Crowbars and 10 ft. poles

[candidus_cogitens]

A PC uses a crowbar to pry open a door. What would be the circumstance bonus on his strength check? (Last week, in my game, I doubled the total strength check roll. Was that too much?) How about a portable ram? Is that more useful or less useful for breaking through a door?

Likewise, do you give a circumstance bonus for finding traps if a pole is used?

 

[hong]

A PC uses a crowbar to pry open a door. What would be the circumstance bonus on his strength check? (Last week, in my game, I doubled the total strength check roll. Was that too much?) How about a portable ram? Is that more useful or less useful for breaking through a door?

The rule of thumb is to use a +2 bonus if you can't think of anything else. Don't forget that you can take 20 on ability score checks, just like skill checks. A portable ram probably warrants a +5 circumstance bonus (equivalent to +10 Str), but requires at least two people to use it.

Likewise, do you give a circumstance bonus for finding traps if a pole is used?

I wouldn't. But if you do, don't forget to add a matching circumstance bonus to wandering monster checks (all that thumping on the ground is bound to attract _something_...).

 

[candidus_cogitens]

I would think a crowbar would help a lot more than just +2. Maybe +10 would be more like it.

 

[hong]

I would think a crowbar would help a lot more than just +2. Maybe +10 would be more like it.

Then assign +10 and don't bother asking questions to which you already know the answer.

 

[Christian]

You know, Hong, there are decaffeinated brands that taste just as good as the real thing.

+10 is probably excessive, cc. I'd call it +4 as a DM, presuming that the user was dealing with a door (or whatever) for which a crowbar would be of use. (Cracks around the door to wedge it into, etc.)

 

[Caliban]

Another option might be to have the crowbar allow you to take 20, but without requiring the extra time it normally takes. And an additional +2 cirumstance bonus.

Of course, we are in the realm of house rules now.

 

[Roland Delacroix]

Then assign +10 and don't bother asking questions to which you already know the answer.

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[Croaker]

I believe that a crowbar would only give a +2 circumstance bonus, since one of the listed bonuses in the PHB is +2 for having the perfect tools. Since a crowbar is perfect for opening most doors and other such items, this is the most applicable way to look at it. Think of it as a masterwork tool kit for the task of opening stuck doors.

As to the portable ram, I believe that its benefit is to allow 2 characters to apply their full strength bonuses at the same time. Without one, I would rule that only 1 character could effectively batter at a normal size door at a time, or maybe one could use the Aid Another action if it was a good-sized door.

 

[strongbow]

Portable Rams

The exact rules for portable rams are in the PHB, under the description for portable ram.

I wish I knew how to quote highlight this; it's from the SRD.

"Ram, Portable: This iron-shod wooden beam is the perfect tool for battering down doors. Not only does it provide a +2 circumstance bonus on a Strength check to break open a door, but it allows a second person to help without having to roll, adding another +2 to the check."


So there's your official portable ram rules. I don't know of any official rules for the crowbar. +2 sounds good to me.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Re: Portable Rams

Don't forget the other bonus.

A portable ram is guarunteed to attract every wandering monster in hearing range as fast as it can move.

The exact rules for portable rams are in the PHB, under the description for portable ram.

I wish I knew how to quote highlight this; it's from the SRD.

"Ram, Portable: This iron-shod wooden beam is the perfect tool for battering down doors. Not only does it provide a +2 circumstance bonus on a Strength check to break open a door, but it allows a second person to help without having to roll, adding another +2 to the check."


So there's your official portable ram rules. I don't know of any official rules for the crowbar. +2 sounds good to me.