OOC Discussion and Table Talk II

[Inferno]

Hi Zhym,

Is being overcome by a noxious gas/odor a Save vs. Poison? It is with Troglodytes.

Also, can we please say that Khogeki is standing in the SW corner of the ledge. He would have wanted that spot, to have his back to the wall.

What, if anything, can Khogeki do except retch? Can he fall over? Thanks.

[Zhym]

With this monster, the stench explicitly calls for a save vs. paralyzation, not poison. Failure means the victim is "helpless" while the creature is within 10 feet. The stench hit Khogeki as soon as he came within 10' of the monster. That happened when Khogeki got to the top of the ledge, so the monk didn't get a chance to position himself.

[GreyWolfVT]

wow Odilo the Reborn soon to be dead... I'm beginning to think we never were going to reach our intended location before half of us get killed off. Granted I planned on trying but stupid saving throw roll screwed that up.

[Zhym]

Never assume that the trip isn't part of the adventure.

But yes, your opponent is one bad-ass MF. So far, you've seen the following:

• Anyone who comes within 10' of it has to save vs. paralysis or end up helpless, and even those who succeed attack at -2.
• It can Summon Insects at will.
• It can raise a Wall of Fire at will.
• It can Animate Objects at will.
• When both claw attacks hit, it holds its victim in a bear hug. The victim cannot attack, and the monster gets an automatic bite attack plus 2d4 damage each round. The victim can break free with a successful half-strength 1d20 check, however.

Those are the powers you know about.

[GreyWolfVT]

Yeah... kinda feels like one of those impossible odds battles no matter what level you are. However yes the "trip" is part of the adventure.

[Zhym]

Oh, and I forgot to mention the magic resistance. And teleporting.

Still, I don't think it's an impossible battle if you're ready for it. The problem is that you weren't ready for an ambush and the monsters were able to take you on separately. And while wishing the water away got rid of one problem, it left most of you down a 15' ledge from where all the action is now.

You can still win, but it's definitely going to be more difficult with the supermonk out of commission.

[GreyWolfVT]

Yes. Supermonk i find most Monks appear that way. Then again so do some of the other OA classes. Samurai can be insane tanks.

[Inferno]

With this monster, the stench explicitly calls for a save vs. paralyzation, not poison. Failure means the victim is "helpless" while the creature is within 10 feet. The stench hit Khogeki as soon as he came within 10' of the monster. That happened when Khogeki got to the top of the ledge, so the monk didn't get a chance to position himself.

Thanks. What actions can a "helpless" character take, if any?

[Zhym]

Wishing the water way got rid of two other threats, BTW. There were two water pseudoelementals ("pseudo" because the lower planes aren't connected to the elemental planes) controlled by the eel/snake monster. They can overturn boats and cause other havoc to people on and in water. They went bye-bye when Malibran wished the water away.

Oh, and you skipped a whole bunch of other encounters when you wished yourselves straight to Emirikol's tower through the metalstorm. You're probably better of than if you hadn't, but a side effect of that wish is that you missed what was probably planned as an introduction to what you're in for. For example (spoiler tagged):

There's a stampede of beasts that "vary in appearance as greatly as can be imagined. Some run on eight legs while others lope along on two and still others flutter close to the ground with misshapen wings. Most are about the size of a horse or cow, but many are much smaller, and a few are larger. Color, skin, shape, size—these creatures share not a single attribute. Nevertheless, they charge headlong as a mindless herd, trampling anything in their path." They run in a set path between two caves at the top of the cliff, making yet another barrier the PCs have to get past to reach Emerikol.

Then there are the "Magic-starved," the once-human creatures who feed off magical energy. When a spellcaster comes within 50 yards of one of them, he senses magical ability and approaches, begging for the character to cast a spell. If the character does, the magic-starved gasps in pleasure. If the caster fails a save vs. spell, the magic-starved creature steals a random spell from the caster's mind or a charge from a magic item. Then the caster has to make another saving throw, which costs another spell or magic item if he loses. That continues until the caster makes a save.

Oh, and between the Metalstrom and Emirkol's tower are various rents in reality, a result of instability from the magical storm and the arcane battle that happened there. The rents, if undetected, can pull characters into other planes.

I'm not sure, but if you'd seen all that, you might have been more cautious on Demonwing. If you ever agreed to get on it in the first place.

[Inferno]

Thanks. What actions can a "helpless" character take, if any?

Can he fall over?

[Zhym]

Thanks. What actions can a "helpless" character take, if any?

None, unfortunately. It's basically the same as being held or paralyzed. The character "lies helpless on the ground, gagging and vomiting." So no falling off the ledge, if that's what you have in mind.

If you want, we can say that the stench hit Khogeki as soon as he flew to the top of the ledge. When it hit him, he fell 15' to the ground (taking damage because the stench disabled him and he can't recover fast enough in that short fall). He'll be able to act, but the saving throw still applies—if he comes within 10' of the monster again, he's helpless.

[Inferno]

If you want, we can say that the stench hit Khogeki as soon as he flew to the top of the ledge. When it hit him, he fell 15' to the ground (taking damage because the stench disabled him and he can't recover fast enough in that short fall). He'll be able to act, but the saving throw still applies—if he comes within 10' of the monster again, he's helpless.

That seems like the lesser of two evils. So, yes please.

[Zhym]

Okay. I've edited the update.

[Zhym]

Malibran seeing that he is out of immediate melee range prays for the ability to help his comrades on the ledge.

Cast spiritual hammer at Frog Man

I'll apply this in the previous round. But Malibran needs to be within 30' of his target to be in range. Should I assume he moves to within 20' of the ledge?

I'll handwave whether he can even see what's going on up there (and I'll waive the material component of a hammer that gets used up by the spell).

[ravenn4544]

Yes please on the movement. thanks! I forgot about the material components - appreciate the waive. Should we consider those going forward on our spells?

[Zhym]

My general rule is that if the material components cost 100 gp or more, you need to track them, but you don't need to worry about "mundane" components.

Please give me an attack roll for the hammer, BTW.

[Zhym]

BTW, I've added this to the house rule on illusions:

Some illusions may give clues to their illusionary nature. Depending on the circumstances, I may make secret rolls to determine whether characters notice these clues.

[ravenn4544]

edited my original post with attack roll - for what it's worth...

[Zhym]

Great. Now I have to figure out whether someone can fumble an attack with a Spiritual Hammer.

Let's go with no. That way, I don't even have to update the previous post. Feel free to post an action for the next round.

[Zhym]

OOC: ogre power gauntlets for attack/damage are not included if applicable

Because the spiritual hammer is wielded by the power of faith, not muscle, physical attack bonuses do not apply to its use.