Yes, you need to have your action available to use Stillness of Mind. Neither the charmed nor frightened conditions limit your action options. Some spells or monster abilities that inflict those conditions might prevent you from taking actions or force you to spend your action in a certain way (e.g. Hypnotic Pattern)
There is an effect that supposedly paralyzes you from being frightened; I would think that the Stillness of Mind should still work, regardless of the fact that paralyzed takes away your action; because otherwise the Monk ability is basically useless (he paralyzation is coming directly from the mental state of being frightened, not a physical separate effect). DM said that it didnt apply because of the mechanism of "no action". Wouldnt this be a case of specific trumping general?
There is an effect that supposedly paralyzes you from being frightened; I would think that the Stillness of Mind should still work, regardless of the fact that paralyzed takes away your action; because otherwise the Monk ability is basically useless (he paralyzation is coming directly from the mental state of being frightened, not a physical separate effect). DM said that it didnt apply because of the mechanism of "no action". Wouldnt this be a case of specific trumping general?
Stillness of mind requires an action. No action, no stillness of mind. Not really a matter of general vs specific, just RAW.
Yes, you need to have your action available to use Stillness of Mind. Neither the charmed nor frightened conditions limit your action options. Some spells or monster abilities that inflict those conditions might prevent you from taking actions or force you to spend your action in a certain way (e.g. Hypnotic Pattern)
I would say most spells and abilities that impose charm tend to use up a character's action. Even Charm Person can allow an enemy to make a social interaction with the charmed person to stand down from the fight or spend their action on a specific action.
Yeah it very much depends upon the type of charm effect you're under; Hypnotic Pattern specifically applies the incapacitated action which means you can't take actions at all.
However something like Dominate Person gives you more potential leeway if the caster isn't taking direct control over your actions, as you are otherwise forced to follow their commands "to the best of [your] ability" which you could probably argue would include centring yourself mentally, otherwise if you complete a given task your default command is to "defend and preserve" yourself (ending magical control could come under that category).
This is similar to a Berserker's Mindless Rage; they need to either already be Raging, or able to choose to Rage. The latter is probably easier in many cases (if ordered just to attack, a Barbarian could easily argue going into a rage to do-so), but it means a careful caster can give them a hard time in using that ability.
Both abilities are still very useful in most cases of being charmed/frightened though, as many don't impose action restrictions at all, and of those that do many have some potential ways out of them (i.e- the caster needs to be very careful how they word requests etc.). This is actually an area where some of the less impressive seeming spells like Crown of Madness can be better than more freeform options, as while they're limited, the limitations give the target a harder time in escaping or twisting the effect.
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There's also the question of whether the player or the character decides to use it. If the player makes the choice, any time they're under a charm effect they will most likely use it. If the character makes the choice, they will only use it if they think it might be necessary.
With that in mind, my monk habitually uses it before and after every rest and any time his allies are fighting each other.
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Hi beautiful people .
Stillness of mind says i can use my action to not be charmed\frightened anymore.
Does that mean if I'm charmed to make some action, my actions as already been taken?
Thanks!!!
Yes, you need to have your action available to use Stillness of Mind. Neither the charmed nor frightened conditions limit your action options. Some spells or monster abilities that inflict those conditions might prevent you from taking actions or force you to spend your action in a certain way (e.g. Hypnotic Pattern)
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There is an effect that supposedly paralyzes you from being frightened; I would think that the Stillness of Mind should still work, regardless of the fact that paralyzed takes away your action; because otherwise the Monk ability is basically useless (he paralyzation is coming directly from the mental state of being frightened, not a physical separate effect). DM said that it didnt apply because of the mechanism of "no action". Wouldnt this be a case of specific trumping general?
Stillness of mind requires an action. No action, no stillness of mind. Not really a matter of general vs specific, just RAW.
I would say most spells and abilities that impose charm tend to use up a character's action. Even Charm Person can allow an enemy to make a social interaction with the charmed person to stand down from the fight or spend their action on a specific action.
Yeah it very much depends upon the type of charm effect you're under; Hypnotic Pattern specifically applies the incapacitated action which means you can't take actions at all.
However something like Dominate Person gives you more potential leeway if the caster isn't taking direct control over your actions, as you are otherwise forced to follow their commands "to the best of [your] ability" which you could probably argue would include centring yourself mentally, otherwise if you complete a given task your default command is to "defend and preserve" yourself (ending magical control could come under that category).
This is similar to a Berserker's Mindless Rage; they need to either already be Raging, or able to choose to Rage. The latter is probably easier in many cases (if ordered just to attack, a Barbarian could easily argue going into a rage to do-so), but it means a careful caster can give them a hard time in using that ability.
Both abilities are still very useful in most cases of being charmed/frightened though, as many don't impose action restrictions at all, and of those that do many have some potential ways out of them (i.e- the caster needs to be very careful how they word requests etc.). This is actually an area where some of the less impressive seeming spells like Crown of Madness can be better than more freeform options, as while they're limited, the limitations give the target a harder time in escaping or twisting the effect.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
There's also the question of whether the player or the character decides to use it. If the player makes the choice, any time they're under a charm effect they will most likely use it. If the character makes the choice, they will only use it if they think it might be necessary.
With that in mind, my monk habitually uses it before and after every rest and any time his allies are fighting each other.