fireball and rope of climbing

[Scion]

Last session we had a character who used a rope of climbing to go down into a pit, once there he was jumped by quite a few wraiths (bad times there). In order to help him the mage threw a fireball into the middle of them (evasion = good). The rope of climbing was partially in the blast, the rope made its saving throw. Before any reductions the fireball was 29 points of damage.

Now for the real question, what happens to the rope of climbing?

thanks!

 

[AuraSeer]

Objects in general take half damage from fire attacks. That knocks the damage down to 14 points. Since a rope has 2 hit points (and no hardness), it probably got smoked.

 

[Jaxom]

I believe there's also a line in the PHB (which really doesn't matter too much for the item you're discussing) last paragraph of page 135 "Vulnerability to Certain Attacks" where the DM can rule that certain attacks are especially successful against some objects.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

Me I'd rule that if a magic item makes a save it takes no damage. Otherwise it's not even worth rolling the save for far too many magic items.

 

[Jaxom]

The example I pulled from the PHB definitely shouldn't be used for magical items. In fact would it be right to say the rope is attended by the climber and thus doesn't make a save unless the person climbing rolls a 1.

 

[ShadowMaster]

The example I pulled from the PHB definitely shouldn't be used for magical items. In fact would it be right to say the rope is attended by the climber and thus doesn't make a save unless the person climbing rolls a 1.

I agree with this. It is the same thing than save for the cloak you wear, no roll, except if you roll a 1 for yourself.

 

[Scion]

I'm sorry for not being more clear about this, but he wasnt touching the rope any longer as he was trying to defend himself. So unless just owning the rope gives it immunity unless a 1 is rolled...

The ruling given at the time was that it was destroyed by about 20 feet (the amount in and near the blast). I would like a more substantial rule in the future but I am pretty sure the rules say it is destroyed even with a save.

Maybe magical items have something akin to evasion? dont know

If nothing is certain in the rules, or if it is bad I will try houserules possibly at that time

 

[kreynolds]

I'm sorry for not being more clear about this, but he wasnt touching the rope any longer as he was trying to defend himself.

For some reason, I actually caught that, so I get what you're sayin'. Also, I'm in agreement that the rope is toast.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

No rope.

 

[Endur]

I agree that the part of the rope close to the blast is toast.

With regards to the part of the rope that was not near the blast, I think that is GM discretion. You could either rule that losing half of the rope was sufficient to cause the whole rope to lose its enchantment. Or you could rule that they now have a shorter rope.

A rope hanging on a wall is not "attended". A rope in a backpack is "attended."

Tom