D&D Word Problem Quiz

[FireLance]

Hi Larcen, if you do a D&D Word Puzzle 2, how about one based on Legolas' (in)famous "surf down the stairs on a shield while firing arrows" trick? I'm curious to know how other people would rule this.

 

[AuraSeer]

Hi Larcen, if you do a D&D Word Puzzle 2, how about one based on Legolas' (in)famous "surf down the stairs on a shield while firing arrows" trick? I'm curious to know how other people would rule this.

Staying on the shield is a balance check; I'd call it DC 35. Failure means you get no attacks. Failure by 5 or more means you face-plant and take falling damage.

If you successfully balance, make attack rolls as if from the back of a running mount (-8 penalty).

 

[Larcen]

Ok, here is a few more for those who care to try them:

- D&D Word Problem Quiz 2 -

#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.)

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.)

Have fun!

 

[AuraSeer]

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).

That's just me, though.

 

[Larcen]

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).

That's just me, though.

Oh, am not saying DC 35 is unrealistic. It's just that when I DM sometimes I give the players a small break if what they are trying is cool (i.e. cinematic) and doesn't really give them a huge tactical advantage. But obviously that is more of a style of play thing, and I wonder how many other DMs do this.

DC 35 may be perfect for an epic level PC, like Legolas, but what if the PC is low level? Can s/he not also try something cool like this? Remember, even nat 20s do not always work on skill rolls. So basically you are saying a low level PC has no chance of doing this. Which, again, you are probably RIGHT!

EDIT: I was just thinking about it, and I can see your point more. If EVERYBODY has a chance of doing this, what would be the big deal when Legolas does it? Kinda takes away from the awesomeness that is Him.

 

[LostSoul]

EDIT: I was just thinking about it, and I can see your point more. If EVERYBODY has a chance of doing this, what would be the big deal when Legolas does it? Kinda takes away from the awesomeness that is Him.

He can do it with a reasonable chance of success. If the DC was 25, most people will fail unless they have training. But Legolas, with a +15 Balance check, could do this if he Takes 10.

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.

 

[LostSoul]

#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.

It's a Trip attack against Nytin; unless Evaldood has Spring Attack, he can't do it. He could Tumble through Nytin (which is your answer to the question below, DC 25 to avoid opportunity attacks) but that would not bring Nytin to his knees.

 

[Hypersmurf]

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.

There's always Mounted Archery...

-Hyp.

 

[AuraSeer]

#12 looks like a textbook Overrun attack. Evaldood can attempt to "run over" Nytin, as long as they're within one size category of each other. He starts the attempt by Charging (moving at least 10', up to 2x his speed, in a straight line), and entering Nytin's space.

Evaldood provokes AoO as he comes in. Regardless of whether that hits, he gets to makes one Trip attack with the +2 charge bonus. If he succeeds, Nytin goes down and Evaldood can move on, up to the limit of 2x his speed. Unfortunately, since Overrun is a full-round action, he can't also close the door this turn.

If the Trip fails, Nytin gets a return trip attempt. A success knocks the baddie prone in Nytin's space. Even if the return trip fails, Evaldood is still blocked; he gets knocked back 5' in the direction he came from, and his movement ends.

(Of course, this assumes that the do-gooder is attempting to block the doorway. If he chose, he could choose to let Evaldood move through his space and continue on. He'd still get to take the AoO for passing through a threatened area, though.)

 

[Hypersmurf]

#13 is just a DC25 Tumble Check.

If he has at least one rank in Tumble, he can pull it off, but if he fails the check, he'll suffer an AoO. If the ogre does something to stop his movement (Trip, Large and In Charge, Grapple), he's in trouble... otherwise he'll just take a whack from a greatclub on his way out the door.

-Hyp.