[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by SurvivalistMerc:
Any unit capable of fighting back in any way currently, or which currently has defenders of any kind isn't "helpless." If the sphinx has astral magic and the knowledge to cast soul slay or paralyze itself...that doesn't even as a practical matter look helpless to me. Any unit that can't fight back either magically or physically is helpless if it has no one else to fight for it. Or does that not make sense?

Why is the sphinx vulnerable to instant destruction when its mind is shut down, but not whne its mind is active? The physical structure doesn't suddenly fall apart, so there's no reason for it for it to be more susceptible to being hit or killed.

If there is an astral mage capable of casting paralyze, they probably do have a month. How many additional castings of paralysis can occur during the 30-40 turns that it will take the sphinx to become unparalyzed?

Once he becomes unconscious he has one casting every 4 turns. With a les than 5% success rate on paralyze with a decent MR on the Sphinx, it's not that likely that he will stay paralyzed for the whole month.

And how soon will the sphinx acquire such an affliction, like feebleminded, as to effectively be unable to fight back in any way? In almost all of these paralyzed victim situations, the astral mage remains on the battlefield.

Why should it matter if the sphinx can effectively cast spells? It still is difficult to physically destroy even without a mind.