A Shadow, Hide in Plain Sight and Spring Attack - How does this work?

[frankthedm]

Yes, but only sufficiently to pinpoint them within a square (50% miss chance). With the X-ray vision ring, the shadow can strike directly and accurately at a foe without having to emerge far enough to see them.

YEs, but the poster i replied to wanted to do this...
3) When a likely target comes by, he spring attacks out of the ground, makes an attack roll, and goes back underground.

Not the more efficient attack from within the wall routine.

 

[Jack Simth]

Ah, but you see, not only does the ring avoid the miss chance, it also lets him do something particularly spiff - spring attack from further away; the ring lets him see 20 feet (provided there isn't enough material to block his X-ray line of sight) so one, medium incorporeal with a Ring of X-Ray vision can keep most the width of a largeish road under observation. He can both move around and navigate underground, can see where you are, jump out, hit you, and jump back in without provoking AoO's. Okay, readied actions could take him down, as could removing the ground (or adding more - what happens to an incorporeal critter when someone increases the size of the object to the point where it's no longer adjacent to the exterior?) - we don't want a TPK, after all.

 

[frankthedm]

we don't want a TPK, after all.

Yes, the shadow wants more than a TPK. The shadow wants a Total World Kill and should use every means at it's disposal to further that goal.

 

[Herremann the Wise]

Yes, the shadow wants more than a TPK. The shadow wants a Total World Kill and should use every means at it's disposal to further that goal.

And in this it has started the ball rolling fantastically!

If you are playing in module three (Blackwall Keep) of the Age of Worms, DO NOT read the following spoilered text.

Spoiler

The shadow was encased by the Dracolich Dragotha inside the dragon's egg full of worms. The shadow's role was to defend the egg and its worms so they could infect as many lizardfolk eggs (also in the egg chamber) as possible. The puny kobolds that were there were to be easy first meat.

The PCs have launched numerous magics around the egg chamber setting off the breaking of the egg and the infection of worms into the surrounding lizardfolk eggs. The shadow who also had 6 levels of shadowcaster (Tome of Magic), was able to prevent the PCs from venturing too far (using creeping darkness). As spawnlings began flying around looking for bodies, the PCs realized they were quickly outmatched. The wizard had prepared a fireball, the Druid a flamestrike and the Cleric a sound lance but all had already been used.

The PCs were left with no choice but to bug out - having used the majority of their resources. The shadow had weakened Marzena within an inch of her life (Str 1) before she was able to retreat with protection from the others.

Suffice it to say but this was one hell of an encounter. Now, with a legion of spawn creeping around everywhere, the apocalypse has started. Thank you mister spring attacking Shadow.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Jack Simth]

Yes, the shadow wants more than a TPK. The shadow wants a Total World Kill and should use every means at it's disposal to further that goal.

The shadow does, but that's not what I said. Generally speaking, the DM doesn't want a TPK (or a TWK).

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

An incorporeal creature can enter or pass through solid objects, but must remain adjacent to the object’s exterior, and so cannot pass entirely through an object whose space is larger than its own

Remember that. So an incorporeal creature can't enter a room through a wall that is thicker than it's own space. If an incorporeal creature entered a cliff, it would have to remain adjacent to the cliff face - unless there was an interior space within very close proximity.

I find it is an often overlooked rule and people tend to think incorporeal creatures can enter solid surfaces and move through them freely when, in fact, they're somewhat tied to the exterior surface.

 

[Jack Simth]

An incorporeal creature can enter or pass through solid objects, but must remain adjacent to the object’s exterior, and so cannot pass entirely through an object whose space is larger than its own

Remember that. So an incorporeal creature can't enter a room through a wall that is thicker than it's own space. If an incorporeal creature entered a cliff, it would have to remain adjacent to the cliff face - unless there was an interior space within very close proximity.

I find it is an often overlooked rule and people tend to think incorporeal creatures can enter solid surfaces and move through them freely when, in fact, they're somewhat tied to the exterior surface.

Yep. I know. Mentioned it earlier, briefly.

Now here's a fun scenario for you:

Party knows there's an incorporeal hiding out in the cliff face.
Wizard and Cleric play around with Wall of Stone, Transmute Rock to Mud, and Dispel Magic in such a way that there's suddenly an extra 10 feet of solid stone in the area the incorporeal critter was hiding, between one turn and the next for Mr. Incorporeal.

Then the incorporeal critter's turn comes up, and it finds it's no longer adjacent to the exterior of the cliff......

What happens?

 

[Herremann the Wise]

What happens?

Fun answer: The creature explodes in a mass of incorporeal ribbons.
Not so fun answer: The creature is shunted out taking 1d6 damage for every 10ft.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise