Chaos Diamond - options for dealing with

[Legildur]

Nasty encounter where 7 characters (6 PCs and 1 NPC) of average level of 12th (ranging 10th to 16th) are up against three half-elf/demons (20+ hit die each) [ranger, rog/sor, and fighter?] with unknown class levels.

The rog/sorc has a Chaos Diamond. Our party is comprised of 3 paladins, cleric, wiz, monk, ftr/rog/shadow dancer. Everyone bar the last one is Lawful (and nearly all LG) and the Cleric actually has the Law domain!

As you can imagine, a Word of Chaos from the diamond has had a disasterous impact on the party for those caught in the area of effect, in what was already a really tough fight in the Underdark.

My character (elven ftr8/pal6) was outside the area (about 40ft away). And he obviously needs to take control of that diamond to prevent it's further use. The options I see are:

1. charge and Sunder the diamond (what is the hardness/hit points?)
2. charge and Disarm with longsword to force rog/sor to drop diamond.
3. charge and grab the item as an unarmed disarm attack.

Failure in this will likely result in a TPK.

What are your suggestions?

 

[vulcan_idic]

Why can't the ftr/rog/shadow dancer take care of this? This sort of a task seems ideally suited to his probable talent set and, being the one non-lawful character, he would suffer the least if he failed. I'd say have the lawful characters stay well away and let the ftr/rog/shadow dancer do his sneaky thing to get up close and steal away the diamond while the other members pelt the enemy from range.

 

[Question]

I dont see any indication of the chaos diamond using the powers himself. Try telling the player not to use those powers?

 

[Legildur]

Unfortunately, the shadow dancer is stunned this round because of the Word of Chaos from the diamond.

And Question, it's the enemy half-demon that has the diamond.

Anyone know the hardness and hit points of a Chaos Diamond?

 

[Infiniti2000]

Anyone know the hardness and hit points of a Chaos Diamond?

Being generous, it would be hardness 8 with 45 hit points (3 in. across). I could easily see it being 4 in. across for 60 hit points. I could also see the hardness being much higher, perhaps double, because it's not just any stone but diamond. I would also probably invoke the rule on Ineffective Weapons. I don't think something like a longsword will do much to a diamond.

So, I suggest one of the other options, most likely the unarmed disarm. If you just knock it out of his hand, he'll pick it up or someone else will. And then, they'll do the smart thing and not hold it out in the open like that.

What's next in your plan? Your comrades will be spending the next round picking up all their stuff most likely. Then you guys teleport out?

 

[Legildur]

Thanks I2K for your opinion on the hardness/hps issue and the action.

Just sent the turn (PbEM game) and went for the unarmed disarm to snatch it away. Stand a better than fair chance as well given it's a rog/sorc (the BAB and Strength should be relatively low) and the penalty to the defender for it not being a melee weapon (the light weapon penalties cancel out). It's down to the dice now.

One of the paladins can be brought out of the confusion through a Heal spell on a scroll (cast one level below that required) and the monk can be saved with Dispel Chaos (if the DM kindly rules that he is dispelling the confusion effect (1d10 minutes duration) and not the Word of Chaos effect (instantaneous duration).

 

[Infiniti2000]

(if the DM kindly rules that he is dispelling the confusion effect (1d10 minutes duration) and not the Word of Chaos effect (instantaneous duration).

I think that would be the norm. Note that the spell description explicitly identifies the confusion as its own effect. The fact that it's non-instantaneous means it's dispellable.

 

[Legildur]

Note that the spell description explicitly identifies the confusion as its own effect. The fact that it's non-instantaneous means it's dispellable.

Thanks. That's what I was going to base the argument on.

What's your view on Dispel Chaos achieving a similar result?

 

[Infiniti2000]

What's your view on Dispel Chaos achieving a similar result?

It's automatic.

 

[Legildur]

That's what we like to hear! Thanks again I2K.