Evard's Black Tenticles

[Grundle]

I'm thinking of taking "Evard's Black Tenticles" as one of the spells my gnomish illusionist gets for going to 8th level. I've got a couple of questions on this spell...

(1) Do the tenticles get AoOs?

(2) Can the tenticles flank (or participate in flanking) an opponent?

(3) As I read it, the tenticles appear on the round the spell is cast (it's a 1 action spell), but cannot act until the caster's next turn. Is that right?

(4) Can multiple tenticles appear in the same 5ft square, or must they all occupy different squares?

Seems like a really cool spell. Just the thing to take out those pesky evil wizard types. Being small, my gnome can even cast it centered on himself without fear of being grappled by the tenticles.

Love to hear from anyone who has novel uses or good stories involving this spell.

 

[Lord Ben]

Why wouldn't it attack you?

It says that it grapples nearby creatures or objects but ignores objects smaller then a medium sized person. It doesn't ignore any creatures smaller then medium.

 

[Jeremy]

I had read it to mean that the tentacles are very simplistic and the only programming they've got is man sized and bigger, so gnomes and halflings would be protected.

I could be wrong though.

 

[Lord Ben]

It grapples creatures or objects and ignores OBJECTS smaller then medium sized. So it won't grapple your torch or a sword, but it will grapple the table, bench, or huge rack of alchemist fires perched precariously on the edge...

It says nothing about ignoring creatures smaller then medium size.

 

[RogueJK]

In my last campaign, our 16th(?) level elven sorceress knew Everard's Black Tentacles, and she attempted to use it on several occasions. Unfortunately, because of the tentacles' 1 round delay in acting, most creatures were able to get out of the area of effect before being grappled.

Because of that, it's main use is as a herding or blocking spell. If you don't want the bad guys to go somewhere, cast it there. They'll avoid it. And if you want the bad guys to leave an area, cast it there. They'll evacuate the area as quickly as possible. It is also good for cutting off escape routes. If the bad guys are fleeing in one direction, you can cast the spell well ahead of them, so that they run into the field of tentacles after the tentacles have animated.

The only time that it was really useful for us was as a means of intimidation. We had to convince a town of wild dwarves that the gods were angry at them, so the invisible sorceress proceeded to fly over the village casting various scary-looking spells, including EBT.

(If it does ignore creatures that are smaller than Medium size, you might be able to use it as a defensive spell. Cast it on the area around you, and you (the gnome) are free to move around in the area, but any enemy melee fighters have to wade through the sea of tentacles in order to reach you.)

There are much better 4th level spells out there, though...

 

[Plane Sailing]

Other ideas - cast darkness, then cast it inside the darkness so that nobody knows to keep out of the dark... (trick that also works well with blade barriers)

Cast it as an area-denial effect as above, and then get your fighters to bull-rush foes into it. (generally keep away from this tactic if facing big and strong foes who might be tempted to return the favour...)

Cast it, then use telekinesis to move foes into the area.

If you have a druid or ranger with you in the outdoors, get them to cast Entangle first, then summon the tentacles. If you are in a dungeon cast web first then cast the tentacles. Basically think of tactics and spells that make it more difficult for people to leave the area before the horrible grapples start...

Cheers

 

[Shard O'Glase]

similar to plane sailings darkness idea but that 3rd level invis spell invis 10' radius or invis sphere makes evards one really cool trap. And for an illusionist invis spells should be some of your bread and butter spells.

 

[dcollins]

First, note that the spelling is "tentacles".

(1) The Sage ruled "Yes".
(2) DM's call -- I'd prefer "no".
(3) Correct.
(4) DM's call -- I'd prefer "no".

The Sage did in fact rule that the tentacles do not attack small creatures.

 

[Grundle]

First, note that the spelling is "tentacles".

(1) The Sage ruled "Yes".
(2) DM's call -- I'd prefer "no".
(3) Correct.
(4) DM's call -- I'd prefer "no".

The Sage did in fact rule that the tentacles do not attack small creatures.

If thats the case then excellent: Tenticles get AoO's and ignore small creatures. Do you recall were the Sage ruling appeared? in Dragon?

 

[Zhure]

After about 8th level, EBT makes an excellent alarm type spell for Sorcerers. Just don't forget the mine field laying around the campsite.

Greg