standard Failure effect. For 1 minute no reactions. Also for that 1 minute make a Will save each round to determine if you are slowed 1 for that round or not. New save each round, and success on the Will save in a previous round doesn't help for the current round.