Converting Epic Level Beings

[Shade]

Personally, I vote no - in a strange way it might mean that his insides don't have the fire subtype and that could cause all sorts of problems if he swallowed a wizard.

Agreed. I want no part of that.

The standard cone for a colossal dragon is 70'. All(?) cones in 3.5 are as wide as they are long.

Yep, go with that or 80 ft. like Colossal+.

Well, novice DM's shouldn't be doing Epic, but I'd put a note in anyway.

Agreed.

Could work, will we need to state 'downhill'? what happens on the flat - does it just cover the 3 squares in front of the creature and not move.

Maybe state that once it ceases to be able to descend, it stops immediately?

If we were dealing with real life the lava's speed would be influenced by the degree of inclination of the slope - the steeper the slope the faster the movement rate, but as this is DnD I'd suggest either 20 or 25 which means its around for 5 or 4 rounds respectively.

20 feet sounds good.

 

[BOZ]

Personally, I vote no - in a strange way it might mean that his insides don't have the fire subtype and that could cause all sorts of problems if he swallowed a wizard.

Agreed. I want no part of that.

Well, I wasn’t actually thinking that he’d take fire damage, but more like that the act itself of hurling up the lava was what damaged his insides. Maybe some soreness to his internal organs from the force of spewing that much stuff out. Maybe he’d take some acid damage like he has GERD or something. I don’t know though, I’m not in love with the idea, just putting it out there.

The standard cone for a colossal dragon is 70'. All(?) cones in 3.5 are as wide as they are long.

Yep, go with that or 80 ft. like Colossal+.

Okie dokie, whatever you think is right.

Well, novice DM's shouldn't be doing Epic, but I'd put a note in anyway.

Agreed.

LOL. OK – how (if at all) do breath weapons normally handle the idea of damaging unattended objects?

Could work, will we need to state 'downhill'? what happens on the flat - does it just cover the 3 squares in front of the creature and not move.

Maybe state that once it ceases to be able to descend, it stops immediately?

For one thing, Vore will never be encountered on a flat surface, since he can only come out the side of the mountain. However, say he comes out 10 feet above the surface. Then, of course, his spew will not be flowing downwards the whole time. We could do as you say for that situation maybe.

If we were dealing with real life the lava's speed would be influenced by the degree of inclination of the slope - the steeper the slope the faster the movement rate, but as this is DnD I'd suggest either 20 or 25 which means its around for 5 or 4 rounds respectively.

20 feet sounds good.

OK then, 20 feet per round, and moves for 5 rounds. that gives it the 100’ coverage of the original, but will be considerably wider since the cone itself is wider.

 

[Shade]

Well, I wasn’t actually thinking that he’d take fire damage, but more like that the act itself of hurling up the lava was what damaged his insides. Maybe some soreness to his internal organs from the force of spewing that much stuff out. Maybe he’d take some acid damage like he has GERD or something. I don’t know though, I’m not in love with the idea, just putting it out there.

Put it back before you hurt someone.

Okie dokie, whatever you think is right.

I'm fine with either, but we've gone the Colossal+ router on the rest of the abilities that apply.

LOL. OK – how (if at all) do breath weapons normally handle the idea of damaging unattended objects?

Just like spells...the energy type should affect anything in the area unless note otherwise. However, only things that specifically say that they alight combusibles do so. Otherwise, its just fire damage.

For one thing, Vore will never be encountered on a flat surface, since he can only come out the side of the mountain. However, say he comes out 10 feet above the surface. Then, of course, his spew will not be flowing downwards the whole time. We could do as you say for that situation maybe.

You are correct, sir.

OK then, 20 feet per round, and moves for 5 rounds. that gives it the 100’ coverage of the original, but will be considerably wider since the cone itself is wider.

Sounds good.

 

[BOZ]

i'm fine with objects just taking fire damage.

as for the cone size, we might as well go with what makes the most sense. if that's 80, then so be it.

