saalaria wrote:Not according to OSRIC but I am happy to go with whatever Magnus determines of course
Edit - as in concentration IS required
Where are you seeing that? Here's the OSRIC spell description for Insect Plague:
While casting this spell, the cleric designates a central point for the spell's origin up to 360 ft from where he or she stands. When the cleric utters the final words of the incantation, this focal point belches forth a massive cloud of stinging insects, which boils outward almost instantly to fill the spell's area of effect. Within the area of this massive cloud, visibility is limited to 30 ft, and all creatures automatically sustain 1 hit point of damage per round from the stings and bites of the number-less flying vermin. All creatures caught in the cloud with 4 or fewer hit dice must check morale, and those with 2 or fewer hit dice will automatically flee until they are 240 ft away from the edge of the roiling cloud. Fire and smoke will keep the swarm at bay (as will walls of force, etc.), but virtually the only way to disperse a swarm before the spell duration expires is to cast dispel magic upon the swarm's focal point. Even a fireball or flame strike will do nothing other than temporarily (1 turn) to clear the insects out of the area affected by their flames.
That looks like "cast it and forget it" to me, especially the part about nothing dispersing a swarm before the duration is over except dispel magic. That would seem to preclude ending the swarm by breaking the caster's concentration.
Storm11 wrote:I think it would be wise to wait and see if any dragons and their riders appear outside before we head within. The insects will keep the upper levels clear for a good while yet, we have a bit of time to wait another quarter of an hour or so and see. It takes time for word to spread and dragons to be mobilised I would think. Let's not waste what magic we have already through impatience. I mean if half of your house was suddenly infested you would wanna get outside quickly and check out what's causing it.
I wouldn't rely on the swarm necessarily keeping the levels clear. Damage of 1 HP/round is an annoyance, but hardly fatal on its own to frost giants. If the ground level of my house were suddenly infested, I might go to the basement, grab big cans of Raid and Off, and call an exterminator. Especially if I think the infestation is the result of an attack.
The giants might send more forces at us out here, but they might be building fires and finding other ways to negate the effects of the swarm. Our window to get at the rift and look around without giants getting in the way could be limited.
Besides, I'd rather fight giants in close quarters where their numbers can be limited. In the open, they could easily send a handful to engage us in melee while a dozen or more hang back and throw rocks at our casters. The first group we battled was a quick response. I'm not sure I want to hang back and wait for the giants' strategic response.
