Black Puddings and Item Damage

[Beckett]

The thread about Disjunction got me thinking about another item destroyer, that just happens to be featured in two of the adventures I'll be running soon.: the Black Pudding.

Acid (Ex)
The creature secretes a digestive acid that dissolves organic material and metal quickly, but does not affect stone. Any melee hit or constrict attack deals acid damage, and the opponent’s armor and clothing dissolve and become useless immediately unless they succeed on DC 21 Reflex saves. A metal or wooden weapon that strikes a black pudding also dissolves immediately unless it succeeds on a DC 21 Reflex save. The save DCs are Constitution-based.

The pudding’s acidic touch deals 21 points of damage per round to wooden or metal objects, but the ooze must remain in contact with the object for 1 full round to deal this damage.

That sure sounds like a save or destroyed roll. I'm pretty sure it is the item making the roll, since it is the specific target. The effect doesn't seem to care what the target is- the henchman's breastplate or the dwarf's adamantine plate- one hit, one failed save, and boom, the armor is gone. Is that right? Hardness and HP have no effect on against a Black Pudding's acid? (and on a side note, does Hardness normally work against acid?)

 

[DarkJester]

That sure sounds like a save or destroyed roll. I'm pretty sure it is the item making the roll, since it is the specific target. The effect doesn't seem to care what the target is- the henchman's breastplate or the dwarf's adamantine plate- one hit, one failed save, and boom, the armor is gone. Is that right? Hardness and HP have no effect on against a Black Pudding's acid? (and on a side note, does Hardness normally work against acid?)

Save of be destoyed. It's nasty stuff. Don't get in melee with these guys if you can help it. If the black pudding hits Mr. Bob T. Fighter, he has to make a reflex save on the behalf of his armor or it is going to be a melted pile of gunk. No hardness protects against the extraordinary special attack of the black pudding, though I belive mundane acid is subject to hardness.

 

[kaomera]

Wow... Now I totally want to build a dungeon with an awakened Black Pudding with enough Wizard levels to cast a Disjunction or three...

Grey Ooze does pretty much the same thing, only with a much lower save DC. Overall I've always found that encounters with Oozes (or Green Slime, etc.) to be received rather poorly by players. I'm not entirely sure why, since 90%+ of the time (IMC, at least) it is possible to detect and avoid the creatures. But players will want to "clear the dungeon" down to the last critter, regardless of their actual (supposed) goals...