Feather Tokens - Trees on command

[carborundum]

When players decide to plant trees under an enemy in a dungeon, how have you worked this?

I initially added the rule that it had to be planted in earth, and would not grow on a stone floor. The next time we had a fight, the players decided to lift up a floor tile and plant a tree in the soil under it. I gave the bad guy a reflex save and he jumped back.

But what if he hadn't?

Situation: 10 foot stone ceiling with plenty of solid earth above it, 20 foot square room, bad guy (bone devil) in the middle standing where the floor is open to the soil, and a character with 10'reach (polymorph into an annis hag) planting the quaal's ferather token under the devil's feet.

 

[Nifft]

I would not allow a PC or NPC to "place" something in an opponent's square (unless that opponent was helpless). You could make the attempt, but the opponent would get an AoO (perhaps causing you to "place" the tree in your own square), and the opponent would get a Reflex save (at a low DC, since the tree wasn't designed for offensive use).

Cheers, -- N

 

[frankthedm]

When players decide to plant trees under an enemy in a dungeon, how have you worked this?

I initially added the rule that it had to be planted in earth, and would not grow on a stone floor. The next time we had a fight, the players decided to lift up a floor tile and plant a tree in the soil under it. I gave the bad guy a reflex save and he jumped back.

But what if he hadn't?

Situation: 10 foot stone ceiling with plenty of solid earth above it, 20 foot square room, bad guy (bone devil) in the middle standing where the floor is open to the soil, and a character with 10'reach (polymorph into an annis hag) planting the quaal's feather token under the devil's feet.

No save needed, Creature goes to nearest legal space.

The DM is the one who decides how the tree shows up. Nowhere does it specifically say the "top of the tree top BALLOONS out first, then the tree rises". The DM is just as free to say the trees growth is proportionate as it rises, merely shoving aside anyone in the square of the ACME tree seed. [see rules for squeezing and illegal spaces]

Tree
A token that causes a great oak to spring into being (5-foot diameter trunk, 60-foot height, 40-foot top diameter). This is an instantaneous effect.

Hell, humans are assumed to be able to move and fight around a tree's trunk.. Massive creatures should be able to treat a massive tree the same way.

Trees
The most important terrain element in a forest is the trees, obviously. A creature standing in the same square as a tree gains a +2 bonus to Armor Class and a +1 bonus on Reflex saves (these bonuses don’t stack with cover bonuses from other sources). The presence of a tree doesn’t otherwise affect a creature’s fighting space, because it’s assumed that the creature is using the tree to its advantage when it can. The trunk of a typical tree has AC 4, hardness 5, and 150 hp. A DC 15 Climb check is sufficient to climb a tree. Medium and dense forests have massive trees as well. These trees take up an entire square and provide cover to anyone behind them. They have AC 3, hardness 5, and 600 hp. Like their smaller counterparts, it takes a DC 15 Climb check to climb them.

 

[carborundum]

Can you believe I forgot the AoO. Doh! Long day at work, I wasn't 100%.

(I'd also remembered to say no throwing - standard action to activate.)

 

[frankthedm]

(I'd also remembered to say no throwing - standard action to activate.)

Activating an item is almost always a standard action.

 

[JiffyPopTart]

How much damage would it do if I got swallowed by a monster and popped out a token?

DS

 

[shilsen]

How much damage would it do if I got swallowed by a monster and popped out a token?

DS

My personal ruling on that is the tree needs enough space to appear and will be unable to grow inside a creature. It fits with the general rule (PHB pg. 172) that a "creature or object brought into being or transported to your location by a conjuration spell cannot appear inside another creature or object" and prevents abuse.

 

[frankthedm]

IIRC, the DMG entry mentions the ground in some manner.

 

[shilsen]

IIRC, the DMG entry mentions the ground in some manner.

Nope.