Ghoul Paralysis

[tdenmark]

Dragon Magazine #60 had this great article about Elves and it tries to explain how ghoul's paralysis worked.

Elves are also immune to the paralyzing touch of ghouls, from which it may be deduced that ghouls are somehow able to cause their victims to be overtaken and immobilized by their fears of death. The more powerful undead creatures can paralyze or cause fear in elves as well as in other beings because those undead have a stronger innate magical power and use different ways to bring their attacks into effect. An elf might not fear death, but one would certainly fear an enraged vampire or lich for the harm or damage it could cause.

[countingwizard]

Nov 26, 2020 8:52:04 GMT -6 gemini476 said:

It's worth noting that a Chainmail turn is perhaps more akin to an OD&D round. In any case, Ghoul paralysis is only relevant for that specific combat - the question is mainly if it takes someone out of the fight entirely or merely makes them skip a turn.

Yep. You get it. And those extra rules wouldn't be able to apply because you wouldn't be able to move any figures during combat other than to engulf the enemy (highly unlikely due to post-melee morale check) or enjoin combat from a nearby unit.

[countingwizard]

Nov 28, 2020 1:04:11 GMT -6 tdenmark said:

Dragon Magazine #60 had this great article about Elves and it tries to explain how ghoul's paralysis worked.

Elves are also immune to the paralyzing touch of ghouls, from which it may be deduced that ghouls are somehow able to cause their victims to be overtaken and immobilized by their fears of death. The more powerful undead creatures can paralyze or cause fear in elves as well as in other beings because those undead have a stronger innate magical power and use different ways to bring their attacks into effect. An elf might not fear death, but one would certainly fear an enraged vampire or lich for the harm or damage it could cause.

Yeah. Just from observing how ghoul paralysis works out by the rules, I eventually came to that same conclusion too. It's also why you don't get a save vs paralysis (that's wands only). I also figure it's probably not as intense as magical paralysis, and so wouldn't require a survive adversity check. Like they aren't literally frozen in place, they are just made unable to act or defend themselves (indecisive) out of fear. 

[scottyg]

Nov 28, 2020 1:04:11 GMT -6 tdenmark said:

Dragon Magazine #60 had this great article about Elves and it tries to explain how ghoul's paralysis worked.

Elves are also immune to the paralyzing touch of ghouls, from which it may be deduced that ghouls are somehow able to cause their victims to be overtaken and immobilized by their fears of death. The more powerful undead creatures can paralyze or cause fear in elves as well as in other beings because those undead have a stronger innate magical power and use different ways to bring their attacks into effect. An elf might not fear death, but one would certainly fear an enraged vampire or lich for the harm or damage it could cause.

I like the explanation given in the Slayers Guide to Undead that Gygax published in the 3E era: ghouls transfer the rigor mortis that they have cheated to their victims, so I describe it as an extremely painful locking up experience as the paralysis spreads from the touch spot.

[tdenmark]

Nov 30, 2020 13:21:16 GMT -6 scottyg said:

Nov 28, 2020 1:04:11 GMT -6 tdenmark said:

Dragon Magazine #60 had this great article about Elves and it tries to explain how ghoul's paralysis worked.

I like the explanation given in the Slayers Guide to Undead that Gygax published in the 3E era: ghouls transfer the rigor mortis that they have cheated to their victims, so I describe it as an extremely painful locking up experience as the paralysis spreads from the touch spot.

Does a ghoul ever run out of rigor mortis to share?

[tdenmark]

Nov 30, 2020 16:07:04 GMT -6 tdenmark said:

Nov 30, 2020 13:21:16 GMT -6 scottyg said:

I like the explanation given in the Slayers Guide to Undead that Gygax published in the 3E era: ghouls transfer the rigor mortis that they have cheated to their victims, so I describe it as an extremely painful locking up experience as the paralysis spreads from the touch spot.

Does a ghoul ever run out of rigor mortis to share?

Sorry, but this really tickles my fancy.

I just picture this ghoul handing out bundles of rigor mortis.

Want some rigor mortis? Here! Oh, you want some too? Here! More rigor mortis for you!

Not to say I don't like the interpretation, because I kinda do.

[linebeck]

Deer in headlights trope.

"triggers evolutionary ingrained responses to predation in humans that causes them to stand paralyzed."

tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DeerInTheHeadlights#:~:text=The%20%22deer%20in%20the%20headlights,May%20overlap%20with%20Oh%2C%20Crap!