D&D 5E [5E] Apparatus of Kwalish

[Paul Farquhar]

. If needed, consider it my version of the device, or a one-off, or something completely new if you need to in order to consider other possibilities.

I believe that was my initial suggestion.

The point of the Apparatus of Kwalish is to use it to overcome a specific environmental challenge: "Oh no, the treasure chamber is filled with poison gas, how ever are we going to get the McGuffin of Plott? Maybe that weird barrel-like thing we found earlier in the dungeon could be of some use?"

After that it usually sits back at HQ or at the bottom of a bag of holding until the next environmental hazard. Sustained interest is not required. It's too big and bulky to be part of regular kit.

If you want something that is going to be used frequently, you should give the players the Armoured Exoskeleton of Kwalish instead.

 

[LordEntrails]

EDIT: I'm not saying one interpretation is RAW and the other is a house rule, just that if you are willing/committed to house rule, you could do a lot of interesting things with this.

Absolutely willing to houserule

If you want something that is going to be used frequently, you should give the players the Armoured Exoskeleton of Kwalish instead.

But what would that device look like? Say it could fit 2 characters and both of those would operate the controls. Would the they only be able to attack once per round? Could if both players chose to control it to move would that be a double move? If both wanted to make it turn, would it make a double turn?

 

[77IM]

I was working on a system for controlling ships that dealt with similar issues:

On a sailing ship, the First Mate decides how far the ship goes in the round by commanding the crew to "trim the sails" and "batten the royals" and "jib the mizzenmast" and other silly nautical terms, and can make an ability check for the ship to exceed its normal maximum speed. But the ship doesn't actually move until the pilot's turn; the pilot can only take a single 45-degree turn during the movement, unless they make an ability check to get more turns. If nobody pilots the ship it just plows ahead at the previous turn's speed on initiative 0. Sailing into the wind was more or less difficult depending on whether your ship had square or lateral sails.

Rowed ships (galleys, longships, etc.) were the same way, except it was the Boatswain who would determine how far the ship goes, by making the rowers go faster or slower. Ships with both rowers and sails could use either.

Small ships under manual power, like a canoe or poled barge, could have multiple people trying to drive and steer them. For example, the two people paddling a canoe could each cause the canoe to turn up to 90 degrees and move up to 20 feet -- except the canoe's total movement for the round couldn't exceed 30 feet.

If I were building the Mobile Combat Platform of Kwalish, I'd probably phrase it in those terms as well, instead of levers. For example:
- A character within 5 feet of the engine can use their action to alter the platform's speed, increasing or decreasing it by 20 feet, up to a maximum of 40 feet. The engineer can make a DC 15 Intelligence (tinker's tools) check increase the speed by 40 feet, to a maximum of 60 feet, until initiative count 0 on the next turn.
- A character within 5 feet of the steering controls can use their action to cause the platform to move up to its remaining speed, turning during the movement. The platform can only turn up to 90 degrees each round, unless the pilot can make a DC 15 Dexterity (land vehicles) check to cause the platform to turn up to 180 degrees.
- On initiative count 0, losing ties, if the platform has movement speed remaining, it uses that speed to move forward. The remaining speed, remaining turning, and claw attacks reset.
- A creature within 5 feet of a claw control can cause one of the platform's claws to attack a creature within 20 feet of the platform: +8 to hit, 2d6+6 bludgeoning damage, or the target is grappled (escape DC 16). Each claw can only attack once per round.

The idea here is to cap the Mobile Combat Platform's capabilities, rather than the characters'. For example, nothing prevents two characters from both piloting the platform in the same round; but during that round, the platform can't turn more than 90 degrees, and moves exactly its current speed.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Absolutely willing to houserule


But what would that device look like? Say it could fit 2 characters and both of those would operate the controls. Would the they only be able to attack once per round? Could if both players chose to control it to move would that be a double move? If both wanted to make it turn, would it make a double turn?

I would keep it simple if you expected it to be used regularly. If you specifically want it to be two person have one control movement (pilot) and the other weapons (gunner) (and lights etc). Don't specify "levers", players won't want to use it if it's too fiddly. Don't restrict it's ability to turn, the person on movement can, as an action, move the exoskeleton up to it's maximum speed and turn. If they have an extra action they can move twice. The person on weapons can activate the primary weapon as an action and the secondary weapon as a bonus action.

If any skill checks are needed (e.g. traversing a narrow ledge) use Vehicle (Land/Water as most applicable) proficiency of the person controlling movement.

 

[LordEntrails]

Thanks. FYI, I don't expect it to be used more than once or twice, since they are just being permitted to borrow it for a short mission etc.

 

[Guest 6801328]

But the Apparatus of Kwalish is a "car" about as much as you are a rooster.

Where I come from, if you go around calling a man a cock, you'd better be prepared to step outside.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Where I come from, if you go around calling a man a cock, you'd better be prepared to step outside.

Oooh a Fighting Cock, they're my favourite

Gloria Finis

 

[Henry]

Where I come from, if you go around calling a man a cock, you'd better be prepared to step outside.

But if he didn’t, it’s not about being chicken, perhaps they just don’t want to egg on a fight. Perhaps the unintended fowlness of meaning didn’t dawn on them, or they were just winging the comparison.

...But enough doodling about, puns can be corny if overused. We’re all crow-n ups, here...