Infiniti2000
First Post
Enter your square is not what grabbed means, so maybe you were thinking of a previous edition. Your point still stands, though: putting the food in the swarm's square may effectively immobilize it.
Can a swarm be grabbed?
- Thread starter Reaper Steve
- Start date
UngeheuerLich
Legend
It is not disallowing grabbed or slow or immobilize... just by a ranged or melee attack (single target)
using food as bait, i would even disagree with swarms not beeing able to be slid... i could imagine sliding the swarm with food much more easily than grabbing it
using food as bait, i would even disagree with swarms not beeing able to be slid... i could imagine sliding the swarm with food much more easily than grabbing it
Ah yes, how do I grab a swarm?
Why does a hovering flying creature have to 'stand up' when its knocked prone?
How come a construct can be put to sleep?
Why can I still shift while blinded, I don't even know which direction to protect?
I'm of the mindset that the word used as part of a condition has absolutely nothing to do with what your character is actually doing to the monster. Conditions are merely terms created to give the player a general visualization and justification for detriments they create.
They could have simply replaced Grab, Blind, and Stunned with Condition Red, White and Blue. If your power stated that your attack deals 1d10 damage and inflicts condition Red until end of next turn where Red was detailed as the same game mechanics described under 'grab'...you'd be less likely to question the logic of this power on any given foe and would simply accept the mechanics.
Calling something Condition Red, isn't exactly conducive to a smooth running game as you'd have to endlessly check the rules on what that means. By simply giving it a name like Grab, many people will grasp the general game mechanics without requiring a rules reference or memorization.
To summarize, your characters actions are in some way causing any given creature to act differently. How you are doing this is completely open to your interpretation and requires no justification.
Why does a hovering flying creature have to 'stand up' when its knocked prone?
How come a construct can be put to sleep?
Why can I still shift while blinded, I don't even know which direction to protect?
I'm of the mindset that the word used as part of a condition has absolutely nothing to do with what your character is actually doing to the monster. Conditions are merely terms created to give the player a general visualization and justification for detriments they create.
They could have simply replaced Grab, Blind, and Stunned with Condition Red, White and Blue. If your power stated that your attack deals 1d10 damage and inflicts condition Red until end of next turn where Red was detailed as the same game mechanics described under 'grab'...you'd be less likely to question the logic of this power on any given foe and would simply accept the mechanics.
Calling something Condition Red, isn't exactly conducive to a smooth running game as you'd have to endlessly check the rules on what that means. By simply giving it a name like Grab, many people will grasp the general game mechanics without requiring a rules reference or memorization.
To summarize, your characters actions are in some way causing any given creature to act differently. How you are doing this is completely open to your interpretation and requires no justification.
this is the problem with 4e.
the rules are TOO clear. they are so precise they leave very little to the imagination, drawing the the box to think in VERY well, when(as in this instance you are asked to think outside that box many players, (and sadly DMs) fail to invision the posibilltys.
remember its a roleplaying game, immerse your players.
the rules are TOO clear. they are so precise they leave very little to the imagination, drawing the the box to think in VERY well, when(as in this instance you are asked to think outside that box many players, (and sadly DMs) fail to invision the posibilltys.
remember its a roleplaying game, immerse your players.
Festivus
First Post
How about asking the player how they propose to grab the swarm and see what sort of answer they can come up with?
Edit: To clarify, I think that yes, they can be grabbed and things can be described in a way that it makes some sort of logical sense (e.g. I use my cloak to envelop them). I had someone become so frustrated with the lack of melee damage that they asked if another player could roll them over the swarm as a close blast attack. I made it an improvised weapon attack and allowed it... it was creative.
Edit: To clarify, I think that yes, they can be grabbed and things can be described in a way that it makes some sort of logical sense (e.g. I use my cloak to envelop them). I had someone become so frustrated with the lack of melee damage that they asked if another player could roll them over the swarm as a close blast attack. I made it an improvised weapon attack and allowed it... it was creative.
Last edited:
Odhanan
Adventurer
Just use common sense. Example:
Q: Can a swarm be grabbed?
A: Huh? No.
There. Done.
DracoSuave
First Post
Just use common sense. Example:
Q: Can a swarm be grabbed?
A: Huh? No.
There. Done.
I prefer to use narrative sense.
Can -I- grab a swarm? No.
Can a mythical greek hero grab a swarm? Yes.
Guess which D&D is closer to?
Odhanan
Adventurer
DracoSuave
First Post
WTF?
Do you have an actual example in mind?
:facepalm:
You're missing the point... that mythical heroes doing impossible deeds beyond the ken of mortals is pretty much the narrative arc of 4e. The entire design of 'tiers', where you -start- as heroic, and eventually work your way to epic tier, where the character design and concept is based on how you attain immortality (literal or metaphorical) is not easily constrained by the versimilitude of what normal people can do.
Instead, consider the rediculous suspense of belief required in descriptions of Thor, Heracles, that sort of thing. -That- is a lot closer to where D&D lies in its basic design.
TarionzCousin
Second Most Angelic Devil Ever
A feat makes it a Minor Action.Players Handbook 7 said:
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