DM's: How Do You Deal with Rope Trick?

[Red Baron]

...Rope Trick seems a pretty logical extension, really. Were I a wizard I would make a point of developing a spell that gives me a secure, hidden, weather-and-ambush proof place to sleep no matter where I went...

Yes, of course you would. That's where Leomund's tiny hut and Leomund's secure shelter come in, I should think. But those 3rd- and 4th-level spells, respectively, are really pretty obsolete when compared to the 2nd-level rope trick, at least the way it stands. Pretty silly, isn't it?

Look, if they feel they need to waste a precious 2nd level spell slot and at least five feet of rope for a safe encampment, then they're probably fighting something dangerous or they're afraid to sleep outdoors, which only means I've been doing my job.

Oh, come now. A "precious" 2nd-level spell slot? Invisibility is, arguably, about the only other spell that compares in relative utility, and Melf's is the only worthwhile offensive 2nd-level spell. The various buff sells (bull's strength, etc.) are good, sure, but to say that prepping rope trick is wasting a 2nd-level spell slot is a bit of a stretch, wouldn't you agree?

Rope trick needs one of two things: Either it should be a 4th-level spell, since it most closely resembles Leomund's secure shelter in utility and power, or it should be reduced to a duration of, say, 10 mins./level (or even 1 min./level) so that it is used simply to escape notice briefly or to give time to implement healing, etc., not rest up and re-prepare spells altogether.

 

[Rel]

I've recently had experience playing in a campaign where our Wizard took Rope Trick as one of his spells. It saved our bacon a number of times, but the important rule is: Don't get caught using it.

We were in the unenviable position of having our party (of 3) up against more than 100 enemies on a fairly small island. Thanks to Rope Trick, using ruined buildings to hide in and intelligence gathered by the Wizard's raven familiar, we waged a brutally effective guerilla war against these enemies. By the end, they had been pared down to 7.

Unfortunately, these 7 included some of thier best Wizards and Clerics. One night they managed to track us back to the ruin we were camping in and attacked us when we were unprepared. My Cleric cast one of his last remaining spells, Obscurring Mist and the Wizard cast a Rope Trick. We scrambled inside but when the mist cleared, the bad guys suspected that something was wrong.

Apparently they used Detect Magic and found the portal. A few minutes later we were unceremoniously dumped onto the ground and the readied attacks started going off. Frankly, it probably should have been a TPK. I think the DM fudged things to let us get away.

So the point is that Rope Trick can be really handy as a safe, portable campsite. But if you get spotted using it, there is all manner of nasty surprises the bad guys can prepare for when you emerge (either because you decided to emerge or because they Dispel it).

 

[Arnwyn]

I have left it as-is, and the PCs use it rather liberally. I have no problem with that.

I do have some questions for you, though. I'm not quite sure I understand how the PCs can keep casting it so often - do they seriously use up all their 2nd-level spell slots for Rope Trick only? I'm sure (in a dungeon) they are getting into a whole lot of encounters in one day - they should be running out of Rope Tricks quickly even if they *did* use up all their spell slots for it.

And like Rel noted - they better not let enemies see them using it. This is a very simple solution that doesn't require a silly level of suspension of disbelief with everyone running around with Detect Magic spells (lame, IMO). The PCs will be trapped in one location and could get into a serious ambush... this should reduce their usage when they realize that whenever they use it there's a chance that someone will see (whether they're beeing scryed upon, or an enemy is simply peeking around the corner down the hall).

 

[Grundle]

I
Rope Trick isn't broken. DMs who make up cheesy ethereal herpes rules are broken. If you don't like a spell, ban it up front so you don't screw the Sorcerer out of a precious slot or screw the Wizard out of money.

I second that!

Besides ethereal herpes is just nasty - no real cure you know. Flares up at the worst times. nasty!

 

[Fenes 2]

I have left it as-is, and the PCs use it rather liberally. I have no problem with that.

I do have some questions for you, though. I'm not quite sure I understand how the PCs can keep casting it so often - do they seriously use up all their 2nd-level spell slots for Rope Trick only? I'm sure (in a dungeon) they are getting into a whole lot of encounters in one day - they should be running out of Rope Tricks quickly even if they *did* use up all their spell slots for it.

As far as I understood, they cast rope trick, then rest in it until they regain their spells.

 

[officeronin]

I have no problem with the rope trick after the encounter is over. If the PCs retreat, throwing rope trick to rest up and tackle it again, the enemy can do a number of things.

My PCs tried this once, and there was a ranger among the enemy. He tracked them, figured out that the party had gone into a rope trick, and all the orcs began building a big bonfire.

