Do Falling Objects Automatically Hit You?

[TheGogmagog]

The point about improvised weasons raised another question for me. What if it's not an improvised weapon? Say your mage drops a 6lb morning star. Does it do 1d8 + strength modifier or can you start adding up falling damage (instead of or in addition to)?

 

[Slaved]

Ice storm could be used as a precident.

I would probably go for a reflex save for an attack in an area though and a to hit roll for a smaller number of smaller objects.

The avalanche rules might help as well.

 

[Erywin]

Calculating the attack bonus or DC's is an exercise left up to the student, because my formula involves an "how annoyed am I with the PC at the moment" adjustment...

Love it!!

 

[JiffyPopTart]

I was just thinking about this tactic myself today.

Floating over the BBEG and turning my 1" iron cube into a 12' iron cube with Polymorph Any Object.

Thats 777,600lbs of bad guy squishy goodness.

DS

 

[Gerion of Mercadia]

Notes -

1. Effects that target a player have a tendency to require attack rolls.

2. Effects that hurt "anyone in X squares" have a tendency to award reflex saves.

3. Improvised weapon could only apply if the target is within 5 range increments.

 

[Bagpuss]

Only a rock fall automatically hits and everybody dies.

 

[el-remmen]

Interesting! I, too, use this ad hoc rule. Where'd it come from, I wonder?

I have used it for many years as well. So many years, in fact, that at one time it was not a Reflex save for the larger objects at all, but rather, a save vs. dragon breath!

 

[Nail]

Floating over the BBEG and turning my 1" iron cube into a 12' iron cube with Polymorph Any Object.

Thats 777,600lbs of bad guy squishy goodness.

....so long as the BBEG fails a Ref save. The Ref save is likely going to be in the 12 -17 range, so.......he avoids it.

 

[iceifur]

Well, since the RAW don't cover the issue, you could always do like I do: rip the info from another WotC d20 product. D20 Modern, in this case.

• A falling Tiny-sized object allows a DC 5 Reflex save for half damage. The DC increases by 5 for each size category increase of the object (DC 10 for Small, 15 for Medium, and etc.).
• If the save fails by 10 or more, and the object is at least three size categories larger than the character, the character is pinned under the fallen object. A pinned character cannot move but is not helpless.
• A pinned character can make a Strength check (DC 5 for Small objects, 10 for Medium, +10 for each size category larger than Medium) to lift the object off themself, or an Escape Artist check (DC 20) to get out from underneath. Modify the DCs for these checks as necessary based on the circumstances.

Simple, no?

 

[Drowbane]

Emphasis mine

My players must've said the phrase "common sense" a dozen times during our argument. If the issue is addressed by the RAW, then "common sense" is irrelevant.

Don't get me wrong; I have plenty of house rules to cover things not covered in the RAW or that contradicts the RAW because I don't like how the RAW does it. My point is, while common sense has a role to play for house rules, it (sadly) has no role to play in the RAW.

The RAW is what it is, for good or for bad.

Holy crap, thats the scariest thing I've ever read on these boards.