If a creature with, let's say, tendrils grapples you and immediately moves you underwater in a nearby river (not something you were expecting as it is out of the water) do you get to hold your breath or are you suffocating?
Personally I rule that you don't have the opportunity to hold your breath and (depending where your grabbed) might make that difficult as you're being flung 25 ft into a swift-moving river.
Is there an official "you always get to hold your breath" rule I missed?
Its sort of up to the DM, but I'm not aware of a rule that you always get to hold your breath. The rule does give rules for choking someone, which goes straight to the suffocation rule (bypassing holding your breath) and due to the similarities in the situation here I'd rule they start the suffocation rules as soon as they're dragged under
If you are dragged under water you begin Suffocating, the rules for which begin with a description of how long you can hold your breath. Seems pretty clear that you're supposed to be able to hold your breath.
If you want it to be a chance, I'd say do something like a DC 10 Constitution save to see if the character can take a breath before going under.
If you are dragged under water you begin Suffocating, the rules for which begin with a description of how long you can hold your breath. Seems pretty clear that you're supposed to be able to hold your breath.
If you want it to be a chance, I'd say do something like a DC 10 Constitution save to see if the character can take a breath before going under.
I’d disagree that you always get to hold your breath. Being choked is the only specific rule given, and it bypasses the holding part. Since no other example is given, it’s up to the DM to adjudicate the situation at hand.
typically, for the duration given for holding breath, it takes a very intentional deep breath to do so. Being unexpectedly yanked underwater might not give you that chance. I do agree that a saving throw might be appropriate to give the player more of a chance (maybe with disadvantage if they were surprised)
Being choked is the only thing that specifically bypasses the ability to hold your breath. There is no rule saying that being dragged under water bypasses it. If you're dragged under water, you start suffocating, and the suffocating rules say you hold your breath.
Being choked is the only thing that specifically bypasses the ability to hold your breath. There is no rule saying that being dragged under water bypasses it. If you're dragged under water, you start suffocating, and the suffocating rules say you hold your breath.
Right.
Im_Aquaman, is there a specific creature you're referencing that we can look at, or is this all just hypothetical? Jay's entirely correct, so unless the action in the creature's statblock explicitly says their target begins choking once grappled, they get to hold their breath.
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You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Yeah, it's a roper. It doesn't state that it chokes them. This was just under the assumption that they walk into a room and suddenly are whipped into a river.
The roper attacks when any character gets at least 20 feet into the cave, gaining surprise if its presence hasn’t been revealed. It can target up to four characters with its tendrils, possibly pulling those it has grappled into the rushing river.
Specifics aside, this was originally written as a no-win encounter for pcs. It's one of those "hey this thing is too strong for our level we need to leave" party of 4 levels 3-5. I however, (don't ask lol it's all for fun) have a party of 7 going to be in this place. So balance and such is slightly off hahaha even then I think the roper is tough
The notion of "Holding your breath" is a misnomer.
While the breath in your lungs does increase your oxygen reserves, suffocation has more to do with a build-up of CO2 in the blood. [Reference]
Here’s what happens to your body when you hold your breath. The times are approximate:
0:00 to 0:30. You might feel relaxed as you close your eyes and tune out the world around you.
0:30 to 2:00. You’ll start to feel uncomfortable pain in your lungs. The most common misconception about holding your breath is that you’re running out of air — you’re not. Learning to slow your breathing and increase intake during inhalation is part of this. But holding your breath is difficult and dangerous because carbon dioxide (CO₂) is building up in your blood from not exhaling.
2:00 to 3:00. Your stomach starts to rapidly convulse and contract. This is because your diaphragm is trying to force you to take a breath.
3:00 to 5:00. You’ll begin to feel lightheaded. As CO₂ builds to higher and higher levels, it pushes the oxygen out of your bloodstream and reduces the amount of oxygenated blood traveling to your brain.
5:00 to 6:00. Your body will start to shake as your muscles begin to uncontrollably contract. This is when holding your breath can become dangerous.
6:00 and longer. You’ll black out. Your brain badly needs oxygen, so it knocks you unconscious so your automatic breathing mechanisms will kick back in. If you’re underwater, you’ll probably inhale water into your lungs, which is life threatening.
For realism, an unsuspecting victim is not substantially worse off than one that had an extra moment to "hold their breath", with respect to drowning.
However, someone who has time to prepare might choose to deliberately hyperventilate. Doing so would increase the immediately available oxygen, while decreasing CO2, which would slightly extend how long someone could remain underwater.
