Ramos
2007-12-06, 07:23 PM
A great deal of unusual statements have been done about the freedom of movement spell ranging from the rules-stretching (you can escape bonds) to the ridiculous (you can move around attacking normally while dead).
What does freedom of movement do?
This spell enables you or a creature you touch to move and attack normally for the duration of the spell, even under the influence of magic that usually impedes movement such as paralysis, solid fog, slow, and web. The subject automatically succeeds on any grapple check made to resist a grapple attempt, as well as on grapple checks or Escape Artist checks made to escape a grapple or a pin. The spell also allows the subject to move and attack normally while underwater even with slashing weapons such as axes and swords or with bludgeoning weapons such as flails, hammers, and maces, provided that the weapon is wielded in the hand rather than hurled. The freedom of movement spell does not, however, allow water breathing.
So, you move and attack normally under the following conditions:
a) magic that impedes movement
b) being underwater
and you automatically succeed in grapple or escape artist checks to resist or escape grappling or pinning.
What the spell can't do:
Here is a variety of conditions that freedom of movement won't help against:
Natural dangers
This category includes any natural phenomenon that impedes movement with the exception of being underwater. This list includes-but is not limited to-being checked by hurricane force winds, being blown away by a tornado, being stuck into snow or mud, slipping into ice, being slowed by rugged terrain, sand or thick vegetation or being encumbered by weight. Such effects are not magical and thus freedom of movement does not apply.
Mundane dangers
This category includes effects that are nonmagical but are not natural phenomena but rather intervention from other creatures' actions that do not include grappling or pinning. This list includes but is not limited to dexterity or strength poisons, paralysis poison (as long as it is nonmagical), nonmagical adhesives, bonds of any kind (ropes, nets, chains, manacles), special immobilisation maneuers (dragon crush, stepped on by a flesh colossus), daze, stun and nonmagical paralysis. Such effects are not affected by freedom of movement because they are nonmagical, non-grappling effects.
Instantaneous magic
This category includes magic that has an instantaneous effect. This list includes flesh to stone, the Word spells, Imprisonment and Weird. Because you are not under the effects of magic-an instantaneous effect is not magical after the magic is cast-freedom of movement does not apply.
Barriers
This category includes any and all barriers that, while a character can move and attack normally, they can't move or attack through them. The list includes both mundane walls and spells that create walls or prisons, including wall of force, forcecage, resilient sphere, antilife shell and repulsion. Your movement is not impeded by an ongoing magic-you still have your standard move speed. The magic creates a barrier that you can't cross.
Enchantments
This category includes all enchantments that can be used to prevent you from taking actions or control your actions that don't cause paralysis. The list includes dominate person, command, suggestion, irresistinble dance, binding and others. If you are suggested or dominated and ordered not to move, the enchantment does not affect your move speed-it controls wether you can attempt move actions as all. Similarly, if commanded to flee or stop or come under the effects of irresistible dance, the enchantment controls what action you take-it does not restrict your move rate.
Time and space
Spells that actually affect time either stopping it, preventing you from taking actions, or removing you from space don't affect your move speed but your ability to take actions. Such spells include temporal stasis, time hop, maze, celerity and a few others. When you're stopped in time (temporal stasis) a freedom of movement won't help you move because you can't take acions at all. If you're dazed due to celerity-tough luck, it's instantaneous effect. Maze does not stop you from moving-it just transports you within a maze in which you can move quite freely.
NOTE:
While Freedom of Movement is limited, the 9th level spell Freedom will free you from ANY spell and effect preventing movement, including most of the above.
What does freedom of movement do?
This spell enables you or a creature you touch to move and attack normally for the duration of the spell, even under the influence of magic that usually impedes movement such as paralysis, solid fog, slow, and web. The subject automatically succeeds on any grapple check made to resist a grapple attempt, as well as on grapple checks or Escape Artist checks made to escape a grapple or a pin. The spell also allows the subject to move and attack normally while underwater even with slashing weapons such as axes and swords or with bludgeoning weapons such as flails, hammers, and maces, provided that the weapon is wielded in the hand rather than hurled. The freedom of movement spell does not, however, allow water breathing.
So, you move and attack normally under the following conditions:
a) magic that impedes movement
b) being underwater
and you automatically succeed in grapple or escape artist checks to resist or escape grappling or pinning.
What the spell can't do:
Here is a variety of conditions that freedom of movement won't help against:
Natural dangers
This category includes any natural phenomenon that impedes movement with the exception of being underwater. This list includes-but is not limited to-being checked by hurricane force winds, being blown away by a tornado, being stuck into snow or mud, slipping into ice, being slowed by rugged terrain, sand or thick vegetation or being encumbered by weight. Such effects are not magical and thus freedom of movement does not apply.
Mundane dangers
This category includes effects that are nonmagical but are not natural phenomena but rather intervention from other creatures' actions that do not include grappling or pinning. This list includes but is not limited to dexterity or strength poisons, paralysis poison (as long as it is nonmagical), nonmagical adhesives, bonds of any kind (ropes, nets, chains, manacles), special immobilisation maneuers (dragon crush, stepped on by a flesh colossus), daze, stun and nonmagical paralysis. Such effects are not affected by freedom of movement because they are nonmagical, non-grappling effects.
Instantaneous magic
This category includes magic that has an instantaneous effect. This list includes flesh to stone, the Word spells, Imprisonment and Weird. Because you are not under the effects of magic-an instantaneous effect is not magical after the magic is cast-freedom of movement does not apply.
Barriers
This category includes any and all barriers that, while a character can move and attack normally, they can't move or attack through them. The list includes both mundane walls and spells that create walls or prisons, including wall of force, forcecage, resilient sphere, antilife shell and repulsion. Your movement is not impeded by an ongoing magic-you still have your standard move speed. The magic creates a barrier that you can't cross.
Enchantments
This category includes all enchantments that can be used to prevent you from taking actions or control your actions that don't cause paralysis. The list includes dominate person, command, suggestion, irresistinble dance, binding and others. If you are suggested or dominated and ordered not to move, the enchantment does not affect your move speed-it controls wether you can attempt move actions as all. Similarly, if commanded to flee or stop or come under the effects of irresistible dance, the enchantment controls what action you take-it does not restrict your move rate.
Time and space
Spells that actually affect time either stopping it, preventing you from taking actions, or removing you from space don't affect your move speed but your ability to take actions. Such spells include temporal stasis, time hop, maze, celerity and a few others. When you're stopped in time (temporal stasis) a freedom of movement won't help you move because you can't take acions at all. If you're dazed due to celerity-tough luck, it's instantaneous effect. Maze does not stop you from moving-it just transports you within a maze in which you can move quite freely.
NOTE:
While Freedom of Movement is limited, the 9th level spell Freedom will free you from ANY spell and effect preventing movement, including most of the above.