Travel Domain: Escape a grapple?

[Nail]

In my last game, a Large Monstrous Scorpion grappled a cleric with the Travel domain. The DM ruled that the cleric automatically escaped the grapple.

I've given it some thought, and read over the PH text. I think the DM ruled incorrectly.

What do you think?

TRAVEL DOMAIN
Granted Powers: For a total time per day of 1 round per cleric level you possess, you can act normally regardless of magical effects that impede movement as if you were affected by the spell freedom of movement. This effect occurs automatically as soon as it applies, lasts until it runs out or is no longer needed, and can operate multiple times per day (up to the total daily limit of rounds).

This granted power is a supernatural ability.

 

[Shallown]

Freedom of movement states that you automatically win grapple checks. I know cuase it is sometimes a burr in my side with my travel domain cleric.

later

 

[Artoomis]

It's absolutely right because:

...This effect occurs automatically as soon as it applies, lasts until it runs out or is no longer needed, and can operate multiple times per day (up to the total daily limit of rounds).

And Freedom of Movement has you succeeding at all grapple checks.

 

[silentspace]

double

 

[silentspace]

Yep, your DM's right. But even if he were wrong, is there really much point in trying to grapple a cleric with Travel Domain spells?

 

[drnuncheon]

double post

 

[drnuncheon]

Gotta go with Nail on this one. While everyone is completely right about the freedom of movement affecting grapples, you are all ignoring the very important text from the Travel domain: "you can act normally regardless of magical effects that impede movement..."

Last time I checked, a grapple was not a magical effect of any sort, let alone one that impeded movement.

J

 

[Artoomis]

Gotta go with Nail on this one. While everyone is completely right about the freedom of movement affecting grapples, you are all ignoring the very important text from the Travel domain: "you can act normally regardless of magical effects that impede movement..."

Last time I checked, a grapple was not a magical effect of any sort, let alone one that impeded movement.

J

Well, you are right that a grapple is not magical. However, "you can act normally regardless of magical effects that impede movement..." is not a statement that restricts the impede movement to only overcoming magical impediments.

It is fairly similar to the statement from the spell itself:

"This spell enables you or a creature you touch to move and attack normally for the duration of the spell, even under the influence of magic that usually impedes movement..."

The DM was correct.

You can argue the English if you want, but "...regardless of..." is not language used to precede a list or statement intended to be all-inclusive (or exclusive, depending on your point of view).

Miriam-Webster states:

Main Entry: regardless of
Function: preposition
: without taking into account <accepts all regardless of age>; also : in spite of <regardless of our mistakes>

and from American Heritage

regardless of
prep.
In spite of: We will persevere regardless of past failures.
With no heed to: freedom for all, regardless of race or creed.

 

[Shallown]

I think the "you can act normally regardless of magical effects that impede movement as if you were affected by the spell freedom of movement."

Dr. N I think your ignoring the rest of the Quote which, I think, takes most guess work out of what they mean.

Later

 

[Korak]

TRAVEL DOMAIN
Granted Powers: For a total time per day of 1 round per cleric level you possess, you can act normally regardless of magical effects that impede movement as if you were affected by the spell freedom of movement. This effect occurs automatically as soon as it applies, lasts until it runs out or is no longer needed, and can operate multiple times per day (up to the total daily limit of rounds).

This granted power is a supernatural ability.

---

Well, it's a toss-up if you ask me. The lovely thing about the English language is the imprecise nature of subordinate clauses. The question here is as follows: Does the clause "as if you were affected by the spell freedom of movement" modify "you can act normally"? or does it modify "regardless of magical effects that impede movement"? Neither the rules of English grammar, nor the context provide a crystal clear answer.

Personally, I fall back to balance. I think the ability needs to be restricted to defeating magical effects. Having travel domain clerics be immune to grapples for class level rounds/day is very powerful; too powerful in my opinion.