Equipment damage?

[Lichemaster]

Hey All!

So my group went across a trapped bridge and the lead character (fighter/cleric) fell into a tar pit, the adventure said to treat it as lava (I rolled 16d6 instaed of 20d6, felt it should be weaker). They got him out and the damage only lasted 1 round, so he lived with -9 h.p's.
I have 2 questions.
I'm playing 3.0

#1 how/should I work out damage to all of his equipment? (page numbers would be great)
#2 Would you lower the characters charisma (a fortitude save?) so keep his pretty face from scarring?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ElvishBard]

The damage done to armor and weapons is in the PHB on page 167 (3.5) which is the sundering section, just have the lava do the same amount to the armor as if it was a sunder attack and that was the damage.

I wouldn't lower charisma, because it is also his personality and how well he treats people and makes them want to help him. You could make him be uglier with no mechanical penalty but have children scream at his blistered, nasty face that he would need strong magic to fix.

 

[werk]

I guess I don't know why the tar was that hot...If it were that hot, I would think it is on fire... Also, try to think of naturally ocurring tar instead of processed, homogenized roofing/sealing tar in a bucket, I think it's mostly liquid with dense, solid tar underneath.

As for equipment, I would only look at exposed equipment, just like a failed save. Is it something that would be ruined by tar? Generally you just need some alcohol or chemical agent to clean off the tar, but the object is largely untouched. I'd say a held scroll or maybe the arrows in a quiver are ruined, but everything else that came into direct contact with the tar is OK. I wouldn't think tar would affect weapons or armor or anything that can be cleaned.

As for scarring, I wouldn't do that at all. I don't scar a party every time a fireball goes off, and those are supposed to be pretty hot.

Quit trying to screw the party ;p

 

[Lichemaster]

It's a downloaded adventure and it says to that if someone falls in (which the cleric/fighter did) tread it as Lava (Chapter 3 in the DM's guide).
I will read the sundering rules tonight (thanks Ebard)
@werk your no fun, why can't I screw them (kidding) I will not touch the charisma.
I do like idea of not effecting armour (etc) but it did say to play it hot (lava) so I will see.

 

[werk]

It's a downloaded adventure and it says to that if someone falls in (which the cleric/fighter did) tread it as Lava (Chapter 3 in the DM's guide).
I will read the sundering rules tonight (thanks Ebard)
@werk your no fun, why can't I screw them (kidding) I will not touch the charisma.
I do like idea of not effecting armour (etc) but it did say to play it hot (lava) so I will see.

Amazing what things you can download, and the varying quality of those things. You are the DM, see rule 0. Spidey's uncle says with great power comes great responsibility.

...but second to that, it doesn't have to make sense, see my sig, you da boss.

 

[Lichemaster]

I understand that, one of the characters died from a Bodak in the same adventure minutes before the other member fell in the tar. (he has been raised)
I had out hero points before the game (1d6 points) which as soon as they fail a d20 roll they can choose to use a hero point and increase the d20 roll by 1d6 (skill,to hit,saves, etc, rolls).
We play every other Sunday for 3 to 4 hours so 1d6 points is more then enough. I understand bending/changing the rules but I feel that if they do it on there own it will be very rewarding for the group.
The ranger died and the player almost quit the game, but I stuck to my guns and he stuck it out and enjoys his new character (the ranger was/is raised from the dead and is a back up character).
I'm sure the healing potions/spells revived his Charima so I will only pick on his equipment for now.