Druid companion Crocodile

[Gilladian]

I have an NPC druid (L4) with a crocodile animal companion. They (druid and a bunch of goblin henchies) will be attacking the PCs. The PCs are in a good-sized boat, but the attackers are in small reed boats. The druid's crocodile will be swimming around. IF the PCs try to use the "canoes" to get to the druid (in his own canoe), should the croc have a chance to tip them over?

I'd think so, but the croc description doesn't mention it anywhere. How would you handle the situation?

 

[radferth]

I'd say have the croc make a str roll, and that's the DC whoever it paddling the canoe has to make to keep it from tipping. Depending on the canoe, you could also just have the croc bite it in two.

 

[frankthedm]

Moving from raft to raft alone should involve balance checks. Opposed Balance Vs Croc's STR checks sounds good when a croc wants to rock a raft..

Well, inspired by the the Creature Feature Film Boom of recent {Top Pics: Alligator (1980), Lake Placid (1999), Rogue (2007) & Primeval (2007), here are some crocodile counters.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6070/whatacrochx6.png

 

[Infiniti2000]

Fantastic idea, tipping the boat over. I think the fairest method would be to have opposed rolls: balance check from the PC's perspective vs. a (single) strength check from the croc. The PC's would gain +2 if any one PC had 5+ ranks in profession (sailor). Don't forget armor check penalties. Since it's a reed boat, not very stable, giving the croc a +2 on the check would be okay. Was the water rough? Perhaps another +2. Anything else in the boat that could interfere with balancing? Perhaps another +2. If all PC's fail the opposed check, then the boat tips over (major hassle because no where to escape). If even one succeeded, then the boat is not tipped over, but those who failed fall in and need to make swim checks or suffer the consequences (like the croc who would likely shift attention).

Have fun!

 

[Gilladian]

Thanks! I think I'll go with Infiniti's idea.

If we ever go back to this game, that is... I just got a new player so we're going to start over (this game was only a few weeks old, with only 2 players). I'm keeping it "on hold" as an emergency fill in game, though.

 

[freyar]

Large aquatic animals sometimes have a Capsize (Ex) ability to knock over boats of a certain size or smaller (the Sea Drake in MM2 is an example, IIRC). The monster just has to surface under the boat, which has a fixed chance (depending on the size of the boat) to knock it over. This is a slightly unusual mechanic for d20, but it's there if you want to use it.

Of course, the Str check makes a lot of sense. I'd personally make it a fixed DC to knock over the boat (or maybe oppose it by Profession (sailor)). But, in case the boat doesn't get knocked over completely, make the PCs take Balance checks opposing the Str check to avoid falling overboard.