That makes sense. D&D and mixing realism is always tricky as, ya know, magic happens 😂😂 I suppose by your logic they'd probably yell or scream from being surprised but most likely not hyperventilate hahah so by this ruling and the overall consensus, they get the extra time alloted while underwater unless something like a Nereid's ability states you lose your breathe or choke.
"On a failure, it also runs out of breath and can’t speak for 1 minute."
Hit: The target is grappled (escape DC 15). Until the grapple ends, the target is restrained and has disadvantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws,
Each tendril can be attacked (AC 20; 10 hit points; immunity to poison and psychic damage). A tendril can also be broken if a creature takes an action and succeeds on a DC 15 Strength check against it.
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Call me Knives.
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If a creature with, let's say, tendrils grapples you and immediately moves you underwater in a nearby river (not something you were expecting as it is out of the water) do you get to hold your breath or are you suffocating?
Personally I rule that you don't have the opportunity to hold your breath and (depending where your grabbed) might make that difficult as you're being flung 25 ft into a swift-moving river.
Is there an official "you always get to hold your breath" rule I missed?
If no, what are your opinions?
Call me Knives.
Its sort of up to the DM, but I'm not aware of a rule that you always get to hold your breath. The rule does give rules for choking someone, which goes straight to the suffocation rule (bypassing holding your breath) and due to the similarities in the situation here I'd rule they start the suffocation rules as soon as they're dragged under
There's no rule for always getting to hold your breath, but the rules when you don't are so brutal that I'd suggest making it a rule.
If you are dragged under water you begin Suffocating, the rules for which begin with a description of how long you can hold your breath. Seems pretty clear that you're supposed to be able to hold your breath.
If you want it to be a chance, I'd say do something like a DC 10 Constitution save to see if the character can take a breath before going under.
I’d disagree that you always get to hold your breath. Being choked is the only specific rule given, and it bypasses the holding part. Since no other example is given, it’s up to the DM to adjudicate the situation at hand.
typically, for the duration given for holding breath, it takes a very intentional deep breath to do so. Being unexpectedly yanked underwater might not give you that chance. I do agree that a saving throw might be appropriate to give the player more of a chance (maybe with disadvantage if they were surprised)
Being choked is the only thing that specifically bypasses the ability to hold your breath. There is no rule saying that being dragged under water bypasses it. If you're dragged under water, you start suffocating, and the suffocating rules say you hold your breath.
Right.
Im_Aquaman, is there a specific creature you're referencing that we can look at, or is this all just hypothetical? Jay's entirely correct, so unless the action in the creature's statblock explicitly says their target begins choking once grappled, they get to hold their breath.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Yeah, it's a roper. It doesn't state that it chokes them. This was just under the assumption that they walk into a room and suddenly are whipped into a river.
Specifics aside, this was originally written as a no-win encounter for pcs. It's one of those "hey this thing is too strong for our level we need to leave" party of 4 levels 3-5. I however, (don't ask lol it's all for fun) have a party of 7 going to be in this place. So balance and such is slightly off hahaha even then I think the roper is tough
Call me Knives.
The notion of "Holding your breath" is a misnomer.
While the breath in your lungs does increase your oxygen reserves, suffocation has more to do with a build-up of CO2 in the blood. [Reference]
For realism, an unsuspecting victim is not substantially worse off than one that had an extra moment to "hold their breath", with respect to drowning.
However, someone who has time to prepare might choose to deliberately hyperventilate. Doing so would increase the immediately available oxygen, while decreasing CO2, which would slightly extend how long someone could remain underwater.
That makes sense. D&D and mixing realism is always tricky as, ya know, magic happens 😂😂 I suppose by your logic they'd probably yell or scream from being surprised but most likely not hyperventilate hahah so by this ruling and the overall consensus, they get the extra time alloted while underwater unless something like a Nereid's ability states you lose your breathe or choke.
"On a failure, it also runs out of breath and can’t speak for 1 minute."
Call me Knives.
Do the players get to make an athletics or acrobatics check for this encounter? And can they try to escape each round?
(Not really a breath holding thing, but concerns the encounter.)
Hit: The target is grappled (escape DC 15). Until the grapple ends, the target is restrained and has disadvantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws,
Each tendril can be attacked (AC 20; 10 hit points; immunity to poison and psychic damage). A tendril can also be broken if a creature takes an action and succeeds on a DC 15 Strength check against it.
Call me Knives.