Creatures dropping down from above: how to resolve?

[Krug]

What rules come into play when a creature (Rats, scorpions, beetles etc) drop down onto a target in the same square to make an attack? Would it be considered as starting a grapple?

 

[Len]

Tiny or smaller creatures (which includes normal-sized rats, scorpions and beetles) can move into the same square as an opponent, provoking an attack of opportunity.

For larger creatures (e.g. tossing a dwarf at a PC), how about this rule:

Accidentally Ending Movement in an Illegal Space: Sometimes a character ends its movement while moving through a space where it’s not allowed to stop. When that happens, put your miniature in the last legal position you occupied, or the closest legal position, if there’s a legal position that’s closer.

 

[Tonguez]

Personally I'd require a jump check and treat it as a 'pounce'

 

[Sejs]

Little creatures: rats, spiders, beetles, babies, etc - it's a charge, using the same rules. It's just not a charge that goes along the ground. ^_^

Big creatures: big cats, gorillas, other large things that like to jump out of trees onto you - it's a charge, using the same rules. Apply any applicable falling damage to both the target and the attacker. If 500 lbs of angry monkey comes flying 30' down onto you, you're going to feel it. Then he'll pull your arms off and beat you with them afterwards.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

I'd throw in a jump check and/or tumble check to reduce the fall damage to the attacker, but not to the defender, if the goal is to crush the defender under the weight of the attacker. Basically, if you know you're going to land on someone, you ought to be able to use their inherent squishiness and ability to collapse to break your fall a bit, but that extra energy will go into crushing them instead of breaking your legs.

As an extra house rule for fun, perhaps any damage greater than the character's Constitution provokes a free trip attack, considering that if someone drops a dwarf or a lion on you, you're likely to fall over.

 

[Ibram]

The attacker would also get an additional +2 for attacking from Higher Ground.

As a DM I would also grant an additional +2 damage if the distance fallen was less then 10 feet. If the distance was greater then 10 feet I'd have the attakcer add half the falling damage to his damage roll. the defender would have to make a reflex save (DC 15-20) or be knocked prone, the attacker would have to make a tumble check (DC 20-25) or be knocked prone as well.

 

[Ferret]

What about a reflex save to move out of the way.

 

[Bauglir]

In terms of damage there is a rule for falling objects - the damage dealt by an object landing on you is the falling damage plus a further 1d6 per 200lbs of weight.

Determining if the falling object hits the target is not (that I know of) covered though.

 

[Krug]

So check for surprise and then resolve damage as a charge?

 

[Patlin]

If the target is lucky enough to have reach and combat reflexes (or if he's not flat footed), he'll get an AOO on the jumper.