Ray of Dizziness - no swift actions?

[ksbsnowowl]

Does Ray of Dizziness (SpC) cause you to be unable to take swift actions?

You strike out at your enemy with a ray that causes intense feelings of vertigo.  You must succeed on a ranged touch attack with the ray to strike a target.  A struck subject experiences strong feelings of vertigo and can take only a move action or a standard action each round (but not both, and it cannot take a full-round action).

Swift Actions

A swift action consumes a very small amount of time, but represents a larger expenditure of effort and energy than a free action. You can perform one swift action per turn without affecting your ability to perform other actions. In that regard, a swift action is like a free action. However, you can perform only a single swift action per turn, regardless of what other actions you take. You can take a swift action any time you would normally be allowed to take a free action. Swift actions usually involve spellcasting or the activation of magic items; many characters (especially those who don't cast spells) never have an opportunity to take a swift action.

Casting a quickened spell is a swift action. In addition, casting any spell with a casting time of 1 swift action is a swift action.

Casting a spell with a casting time of 1 swift action does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

[Unbeliever]

I'd let someone take swift actions.  The rules on swift actions weren't super uniformly treated in 3.5, even though they should have been by the time they got to the Spell Compendium.  And, it's a potent enough spell as it is.

That might be a house rule, but as a player who uses Ray of Dizziness a fair amount, I know I'd be fine with it.  You might just want to mention it ahead of time as it's occurred to you.

[Ithamar]

Don't have the book near me, but I believe Rules Compendium clarifies that when a player / creature has their actions restricted in some way (via spells or special conditions) they are still allowed to use immediate, swift and/or free actions.

This came up in my arena at one point and I remember having to research it.

[ksbsnowowl]

Well, the way it will probably be used, is for a monstrous Spirit Shaman BBEG to cast Lion's Charge, thus getting a "partial charge" and a full attack.  So, might be a bit aggravating to the PC's.  But, this is the BBEG general of an assaulting horde, so he should be tough.

(His SR of 29 will likely make it a moot point, however.)

[ksbsnowowl]

Found the referenced rule, thanks!

RESTRICTED ACTIVITY
A few situations make you unable to take a full round’s
worth of actions. In such cases, you’re allowed to take
only a single standard action or a single move action,
along with allowed swift, immediate, and free actions.
You can’t take a full-round action and finish that action,
but you can start or complete a full-round action by using
a standard action.