If a character is unconscious, they are incapacitated. But can a character or creature be incapacitated without being unconscious?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hey y'all, I'm Okashido and I'm super into D&D. I like making characters(to the point where I have a doc about 100 pages long filled with character ideas.), am an aspiring actor in college, and also consider myself a storyteller and actor at the table. I enjoy making characters with backstories and watching them play off of other people. I roll with the punches and am a great Improviser. I can DM, but think my strengths lay in being a Player most. Hope we can all have fun and maybe play some games.
Yes, there are a few things that cause a creature to be incapacitated but not unconscious, such as the Enchantment Wizard's Hypnotic Gaze. Also there a few status conditions that include incapacitation but not unconscious. I honestly feel like the Incapacitated status just exists to be part of other statuses to keep their descriptions shorter.
Hey y'all, I'm Okashido and I'm super into D&D. I like making characters(to the point where I have a doc about 100 pages long filled with character ideas.), am an aspiring actor in college, and also consider myself a storyteller and actor at the table. I enjoy making characters with backstories and watching them play off of other people. I roll with the punches and am a great Improviser. I can DM, but think my strengths lay in being a Player most. Hope we can all have fun and maybe play some games.
I think the Incapacitated condition is almost never applied on its own, but usually in some combination with another condition (like Charmed in the Enchantment Wizard example), and the ending of that other condition will also end the Incapacitated condition. Note that Paralyzed, Petrified and Stunned also include Incapacitated in their portfolio of effects.
One thing that I'm wondering, is when a character is knocked unconscious, do they fall prone? Logically it makes sense, bit it doesn't say it in the rules.
One thing that I'm wondering, is when a character is knocked unconscious, do they fall prone? Logically it makes sense, bit it doesn't say it in the rules.
unconscious says "The creature drops whatever it’s holding and falls prone"
I am a beginner to DND and just bought the Starter Set. The rulebook in the Starter Set is pretty hard to understand, and I have several questions. The one which I will be asking is about incapacitation. In the rulebook, it just says that an incapacitated character cannot do an action or reaction. That's really confusing to me. First of all, how do you GET incapacitated in the first place? Can someone please just explain everything there is to know about the incapacitated condition? Please explain it in simple terms! Thank you!!
I'm no expert, but I think that's kindof right. A prone creature has disadvantage on attack rolls, can only crawl, etc., but an unconscious creature is not aware of its surroundings at all and automatically fails any Strength or Dexterity saving throws. However, the Player Handbook does say that an unconscious creature drops prone. So I would say a creature that is unconscious IS prone, plus added disadvantages. So all in all, YES, when a character is unconscious, they DO fall prone.
I am a beginner to DND and just bought the Starter Set. The rulebook in the Starter Set is pretty hard to understand, and I have several questions. The one which I will be asking is about incapacitation. In the rulebook, it just says that an incapacitated character cannot do an action or reaction. That's really confusing to me. First of all, how do you GET incapacitated in the first place? Can someone please just explain everything there is to know about the incapacitated condition? Please explain it in simple terms! Thank you!!
The section on conditions is for when a rule says that you end up in that condition.
For incapacitated, you could look at the "Hypnotic Pattern" spell to see when you might get put into that condition.
incapacitated is when you can't take actions or reactions. Period. Yes, as mentioned before, it is almost never applied by itself, but with other conditions such as paralyzed, for instance. Unless it's applied with something like petrified or paralyzed and you're made easier to hit, you don't really have too big a problem.
Unconscious is when you are at 0 HP. It is its own condition. This is where you could actually die.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
incapacitated is when you can't take actions or reactions. Period. Yes, as mentioned before, it is almost never applied by itself, but with other conditions such as paralyzed, for instance. Unless it's applied with something like petrified or paralyzed and you're made easier to hit, you don't really have too big a problem.
Unconscious is when you are at 0 HP. It is its own condition. This is where you could actually die.
You can be unconscious without being at 0 hp...in fact if your character is sleeping they are unconscious, plus a whole host of spell and monster effects can cause the condition
I am a beginner to DND and just bought the Starter Set. The rulebook in the Starter Set is pretty hard to understand, and I have several questions. The one which I will be asking is about incapacitation. In the rulebook, it just says that an incapacitated character cannot do an action or reaction. That's really confusing to me. First of all, how do you GET incapacitated in the first place? Can someone please just explain everything there is to know about the incapacitated condition? Please explain it in simple terms! Thank you!!