OK, here is what we've got so far. What changes should be made to it based upon what we've discussed?

Breath Weapon (Su): Vore Lekiniskiy has one type of breath weapon, a X-foot cone of magma usable once every 1d4 rounds. This attack deals 25d10 points of fire damage (Reflex DC 42 half). Additionally, damage from this magma continues for 1d3 rounds after exposure ceases, but this additional damage is only half of that dealt during initial contact.

Additionally, the lava lingers for 5 rounds thereafter, moving away from Vore at 20 feet per round. Any creature caught in the lava's area must attempt a DC 42 Reflex save; success indicates that the creature takes 6d6 points of fire damage provided it can physically escape the area on its next turn. Creatures that fail their saves, or those unable to escape the area, take 20d6 points of fire damage in each round they remain in the area. Creatures in the lava have their speed reduced to 5 feet and take a -2 penalty on attack rolls to Armor Class. Even after leaving the area of the spell, creatures that were exposed to the lava take half damage (either 3d6 or 10d6) for 1 additional round. The save DCs are Constitution-based.

 

[Shade]

Yeah, let's go with 80. He's epic, after all.

Change:

"Additionally, the lava lingers for 5 rounds thereafter, moving away from Vore at 20 feet per round"

To:

"Additionally, the lava lingers for 5 rounds thereafter, moving away from Vore at 20 feet per round as long as it travels downward. The lava no longer moves forward once it can no longer travel downward."

 

[BOZ]

did you want to have a "spread" effect like mortis suggests, in case Vore appears near the bottom of the mountain?

Could work, will we need to state 'downhill'? what happens on the flat - does it just cover the 3 squares in front of the creature and not move.

 

[Shade]

Yeah, that's a good idea.

 

[BOZ]

how should we state that? i have no idea.

maybe after the "it can no longer travel downward" part, we say if it reaches a flat surface, it forms a spread at a rate of say 10 feet per round for the remaining rounds? would that be the right way to say it?

 

[Shade]

I think that would work.

 

[BOZ]

We could also give him something akin to earth glide, but it only allows travel with his mountain.

here is the ability straight up; we'd undoubtedly want to make modifications:

Earth Glide (Ex): A X can glide through stone, dirt, or almost any other sort of earth except metal as easily as a fish swims through water. Its burrowing leaves behind no tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple or other signs of its presence. A move earth spell cast on an area containing a burrowing X flings the X back 30 feet, stunning the creature for 1 round unless she succeeds on a DC 15 Fortitude save.

i think it was me that suggested considering using some ideas from this spell as well:

Meld into Stone
Transmutation [Earth]
Level: Clr 3, Drd 3
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 10 min./level

Meld into stone enables you to meld your body and possessions into a single block of stone. The stone must be large enough to accommodate your body in all three dimensions. When the casting is complete, you and not more than 100 pounds of nonliving gear merge with the stone. If either condition is violated, the spell fails and is wasted.

While in the stone, you remain in contact, however tenuous, with the face of the stone through which you melded. You remain aware of the passage of time and can cast spells on yourself while hiding in the stone. Nothing that goes on outside the stone can be seen, but you can still hear what happens around you. Minor physical damage to the stone does not harm you, but its partial destruction (to the extent that you no longer fit within it) expels you and deals you 5d6 points of damage. The stone’s complete destruction expels you and slays you instantly unless you make a DC 18 Fortitude save.

Any time before the duration expires, you can step out of the stone through the surface that you entered. If the spell’s duration expires or the effect is dispelled before you voluntarily exit the stone, you are violently expelled and take 5d6 points of damage.

The following spells harm you if cast upon the stone that you are occupying: Stone to flesh expels you and deals you 5d6 points of damage. Stone shape deals you 3d6 points of damage but does not expel you. Transmute rock to mud expels you and then slays you instantly unless you make a DC 18 Fortitude save, in which case you are merely expelled. Finally, passwall expels you without damage.