AC for guy in a backpack

[Lamoni]

I think I remember this being mentioned before, but since I can't find the thread, I thought I would mention it again.

Let's say that I have a gnome PC (3 feet tall, weighing 40 lbs) who gets the reduce person spell cast on him (now 18 inches tall, weighing 5 lbs). Now the reduce person spell is made permanent with the permanency spell.

It would be very easy for this character to fit in anyone's backpack and weighing in at only 5 lbs, it wouldn't break anyone's back... or even put them over a light load.

This was just all coming to me while I am planning out my next character. Nothing like this has come up yet, but I am looking into the idea to raise my AC (with both a higher dex and being tiny sized) with reduce person. Some instances where I think it might be fun to use the backpack trick... Hiding in some enemy's backpack to smuggle yourself into the enemy's stronghold. Getting a cohort carry you around on their back where you would have a high chance of not being taken as a threat. I am sure there are other cases.

This all brings up the question of armor class while being carried in the bag. And since you could have an eyehole to look out, it might be theoretically possible to cast spells from within the bag. If you are a threat, you will probably be targeted. Does your AC remain the same as if you were standing on your own? Are you effected any less when you face fireballs or other area effect spells?

Another fun idea... your party could each get their own personal reduced-person gnome or halfling cleric cohorts. They could remain in the backpack where they would never be noticed or targeted and could keep healing all through each battle.

 

[Caliban]

You need more than an eyehole to cast a spell through the bag. You need at least a one foot square opening.

If there is less than a one foot square opening, then the person in the bag doesn't have line of effect to anything outside the bag, and would be considered to have total cover against any attacks (until the bag is damaged enough to be penetrated - probably only a few points of damage).

If there is a one square foot opening in the bag, then they can cast spells and can be targeted with attacks, but would have a cover bonus to AC from the bag. I would probably also rule that they lose their Dex bonus to AC, due to the confined space in the bag.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I generally agree with Caliban, though I'd be a little bit more generous with the Dex bonus -- I'd probably just penalize effective Dex rather than taking away the bonus.

 

[Sejs]

I wouldn't let 'em make their own reflex saves - I'd rule that whatever the person who is carrying you as equipment gets on their save is what you've got.


How could a bag-cleric know when to heal? The injured person could holler at 'em I guess, but otherwise all they're seeing is bag.


Frankly, the Combat Buddy system gets really annoying for a DM. Don't expect it to fly for very long if at all.

 

[RigaMortus]

What if the guy in the backpack cast Invis on the person carrying him? Would he also turn Invis? If not, would it look like he is floating in mid air? At least then he'd have line of sight, right? heh

 

[Staffan]

I generally agree with Caliban, though I'd be a little bit more generous with the Dex bonus -- I'd probably just penalize effective Dex rather than taking away the bonus.

Sounds like a perfect time to consider them Entangled.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

There are also Concentration checks to be made if casting while on a moving "mount".

 

[CRGreathouse]

Sounds like a perfect time to consider them Entangled.

That was just what I was thinking, actually.

 

[AuraSeer]

What if the guy in the backpack cast Invis on the person carrying him? Would he also turn Invis?

No. Invisibility affects one creature plus objects carried. The backpack gnome is still a creature, not an object (unless he's dead).

If not, would it look like he is floating in mid air? At least then he'd have line of sight, right? heh

He'd have line of sight, but not line of effect. He would still need a one-foot opening if he wanted to cast spells out.

 

[Darklone]

Had such a team once, halforc barbarian with movement feats and a limp kobold sorcerer as well as a limp gnome illusionist on his back (though not in the backpack but in childseats). Human cleric was usually reduced by the gnome and carried as well. The half-orc outrun horses.

We used Entangled as well and cover for the two on the back.