In a session yesterday it suddenly occurred to me to ask the DM if using bonus action Steady Aim of my rogue would cause Cloak of Displacement to cease functioning for the rest of the round. That question caused quite a debate at the table.
I tried turning to the almighty Google for answers, but found nothing.And the question is - does having your speed set to 0 because of Steady Aim count as being "unable to move" as far as the effects of Cloak of Displacement are concerned?
If you check the Restrained condition it makes you unable to move by setting your speed to 0. This is also how the Grappled works. Steady Aim also sets your speed to 0 and I would conclude that it also cause the Cloak of Displacement to cease functioning.
I don't agree with that assessment. Being restrained or grappled by the enemy does much more than simply set your movement speed to 0, it means the enemy has physical and/or magical hold of you, which would not only prevent you from moving as in movement speed, but also moving in the traditional sense of shifting your body to avoid attacks, or the enemy can physically touch you which renders the effect irrelevant. Steady Aim does not prevent you from moving per se, it merely means you can't change you position on the battlefield, but your mobility is otherwise not restricted by any kind of restraints. Just as Steady Aim wouldn't prevent a Scout Rogue from using their Skirmisher reaction to move away from an enemy, so it shouldn't prevent CoD from functioning.
"Otherwise unable to move" very much sounds like it's broad enough to count this situation in my opinion.
If you want to argue implied differences in freedom of movement when your speed is set to 0, I'd argue someone struggling in a grapple is moving around heck of a lot more than someone becoming completely still to achieve perfect aim. I've never seen a sniper dodge out of the way of a punch while looking down their scope.
A sniper looking down the scope is immobile only as long as he chooses to be. Someone who's grappled, however, can't go anywhere until the grapple ends. A sniper with sufficient reaction speed can dodge things. Grapple affords you no such luxury.
You know what, I just realized something: you guys are right. It would, in fact, invalidate the cloak. During your turn.
Because the property is suppressed WHILE you're unable to move. Which means if you choose to Aim, the cloak will stop working for the rest of your turn, however it will resume functioning as soon as your turn ends, which will end Aim's movement restriction. Technically there's a small window of opportunity for a savvy opponent to wait until you aim and react with an attack while the cloak is inactive, but if they don't do that it won't make any functional difference in a fight.
The Restrained is mechanically different from Grappled. While both set speed to 0, one implies something is preventing you from dodging out of the way of objects or effects (disadvantage on dex saves, disadvantage on attacks made by, advantage on attacks against) while the other implies being put into a clinch or someone has grabbed an appendage preventing you from leaving your 5 foot space, that you occupy.
Nowhere in the item's (Cloak of Displacement) description does it say that the user's speed has anything to do with function. The ability to move is a function regarding the creature being in combat and controlling it's 5-foot space. I might suggest that the ability to move about your 5-foot space still exists, even if Grappled. The inability to move about your space might be the cause of the disadvantage on dex saves and attack rolls that are provided by the Restrained
Movement and Position- In combat, characters and monsters are in constant motion, often using movement and position to gain the upper hand.
Space - A creature's space is the area in feet that it effectively controls in combat, not an expression of its physical dimensions. <snip> A creature's space also reflects the area it needs to fight effectively.
I would point out that the wording is vague enough that the DM may need to provide a ruling on this one. The definition of "unable to move." is easily contested as it applies to not having a movement speed.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
A sniper looking down the scope is immobile only as long as he chooses to be. Someone who's grappled, however, can't go anywhere until the grapple ends. A sniper with sufficient reaction speed can dodge things. Grapple affords you no such luxury.
Ummm... no. This analogy is subjective to video games and movies. Sniper's aren't known for moving quickly while on the scope, or being in a position that requires them to dodge. Their primary defense is being undetected and any sudden movement might betray them, and that's not helpful to their primary function. Should they need to displace and move to a different position, things have gotten far too close or their concealment needs vast improvement.
Also, Grapple does afford the luxury to dodge things, there is no disadvantage to dex saves or attacks.
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“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
You know what, I just realized something: you guys are right. It would, in fact, invalidate the cloak. During your turn.
Because the property is suppressed WHILE you're unable to move. Which means if you choose to Aim, the cloak will stop working for the rest of your turn, however it will resume functioning as soon as your turn ends, which will end Aim's movement restriction. Technically there's a small window of opportunity for a savvy opponent to wait until you aim and react with an attack while the cloak is inactive, but if they don't do that it won't make any functional difference in a fight.
That would seem to work. Steady Aim should not stop the Skirmisher feature either (movement as a reaction).
