Giant rock throwing question?

[NewJeffCT]

Yet another question - a hill giant is part of a large force of bad guys currently marching through the forest towards a small grove where the PCs (and a few NPCs) are currently located. They are trying to protect the dryad that lives there for as yet uncertain reasons...
however, she's been rather helpful and she is good, so she is an ally in this combat.

But, I wanted the giant to toss in a warning rock as sort of a warning from it's range increment of 120'

Now, if he tosses through a forest, he gets minuses to hit for cover, but the grove itself is sort of open ground (say about 60' by 60') So, he is tossing through trees, but into an open space.

Would I do some sort of grenade like effect?
How would you handle it?

It would probably be able to see the opening from its distance, but not individual PCs or NPCs, but they will likely be hidden and/or behind cover.

 

[jaelis]

What is the giant trying to do? Hit a particular square? Hit a particular creature?

If he's just aiming at a square, I'd treat it with the throw splash weapon rules. If he happens to hit in a square with a creature in it, I might rule it like attacking an invisible creature: if the attack roll hit the creatures AC with a -2 penalty, roll a 50% miss chance to see if it actually hit.

It sounds like cover would apply in any case. You should also use the forest environment rules to see how far away the giant could actually see the defenders.

In a sparse forest, the maximum distance at which a Spot check for detecting the nearby presence of others can succeed is 3d6×10 feet. In a medium forest, this distance is 2d8×10 feet, and in a dense forest it is 2d6×10 feet.

I wouldn't let him attack from further away than that.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Maybe a Spot check to see the PCs in the grove, with failure indicating no targets can be seen.

Depending on the trees in the way, I'd either use cover or concealment. Either way, a Hide check could be in play.

120 feet away is a -12 on the Spot check and I'd probably give around a -4 penalty for the trees (more if they're dense), so that's -16 on the Spot check. Opposed by Hide checks for the PCs. But 120 feet is a long way in a forest and maximum spotting distance might be less than that (see above post).

In terms of throwing, I'd giver either cover or concealment on the attack (maybe 20% miss chance for light forest, 50% miss chance for heavy forest). If the giant is just aiming at an empty space, that's not all that hard to do (base AC 10, +0 for Medium size space, -5 for Dex 0 = AC 5; plus range modifiers if applicable). Alternatively, you could assign the entire grove as the target and use the Gargantuan or Colossal size modifiers. I'd probably do that and say a PC that wasn't specifically targeted wouldn't be hit.

Just some thoughts off the top of my head...

 

[blargney the second]

They have the Brutal Throw feat, right?

 

[jaelis]

Maybe a Spot check to see the PCs in the grove, with failure indicating no targets can be seen.

I believe a spot check is only needed if the characters are trying to hide.

 

[frankthedm]

But, I wanted the giant to toss in a warning rock as sort of a warning from it's range increment of 120'

That is just it's first increment. Those are thrown weapons so the max of five increment is 600'.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I believe a spot check is only needed if the characters are trying to hide.

From the SRD:

Check: The Spot skill is used primarily to detect characters or creatures who are hiding. Typically, your Spot check is opposed by the Hide check of the creature trying not to be seen. Sometimes a creature isn’t intentionally hiding but is still difficult to see, so a successful Spot check is necessary to notice it.

 

[jaelis]

Fair enough. I suppose it's a question of whether this would be one of those times

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

From the original post, it sounds like it is. See the last paragraph.

 

[NewJeffCT]

What is the giant trying to do? Hit a particular square? Hit a particular creature?

If he's just aiming at a square, I'd treat it with the throw splash weapon rules. If he happens to hit in a square with a creature in it, I might rule it like attacking an invisible creature: if the attack roll hit the creatures AC with a -2 penalty, roll a 50% miss chance to see if it actually hit.

It sounds like cover would apply in any case. You should also use the forest environment rules to see how far away the giant could actually see the defenders.

I wouldn't let him attack from further away than that.

It's the intimidation factor as to why the giant is throwing the rock. The PCs are in the area with some low level NPCs who'd likely get nervous at big rocks being chucked at them...