Can someone explain Evard's Black Tentacles to me?

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Patryn, I see your logic.

Well, so long as you see my logic (whether or not you agree), I've done my bit!

I'd feel better if there were a FAQ answer on it, spelling it out decisively, but it's an imperfect world.

Of course, the FAQ would probably make a ruling on how EBT actually requires those in the area to make Balance checks to avoid getting slowed as they move through, just like the spell grease.

 

[Kordak]

Good for Skip, but I think he may have forgotten about this part:



I notice you didn't specifically quote that text in your question to Skip, so possibly it might have affected his answer. Who knows, eh?

Good point! To be fair, I think he was just looking at it in the context of AoOs as I asked the question. However, the spell is still in effect if/when a creature moves through that area (kind of like if they walked through a wall of fire) so they should get attacked by the spell effect (which is, technically, not an AoO.)

Wow, let's see if I can parse that out any further.

Thanks,
Kordak

 

[kenobi65]

However, the spell is still in effect if/when a creature moves through that area (kind of like if they walked through a wall of fire) so they should get attacked by the spell effect (which is, technically, not an AoO.)

Wow, let's see if I can parse that out any further.

Hmmmm...an interesting way to view it. Esp. since the tentacles don't get AoOs, maybe thinking about the tentacles as creatures (with all that entails) is a mistake. Maybe it's clearer if you consider it to simply be a spell effect that happens to attack and damage creatures in its area of effect using the attack and grapple mechanisms.

Just thinking out loud...that could be dead wrong.

 

[kenobi65]

Of course, the FAQ would probably make a ruling on how EBT actually requires those in the area to make Balance checks to avoid getting slowed as they move through, just like the spell grease.

Actually, I was referring to wanting an FAQ answer about creatures grappling, and whether they got to do so iteratively.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Actually, I was referring to wanting an FAQ answer about creatures grappling, and whether they got to do so iteratively.

I know ... It's kind of a running joke that the FAQ's rulings are, on average:

1) Inconsistent with each other,
2) Inconsistent with the actual rules, and
3) Inconsistent with the question asked!

I guess if you have to explain a joke, it's not as funny ...

 

[RigaMortus]

Hmmmm...an interesting way to view it. Esp. since the tentacles don't get AoOs, maybe thinking about the tentacles as creatures (with all that entails) is a mistake. Maybe it's clearer if you consider it to simply be a spell effect that happens to attack and damage creatures in its area of effect using the attack and grapple mechanisms.

Just thinking out loud...that could be dead wrong.

I think this makes the most sense!

 

[Jhulae]

Hmmmm...an interesting way to view it. Esp. since the tentacles don't get AoOs, maybe thinking about the tentacles as creatures (with all that entails) is a mistake. Maybe it's clearer if you consider it to simply be a spell effect that happens to attack and damage creatures in its area of effect using the attack and grapple mechanisms.

Just thinking out loud...that could be dead wrong.

As has been stated, it does make the most sense.

If a creature moved through a Fire Wall, it would take the fire damage on its turn, regardless if the normal 'heat damage' only occurs on the caster's turn. The tenticles are pretty much the same way. The spell's tenticles aren't just sitting at rest until the caster's turn comes up when the suddenly flail around grasping for creatures to hold, then going back to a restful state. The spell is active for its whole duration.