There are various monster abilities and spells that apply different conditions on their targets. A character becomes incapacitated whenever one of those things says it happens. Incapacitated just means that you can’t do some specific stuff for a time. That’s all it means. If you try to think of it in terms of what it means in real life, it doesn’t make any sense. But if you just accept it as a game rule then it stops being so confusing.
If a character is unconscious, they are incapacitated. But can a character or creature be incapacitated without being unconscious?
Hey y'all, I'm Okashido and I'm super into D&D. I like making characters(to the point where I have a doc about 100 pages long filled with character ideas.), am an aspiring actor in college, and also consider myself a storyteller and actor at the table. I enjoy making characters with backstories and watching them play off of other people. I roll with the punches and am a great Improviser. I can DM, but think my strengths lay in being a Player most. Hope we can all have fun and maybe play some games.
Yes, there are a few things that cause a creature to be incapacitated but not unconscious, such as the Enchantment Wizard's Hypnotic Gaze. Also there a few status conditions that include incapacitation but not unconscious. I honestly feel like the Incapacitated status just exists to be part of other statuses to keep their descriptions shorter.
Thank you kind sir!
Hey y'all, I'm Okashido and I'm super into D&D. I like making characters(to the point where I have a doc about 100 pages long filled with character ideas.), am an aspiring actor in college, and also consider myself a storyteller and actor at the table. I enjoy making characters with backstories and watching them play off of other people. I roll with the punches and am a great Improviser. I can DM, but think my strengths lay in being a Player most. Hope we can all have fun and maybe play some games.
I think the Incapacitated condition is almost never applied on its own, but usually in some combination with another condition (like Charmed in the Enchantment Wizard example), and the ending of that other condition will also end the Incapacitated condition. Note that Paralyzed, Petrified and Stunned also include Incapacitated in their portfolio of effects.
Some spells that has incapacitated effect link
Note that this not all the spells i remeber Hypnotic Pattern have the effect but the target has to be not immune to charm.
Nox - Adult Oblex - The Trials
Jartrin Ephok - Dragonborn - Zanoliv
Bunol - Grim Angel - The Floating Lands of Goriate
It's also worth noting that an incapacitated character can still move while an unconscious character cannot.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
One thing that I'm wondering, is when a character is knocked unconscious, do they fall prone? Logically it makes sense, bit it doesn't say it in the rules.
unconscious says "The creature drops whatever it’s holding and falls prone"
I am a beginner to DND and just bought the Starter Set. The rulebook in the Starter Set is pretty hard to understand, and I have several questions. The one which I will be asking is about incapacitation. In the rulebook, it just says that an incapacitated character cannot do an action or reaction. That's really confusing to me. First of all, how do you GET incapacitated in the first place? Can someone please just explain everything there is to know about the incapacitated condition? Please explain it in simple terms! Thank you!!
I'm no expert, but I think that's kindof right. A prone creature has disadvantage on attack rolls, can only crawl, etc., but an unconscious creature is not aware of its surroundings at all and automatically fails any Strength or Dexterity saving throws. However, the Player Handbook does say that an unconscious creature drops prone. So I would say a creature that is unconscious IS prone, plus added disadvantages. So all in all, YES, when a character is unconscious, they DO fall prone.
The section on conditions is for when a rule says that you end up in that condition.
For incapacitated, you could look at the "Hypnotic Pattern" spell to see when you might get put into that condition.
incapacitated is when you can't take actions or reactions. Period. Yes, as mentioned before, it is almost never applied by itself, but with other conditions such as paralyzed, for instance. Unless it's applied with something like petrified or paralyzed and you're made easier to hit, you don't really have too big a problem.
Unconscious is when you are at 0 HP. It is its own condition. This is where you could actually die.
Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
You can be unconscious without being at 0 hp...in fact if your character is sleeping they are unconscious, plus a whole host of spell and monster effects can cause the condition
There are various monster abilities and spells that apply different conditions on their targets. A character becomes incapacitated whenever one of those things says it happens. Incapacitated just means that you can’t do some specific stuff for a time. That’s all it means. If you try to think of it in terms of what it means in real life, it doesn’t make any sense. But if you just accept it as a game rule then it stops being so confusing.
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB, & You
DDB CONTENT TROUBLESHOOTING