Charging in Water [my players get out!...I said OUT!]

[Gregor]

Hey rule masters,

Im trying to come up with a Lizardfolk Fighter that rides a Giant Croc around in a marsh. Now, supposing that the water is deep enough for the crock to swim atop of (not deep enough to dive) can it make a charge action? Would the water still constitute difficult terrain for the crock? Basically I want my lizardfolk fighter to charge around on a swimming crock striking my players with a lance. Is this possible or am I just having a brain fart?

I have absolutely no books with me. My thanks in advance,

Cheers,

 

[Oscar carramiñana]

I think if your mount have swim as movement description and you have a freedom of movement ring or spell you don't have any problem to do

 

[welby]

I think that if you're the DM, having a Lizard with a croc mount is perfectly logical and somewhat cool. Just use his feats to giving him mounted combat abilities and adjust the CR appropriately for the large tactical bonus he'll have.

 

[BSF]

So long as the croc can move 10 feet, through relatively clear terrain, you should be able to charge. Because the croc also has a swim speed, and can "run" in water, I see no reason why the croc couldn't charge with a lizardfolk rider. Now, the environment of the swamp might change that, but that will be due to the complications of the terrain in general, not because it is in water.

 

[shilsen]

Another vote for "sure, it can charge".

Pity that the water isn't deep enough, since otherwise you could have the croc charge under the PCs and have the lizardfolk rider stick them as he passes.

 

[Gregor]

Another vote for "sure, it can charge".

Pity that the water isn't deep enough, since otherwise you could have the croc charge under the PCs and have the lizardfolk rider stick them as he passes.

Ya I was thinking about that...but thats just EVIL!

Thanks for the responses!

Basically the PCs are going to have to find their way through a swamp that has been slowly growing in size over the winter. Lizardfolk Druids have been altering the weather, forcing it to rain constantly and causing the temperature to become much warmer then it should be in their area (roughly Cormyr in FR). This has caused the waters of the swamps to spread out into the surrounding farmlands, causing displacement of commoners, destruction of roads and trade routes etc. Moreover, the Lizardfolk have been actively raiding caravans in an organized and efficient manner. They have been focussing on Arms and Armor shipments and they are now sporting metal armor and weapons. Someone or something has been rallying these lizardfolk, teaching them to work together and how to use metal weapons.

Im going to have the party trudge through the swamps and be forced to locate the source of the raids. The swamps will be misty, raining every few hours, extremely warm. They'll have to deal with deep bogs, tipping trees, tangling roots and assassin vines. Moreover, the occaisonal run in with hungry trolls, massive spiders and snakes etc.

I have a number of different Lizardfolk encounters including Lizardfolk Rangers who hide up in the canopy raining arrows down upon the PCs, Lizardfolk Barbarians with Greatclubs, the Crock riding Fighters, Commando Rogues who quaff potions of hiding and swim up behind the party members and sneak attack them, only to jump back under the dark green waters to strike again.

Any other ideas to throw at my party?

Cheers

 

[Stormrunner]

The old "basket of poisonus snakes/spiders" trick - your Lizardfolk Druids can gather them without getting bit, then the tree-hugging Rangers can toss it down on top of a PC. Use the new Swarm rules. Lotsa poison saves.

"Death lilies" - the medieval French equivalent of those little blow-your-foot-off landmines. Basically a small (1' wide, 2' deep) concealed pit with a single long, barbed spike at the bottom. Step on it and SHUNK! Like caltrops, but your foot is nailed to the ground and freeing it does extra damage from the barbs. Add poison or dung (filth fever) or both, as desired.

Don't forget leeches. They have anesthetic saliva, so you don't notice being bit. The PCs should have to stop and check themselves visually every time they slog through some water - probably about 20-30% chance per PC of picking up some leeches. Bloodbloater ooze swarms (Fiend Folio) are basically nastier leeches.

Lizardfolk were-snakes or were-crocs.

Various ooze and fungus critters.

Will-o-wisps, of course.