In a session yesterday it suddenly occurred to me to ask the DM if using bonus action Steady Aim of my rogue would cause Cloak of Displacement to cease functioning for the rest of the round. That question caused quite a debate at the table.
I tried turning to the almighty Google for answers, but found nothing.And the question is - does having your speed set to 0 because of Steady Aim count as being "unable to move" as far as the effects of Cloak of Displacement are concerned?
I wouldn't consider a creature who's speed is 0 to be unable to move since it can still move, just not by using it's speed.
It still could move with a Battlemaster ally's Bait & Switch maneuver or any other movement that doesn't rely on speed for exemple.
In a session yesterday it suddenly occurred to me to ask the DM if using bonus action Steady Aim of my rogue would cause Cloak of Displacement to cease functioning for the rest of the round. That question caused quite a debate at the table.
I tried turning to the almighty Google for answers, but found nothing.And the question is - does having your speed set to 0 because of Steady Aim count as being "unable to move" as far as the effects of Cloak of Displacement are concerned?
No. Creatures with a speed of 0 are still able to move.
In a session yesterday it suddenly occurred to me to ask the DM if using bonus action Steady Aim of my rogue would cause Cloak of Displacement to cease functioning for the rest of the round. That question caused quite a debate at the table.
I tried turning to the almighty Google for answers, but found nothing.And the question is - does having your speed set to 0 because of Steady Aim count as being "unable to move" as far as the effects of Cloak of Displacement are concerned?
No. Creatures with a speed of 0 are still able to move.
You can move your body, you just can't move your location (or stand up, I guess). Take your pick which one you think should apply to the cloak of displacement.
Steady Aim should not stop the Skirmisher feature either (movement as a reaction).
Why? Skirmisher let you move up to half your speed as a reaction, so if your speed is 0, you would be unable to move this way.
Because Steady Aim only affects your speed until the end of your turn. Once your turn is done, your speed is not 0 anymore, so you can move with a reaction on someone else's turn.
This interpretation of "unable to move" would also mean the cloak would cease to function if the character moved their full speed and use their action to do something other than Dash (or Bonus Action for a Rogue/Monk). Because at that point, they are "unable to move" beyond their space. Steady Aim doesn't make you unable to move, you just chose to sit still and take precise aim instead of moving. They set your speed to 0 because that is the easiest way to mechanically explain it.
It's important to note the distinction between speed and movement.
Speed is an attribute of your character and as long as it's not 0, you are able to move. Movement is a resource derived from your speed and runs down as you move. Using up your movement means you can't move any further, but you aren't 'unable to move' if that makes sense? A creature with 0 speed cannot benefit from dashing or having their speed doubled by a spell, they are completely unable to move until their speed is no longer 0.
Steady Aim should not stop the Skirmisher feature either (movement as a reaction).
Why? Skirmisher let you move up to half your speed as a reaction, so if your speed is 0, you would be unable to move this way.
Because Steady Aim only affects your speed until the end of your turn. Once your turn is done, your speed is not 0 anymore, so you can move with a reaction on someone else's turn.
Oh yeah they can't even interact since is taking place on the rogue's turn, and the other on the enemy's turn
But my interpretation of Steady Aim doesn't actually inhibit you from moving, you are just choosing not to move this turn to make sure your aim is steady. The "speed is 0" is just the easiest way to represent this mechanically.
If it had said "You may not take the Dash action (really impossible because you will be spending your BA on SA and your action on attacking) or move until the end of your turn" then there would be no question. It just seems like that is wordier.
If you chose not to move because you are hidden and don't want to give away your position to a certain creature, would the cloak still work? Choosing not to move is different than being unable to move.
As myself and others have said, when your speed is set to 0, that means you are unable to move.
Once you have used the bonus action for "Steady Aim", that is the point at which your speed is set to 0.
Choosing not to move because you are hidden does not set your speed to 0.
In a session yesterday it suddenly occurred to me to ask the DM if using bonus action Steady Aim of my rogue would cause Cloak of Displacement to cease functioning for the rest of the round. That question caused quite a debate at the table.
I tried turning to the almighty Google for answers, but found nothing.And the question is - does having your speed set to 0 because of Steady Aim count as being "unable to move" as far as the effects of Cloak of Displacement are concerned?
If you check the Restrained condition it makes you unable to move by setting your speed to 0. This is also how the Grappled works. Steady Aim also sets your speed to 0 and I would conclude that it also cause the Cloak of Displacement to cease functioning.
