Entangle

[nittanytbone]

Hello,

Just a little help on how this spell is supposed to work.

IF YOU FAIL YOUR SAVE: You are entangled (-2 to hit, -4 to dex, must make DC 15+ CON check to cast). You also cannot move from the spot.

IF YOU PASS YOUR SAVE (or subsequently make a DC20 STR or ESCAPE ARTIST check): You are NOT entangled, but you can only move at half speed.

Each round, on the caster's initiative, all creatures within the AoE must save again if they are not already entangled.

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So....

ROUND 1
Ranger: Ranger casts Entangle on a Goblin
Goblin: The goblin passes his save, throws a javelin at the ranger, and takes a single move action to start getting clear of the Entangle. He can only move at 1/2 speed, although the terrain is not necessarily considered "difficult" (thus no +2 to tumble DCs, he can 5' step, etc).

ROUND 2
Ranger: On the ranger's initiative, the plants automatically try to entangle the goblin again. The goblin rolls a save and fails.
Goblin: The goblin attempts a DC20 escape artist check and fails. This is a full round action.

ROUND 3
Ranger: The ranger sits and laughs.
Goblin: The goblin uses a standard action to use a missile attack. He takes -2 to hit, plus -4 to dex, for a total of -4.

Does this sound right? The caught creature is not helpless, correct? It still threatens, can take Attacks of Opportunity, can make missile attacks, etc?

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Circumstantial bonuses for terrain:

I've been allowing the spell to work normally in natural wooded terrain. On squares that are paved road in the forest, I've been granting a +2 bonus to saves.

Indoors (example, underground in a dungeon) or on stone fortificaitons, I don't think the spell would work at all.

What do other DMs do to modify this spell for terrain?

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Yup, that sounds right. The spell is horribly overpowered when DM's ignore the terrain it is cast in. Personally if there is not at least light undergrowth the spell has no effect.

{Of course, I also have HRd variants of higher levels that combines Entagle with Plant Growth.. overcoming that problem at the cost of a higher spell slot.

I also declare the affected area 'difficult terrain' simply to keep track of compounding movement modifiers.. but thats a thread for the HR forum... }