D&D Word Problem Quiz

[AuraSeer]

#13 is a Tumble. If the runner makes a Tumble check of DC 25, for up to 20' of his movement he does not provoke AoO and can pass through enemy-occupied spaces. If he fails the check, he can still move through the ogre's square, but he'll draw an AoO (and probably get grappled).

Note, however, that he may suffer an AoO in any case. An ogre's threatened area is 25' straight across-- 10' reach in all directions, plus the 5' square he occupies in the middle. If the halfling must go across a diameter, he can't Tumble far enough to get past cleanly. His best shot is to start from a side and "caddy corner" through the threat area.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Note, however, that he may suffer an AoO in any case. An ogre's threatened area is 25' straight across-- 10' reach in all directions, plus the 5' square he occupies in the middle. If the halfling must go across a diameter, he can't Tumble far enough to get past cleanly. His best shot is to start from a side and "caddy corner" through the threat area.

Note also, though, that the door is "directly behind" the ogre. If he can get half cover or better before he finishes tumbling, no AoO...

-Hyp.

 

[Steverooo]

Word Problem #11

#11 (By request) The player wants to have a "Legolas Moment" and so decides to take his PC surfing down a flight of stairs on a shield... while shooting arrows at orcs. (Note: AuraSeer, I am digging your ruling on this. Just wanted to see if there were any others. However, I think your DC 35 is too high to be cinematic, especially considering the benefit (?) the maneuver ultimately provides.)

To balance on the shield as it slides down the stairs is a Balance check, DC:15. (Yes, that's right, DC:15; the same as sliding down an ice-covered hill without losing your balance... **Replays of Njal's Saga, with Skarp-Hedin sliding down the ice-covered hill to the river, severing his enemies' heads en-route**) If the PC has fewer than five Ranks in Balance, they lose their DEX bonus to AC. Depending upon the design of the shield, I might give it a -2 Circumstance Modifier to the Balance Check.

The attack is then handled normally, either as though riding (-8, is it?), or -0 with the Shot on the Run Feat. Possibly with a -2 Circumstance Penalty.

EDIT: After review, it occurs to me that an important question is unanswered: the speed with which the shield descends the stairs... GM's Fiat, on that one! If it slides at walking speed, then DC:15 Balance. If it is moving at full speed, then DC:20. If at double-move speed, then TWO DC:20 checks.

Again, if the Balance check fails, the PC gets a +2 to be hit, and loses any DEX Bonus to AC. If they fail by five or more, they tumble down the stairs.

 

[AuraSeer]

Re: Word Problem #11

For those who think this DC;15/20 too low, the PC must needs be at least 10th level, with Balance as a Class skill, that maxed, and have a +2 DEX modifier to even have a CHANCE to do this... Must be at least 20th level if Balance is a Cross-Class skill (ignoring possible DEX-Modifying magic). Seems tough enough, to me!

Say what? Anyone can hit a DC 15! A character with 1 Tumble rank and 8 Dex (total skill mod: 0) still has a 25% chance of making that check.

The character you describe, with 13 ranks and a +2 attribute mod, will automatically succeed against DC 15.

 

[Steverooo]

WP#12

#12 Since Nytin has arrived, Evaldood now just wants to get out of Dodgeville. However, the only exit from the dungeon is directly behind Nytin. More of out desperation than sanity, he throws caution to the wind and attempts to bowl over Nytin, run thru the door, slam it shut, and hopefully bar the door from other side while Nytin is getting back to his feet.

Alas! Poor Evaldood! (Huh? What am I saying?) HA, ha, you fiend, you cad! Prepare thee thyself for thine come-uppance!

This is an Overrun, although Eval would probably do better with Tumbling, if he had it... Again, we need to know who wins Initiative, and what armor & Enc Eval has. In any case, Eval can make the door on a double-move, if he makes Initiative.

So he moves (runs?) in, and makes a Trip attack against Nytin. Assuming he has a good BAB, he will likely succeed, as Nytin's Armor will negate his DEX. Mod. If he succeeds, Nytin will fall and he can run through. Nytin will have to spend his action to stand, and then move towards (to? through?) the door, which Eval can't close until next round, as it is a Move-Equivalent Action.