OfficeRonin

 

[Jay Lofstead]

The limitation Rope Trick has when compared to the Leomund's spells is that all occupants are required to climb at least 5 feet of rope to get into the rope trick. This eliminates the ability to take most mounts and large familiars into the rope trick.

It is a really handy spell that reaches its real utility at 8th level (8 hour duration). Before that, getting forced out after a few hours burns those few precious 2nd level spell slots, but still prevents magic types from getting the continuous rest required (that climbing requirement). Make it such that you cannot extend it with a second casting and the utility of it is greatly reduced at lower level (I believe this is really how it works) and still not as useful for a large group (or with large animals) at a higher level.

 

[nute]

Rope Trick has a number of fun uses. As I tend to interpret the rules, it creates a small extradimensional space (technically, would this be its own demiplane?), accessible from a 3'x5' portal, oriented parallel to the ground, only visible from inside the space.

Now, it depends on how your campaign runs for this to be used. If a party casts it to have a safe place to sleep outside - that's close to the intended use. Note - it's not a COMFORTABLE place to sleep. No beds, no air conditioning, kind of cramped.

If they're using it for resting between areas in a dungeon - that's where good DMing and tactics come into play. Say that the party has a knock-down drag-out battle with some 15th level kobolds, they win but wind up at an average 2HP apiece.

The party asks their wizard to cast Rope Trick, letting them all remain safe while the cleric rests, renews his spells, and can cast a Mass Heal tomorrow. Seems safe and logical.

However - what's to say that the rest of the monsters in the dungeon won't come across the remains of the battle? Unless your monsters loyally stay in the exact spots they're assigned, it's not unlikely for a wandering monster/guard to figure out "Hey, lots of dead kobolds. Hmm. What did 'em in?" and call a bunch of his buddies.

Hesitation in a hostile area is ALWAYS a way to put yourself at a disadvantage tactically. Any dungeon/enemy keep/haunted forest should be considered "behind enemy lines". If you're going to sit still and assume the enemy's going to give you time to hide and recuperate once they know you're there -- well, depending on the DM, you could have some nasty surprises waiting when you come out of RopeSpace.

1) The aforementioned bonfire.
2) a Darkness spell.
3) Glyph of Warding.
4) For simpler monsters - this logic: if the portal remains open, the party can still be detected by scent. Buncha barking hellhounds under the portal should disrupt the cleric's rest well enough.

No spell or ability of the players is insurmountable. Remember, flaming oil is a simple tactic that can never fail to amuse, and Harm can be countered by Summon Vermin.

~M.

 

[jasper]

So You have a 8th level party or aleast 8th sor/wizard burn one third of his 2nd spells for the party to hide for 8 hours.
Ok IMC the spell would be able to detect and dispell.
Now what type of monsters are in the complex. Jello Geltain Gelations cubes, green slime, and animal vegetables and minerals. Good tactic.
Are the creatures have normal (10) int and know about spell casters if they don't need stinking magic. Again good tactic.
Are the killer kobolds from kazamozoo who have sorcerers on their payroll.
Capt Meepo Capt Meepo! Three more rooms and their guards have been destoryed! They even took your play orc collection!

Meepo- hmm send for Yosemite Sorcerer.

Ys- Hmm It appears we been inflected by a group of adventurers. They either teleporting in and out, invisible, rope trick etc. I suggest you dam up part of the corridor and flood it from the latrines.

Horsesnack- oh oh oh Mr. Meepo! Can we throw down posion caltrops and brick up the rooms.
Meepo - make it so!.

Or are the monsters smarter that the average commoner and know about spell slinging.
Capt Meepo. Sectors 13, 13, and 36 have fail to report in. Last report was a group of biggums and 2 hobbits were trying to solication donations for brownies scout cookies.

Capt meepo - Send two patrols with spell sweeper units to affect area.

Or are the monsters SUPER smart.
Capt Meepo peers into his crystal ball, one band of adventurers in northern sector. One fighter, thief, spell caster and cleric. They are going up a rope trick. Have most units pull back to the cavern. Then have coward unit stand by to run away at the far end of corridor. Have C.U. retreat back to cavern and then we blast them.
Hold that thought. Have a engineer unit just fill the room with rocks. And set up a listening post at both ends.

Well it all how you play your monsters. Are they like video games where they never hear the nuclear bomb going off in the next block?
Or are they smart.

 

[Ravellion]

This is a very simple solution that doesn't require a silly level of suspension of disbelief with everyone running around with Detect Magic spells (lame, IMO).

I take it in your campaign 3rd level wizards are the most feared thieves in the land, since if you find "detect magic" a far stretch, "see invisibility", being two levels higher a spell, is probably completely unheard of?

I am sorry, but if you notice a patrol earlier didn't report back, and you scout, and you find tracks that stop somewhere, Detect magic is the first hing I would cast.

Rav