I don't agree with that assessment. Being restrained or grappled by the enemy does much more than simply set your movement speed to 0, it means the enemy has physical and/or magical hold of you, which would not only prevent you from moving as in movement speed, but also moving in the traditional sense of shifting your body to avoid attacks, or the enemy can physically touch you which renders the effect irrelevant. Steady Aim does not prevent you from moving per se, it merely means you can't change you position on the battlefield, but your mobility is otherwise not restricted by any kind of restraints. Just as Steady Aim wouldn't prevent a Scout Rogue from using their Skirmisher reaction to move away from an enemy, so it shouldn't prevent CoD from functioning.
"Otherwise unable to move" very much sounds like it's broad enough to count this situation in my opinion.
If you want to argue implied differences in freedom of movement when your speed is set to 0, I'd argue someone struggling in a grapple is moving around heck of a lot more than someone becoming completely still to achieve perfect aim. I've never seen a sniper dodge out of the way of a punch while looking down their scope.
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A sniper looking down the scope is immobile only as long as he chooses to be. Someone who's grappled, however, can't go anywhere until the grapple ends. A sniper with sufficient reaction speed can dodge things. Grapple affords you no such luxury.
You are not "unable to move", you are choosing not to move in order to gain the benefits of "steady aim".The wording of Steady Aim means that after you have taken that bonus action, then your speed is set to 0, so it would invalidate the cloak.
You know what, I just realized something: you guys are right. It would, in fact, invalidate the cloak. During your turn.
Because the property is suppressed WHILE you're unable to move. Which means if you choose to Aim, the cloak will stop working for the rest of your turn, however it will resume functioning as soon as your turn ends, which will end Aim's movement restriction. Technically there's a small window of opportunity for a savvy opponent to wait until you aim and react with an attack while the cloak is inactive, but if they don't do that it won't make any functional difference in a fight.
The Restrained is mechanically different from Grappled. While both set speed to 0, one implies something is preventing you from dodging out of the way of objects or effects (disadvantage on dex saves, disadvantage on attacks made by, advantage on attacks against) while the other implies being put into a clinch or someone has grabbed an appendage preventing you from leaving your 5 foot space, that you occupy.
Nowhere in the item's (Cloak of Displacement) description does it say that the user's speed has anything to do with function. The ability to move is a function regarding the creature being in combat and controlling it's 5-foot space. I might suggest that the ability to move about your 5-foot space still exists, even if Grappled. The inability to move about your space might be the cause of the disadvantage on dex saves and attack rolls that are provided by the Restrained
I would point out that the wording is vague enough that the DM may need to provide a ruling on this one. The definition of "unable to move." is easily contested as it applies to not having a movement speed.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
Ummm... no. This analogy is subjective to video games and movies. Sniper's aren't known for moving quickly while on the scope, or being in a position that requires them to dodge. Their primary defense is being undetected and any sudden movement might betray them, and that's not helpful to their primary function. Should they need to displace and move to a different position, things have gotten far too close or their concealment needs vast improvement.
Also, Grapple does afford the luxury to dodge things, there is no disadvantage to dex saves or attacks.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
That would seem to work. Steady Aim should not stop the Skirmisher feature either (movement as a reaction).
I wouldn't consider a creature who's speed is 0 to be unable to move since it can still move, just not by using it's speed.
It still could move with a Battlemaster ally's Bait & Switch maneuver or any other movement that doesn't rely on speed for exemple.
No. Creatures with a speed of 0 are still able to move.
Why? Skirmisher let you move up to half your speed as a reaction, so if your speed is 0, you would be unable to move this way.
You can move your body, you just can't move your location (or stand up, I guess). Take your pick which one you think should apply to the cloak of displacement.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Because Steady Aim only affects your speed until the end of your turn. Once your turn is done, your speed is not 0 anymore, so you can move with a reaction on someone else's turn.
It's important to note the distinction between speed and movement.
Speed is an attribute of your character and as long as it's not 0, you are able to move. Movement is a resource derived from your speed and runs down as you move. Using up your movement means you can't move any further, but you aren't 'unable to move' if that makes sense? A creature with 0 speed cannot benefit from dashing or having their speed doubled by a spell, they are completely unable to move until their speed is no longer 0.
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Oh yeah they can't even interact since is taking place on the rogue's turn, and the other on the enemy's turn
Now the cloak of displacement on someone who is stunned, on the other hand, does not function.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
As myself and others have said, when your speed is set to 0, that means you are unable to move.
Once you have used the bonus action for "Steady Aim", that is the point at which your speed is set to 0.
Choosing not to move because you are hidden does not set your speed to 0.
No it doesn't. I have a Rogue right now that can move while at speed 0.