If he fails, Nytin can try to Trip him, forcing him to end movement in Nytin's square, prone and ready for Nytin's attacks!

Even if he succeeds in staying up, after failing the Overrun, he has to move back five feet, and end movement. Again, right where Nytin wants him!

All of this assuming that Nytin lost Initiative, AND assuming Eval survives Nytin's AoO, in the first place.

Of course, everyone has forgotten poor Damselin, who has just killed Eval with a strike from the rear using her +1 Haircomb of Poison...

 

[Steverooo]

WP#13

#13 Same situation as above, only Nytin is a ogre and Evaldood is a halfing looking to make a mad dash between Nytin's legs. He may not bother with closing the door.

Again, with the Kim-Chi (unless the Halfwit PC has Tumbling). The Halfling is Size Small, the Ogre size Large. The Halfling cannot overrun creatures more than one Size category larger than him. Eval hits, bounces back 5', and Nytin gets a Trip attack to knock him prone... Assuming, of course, that Eval won Initiative, and survived the AoO, again!

 

[Steverooo]

WP#14

#14 After one insult too many, Shurshott decides to make his move. He throws the ale from the mug he is holding into the bully's face and hopes that will distract the braggard long enough to allow him to get up out of his chair and draw his longsword.

The first part is easy, adjudicating the results are not... Roll for Surprise. If Shurshott wins, he gets a free attack. If not, go straight to Initiative.

The drink-in-the-eyes is a simple ranged touch attack. The drink's effects, however, are totally up to the GM. In any case, I would allow a stand-up Move-Equivalent Action, combined with a Draw Weapons, if Shurshott's BAB is +1 or more.

Thereafter, he might get a free attack, depending upon the contents of the cup. Alcohol? Boiling coffee/tea? Tepid water?

Then again, he coulda just slugged the guy with a pewter mug!...

 

[Steverooo]

WP # Final

#15 Lucky triggered the water trap. An entire ocean is now flooding the room he is in at an alarming rate of 100 gallons per second. He manages to get out of the 20x20x10 room and close the 3 inch thick well-made wooden door behind him all in one round. Lucky is now busy running at breakneck speed down the LONG 240x5x7 foot shaft that got him there. Will the door hold or burst from the water pressure? If it breaks, when? And how fast will the tidal wave travel to engulf him? Enquiring DMs want to know. (Note: This situation is not all unlike something that *I* had to arbitrate as DM once. ARGH. I needed a slideruler. It's times like this most DMs would just start pulling numbers out of their...well, you know.)

There are, of course, no game mechanics to handle this... Thus, I would handle it however I felt like. I would have water filling the hallway, the door bulging, etc., and as soon as the PC made the stairs, the door would burst, and he would have to fight his way up the stairs, barely making it (regardless of rolls).

Why? Dramatic effect, of course!

 

[Steverooo]

Skate-shielding

Ever try to skateboard down stairs? With a large object in your hands? While not looking where you're going? I wouldn't put the DC any lower than 30. I still think it's cinematic, since Legolas appears to have epic ranks in the Balance skill (and Ride (horse) too, of course).

I don't think it's the same thing... Skateboards are small, and have wheel. Shields are large and flat. Skate-shielding down the stairs is much more similar to skiing than skateboarding... and you can ski down icy steps much more easily than DC:35, methinks... YMMV.

I calculate it as: Uneven ground (DC:10), Angled (+5) = DC:15, with a possible +5 for moving full movement, two rolls for a double-move, maybe three or four for a run-equivalent.

(Now note, I haven't seen the scene where Legolas does this, I don't know the conditions of the steps, whether slick or not, nor whether the shield's edge is curved up or would get hung on the steps' edges, etc. Hence the possible -2 Circumstance Penalty).

 

[Steverooo]

Whose move?

I don't think you can replicate Legolas' move under the d20 rules. He needs to make a Full Attack and move, and unless there is a Feat that allows you to do this, he's stuck with one shot even with Shot on the Run.

I would rule he isn't moving, the shield is... The question is, what's ITS movement rate?