Stuck

[ringkichard]

The codex entry for stuck says

Stuck (Condition Marker)
Creature is Restrained and Unmovable. At the end of each of its Action Phases, a Stuck creature may attempt an escape roll: on a roll of 7 or higher, remove Stuck. If this creature is Teleported, destroy all Stuck conditions on it. Stuck has no effect on Conjurations and Uncontainable objects. Stuck has a removal cost of 4.

How literally should we take the phrase, "a Stuck creature may attempt an escape roll:" Is the Stuck creature taking a free action? Can an Incapacitated creature attempt an escape?

[Zuberi]

It is an interesting question, and not without merit. However, the escape roll is never truly described as being any kind of action, free or otherwise. It is simply something that occurs at the end of the creature's action phase. The fact that it specifies that it is the creature who is doing it, does lend some credibility to your argument, but I would rule the escape roll as being more of a game effect than anything else, and thus not affected by Incapacitate.

[ringkichard]

I'm not even making an argument. I just genuinely want to know if an incapacitated creature can unstuck itself.

Codex for Incapacitated gives a laundry list of things the creature can't do, but doesn't list escape rolls. Playing as written I'd guess that a Pit Trap can wear off even if the creature is incapacitated, because an escape roll isn't listed as an action: only quick, full, and free actions are actions... as far as I know.

Rolling for burn isn't an action either, and incapacitated creatures burn just fine, but rolling for stuck and cripple happens during the creature's action, which might be different?

In the light of dawn, I'm now leaning toward saying that the creature does roll, because it's not described as an action.

[Shad0w]

It is an interesting question, and not without merit. However, the escape roll is never truly described as being any kind of action, free or otherwise. It is simply something that occurs at the end of the creature's action phase. The fact that it specifies that it is the creature who is doing it, does lend some credibility to your argument, but I would rule the escape roll as being more of a game effect than anything else, and thus not affected by Incapacitate.

Correct again it is a game effect that occurs at the listed time

[ringkichard]

Excellent. Thanks!

[Myrddin]

It is an interesting question, and not without merit. However, the escape roll is never truly described as being any kind of action, free or otherwise. It is simply something that occurs at the end of the creature's action phase. The fact that it specifies that it is the creature who is doing it, does lend some credibility to your argument, but I would rule the escape roll as being more of a game effect than anything else, and thus not affected by Incapacitate.

Correct again it is a game effect that occurs at the listed time

Does that mean that it's obligatory? Could I choose not to make the escape roll if I wished my creature to be stuck for whatever reason?

[ringkichard]

It says "may" so yes, you don't have to roll.

[Myrddin]

It says "may" so yes, you don't have to roll.

That's what I thought: it's just the phrasing of the ruling ('game effect that occurs') makes it sounds like a more fixed fact!

[Shad0w]

It says "may" so yes, you don't have to roll.

As much said may = not required