Goblin Picador

[Intrope]

Yep, I love the Picadore.

I thought up an alternative version of a goblin ridding on the back of a giant frog, which uses it's sticky tongue to make similar "harpoon" attacks on single opponents. I haven't statted it out yet, but the idea is there.

Regarding the Harpoon... I don't imagine it as a simple spear with a single point. I imagine it more of a spear with large barbs and hooks on it. Even if the spear point "misses" the target, all the hooks and barbs will still catch on the target's clothing, armor, and shield. This allows the DM to describe why a characters is "hooked" without them actually being impaled on a spear.

Admittedly, I can't help but picture the Goblin Picador as Scorpion from Mortal Kombat.

 

[Chocobo]

PC's are on bridge over canyon.
Picadors are on either side of canyon, parallel to the bridge, as follows:

P B P
P B P
P B P

(B=Bridge, ' '=space, P=Picador)

I'm sure you see where this is going. Even on a miss, a PC is pulled one square....into a nasty drop. Hide the picadors beforehand, and the PCs -- if they survive -- will never cross a bridge again.

No actually the PCs can't fall - well can't fall more than 5 squares anyway...

They can't move more than 5 squares away from the goblin, and the goblin has no ability to end the Harpooned status, only the target can end it and only voluntarily. So the PCs just end up hanging down 5 squares below the goblins. They use ranged attacks to kill the goblins off and then make climb checks to get back out (with the benefit of ropes of course).

Can you tell that I think the abilities are poorly written?

 

[tomBitonti]

Thrown Harpoon (standard; at-will) • Weapon
Range 5; +9 vs. AC; 1d4+3 plus Harpooned (see text)

Harpooned
Can’t move more than 5 from this creature. Remove standard;

Ok, so '5' is 5 squares?

I'm trying to understand how this would work at range; I'm presuming that there is a rope tether. Being pulled from range makes sense, but not anything else.

From melee, I don't see how you could move further than adjacent to the target.

Also, Str vs. Fort? Why not Str vs. Str? Shouldn't there be mechanics to do any of:
Cutting the rope;
Sundering the harpoon;
Pulling the rope or harpoon out of the hands of the attacker;
Pulling the harpoon out of the defender.

And, no save to keep from being moved by the goblin? No size limitations? A goblin could move a troll (or a giant or a dragon)?

Also, what would a player need to do to learn how to use the goblin's spear?

 

[zen_hydra]

You want to see something really neat?

Give the picador a Ride modifier, then slap him on top of a Deathjump Spider.

Now that actually seems to be closer to a picador.

I have been somewhat confused as to why a harpoon wielding goblin is named after a horse-riding, lance wielding, bull-fighter. From what I have seen, I would liken the Goblin Picador more to a banderillero, who uses small barbed spears, but then again I probably wouldn't have used a bull-fighting at all.

 

[Chocobo]

I'm trying to understand how this would work at range; I'm presuming that there is a rope tether. Being pulled from range makes sense, but not anything else.

From melee, I don't see how you could move further than adjacent to the target.

Pull means move the target towards you, so an adjacent creature already can't be pulled.

And, no save to keep from being moved by the goblin? No size limitations? A goblin could move a troll (or a giant or a dragon)?

Of course not, that would be silly. There is a size limitation on the pulling (max of medium). The goblin can only harpoon a colossal dragon and keep it from moving more than 5 squares away until it removes the harpoon. It can't pull the dragon closer because it is larger than medium.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Admittedly, I can't help but picture the Goblin Picador as Scorpion from Mortal Kombat.

"GET OVER HERE!" but in a squeaky goblin voice. Oh yes. Oh yes.

I am so introducing some of these into my first 4e gaming session.

How about having some hidden in the roof...?

 

[Lizard]

Of course not, that would be silly. There is a size limitation on the pulling (max of medium). The goblin can only harpoon a colossal dragon and keep it from moving more than 5 squares away until it removes the harpoon. It can't pull the dragon closer because it is larger than medium.

Seems to me the dragon should be draggin' (heh) the goblin in that scenario.

Image of goblin going bouncing after a running dragon, like a man leashed to a rambunctious german shepherd...

 

[Lizard]

No actually the PCs can't fall - well can't fall more than 5 squares anyway...

They can't move more than 5 squares away from the goblin, and the goblin has no ability to end the Harpooned status, only the target can end it and only voluntarily. So the PCs just end up hanging down 5 squares below the goblins. They use ranged attacks to kill the goblins off and then make climb checks to get back out (with the benefit of ropes of course).

Can you tell that I think the abilities are poorly written?

Well, I'd say that logically, the goblin could just drop the rope, but that kind of simulationist thinking is verboten.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Also, Str vs. Fort? Why not Str vs. Str?

Remember that Fort is now the best of Str or Con, so if you're very strong or very massive, you have a better chance of stayin' put.

 

[Kordeth]

Well, I'd say that logically, the goblin could just drop the rope, but that kind of simulationist thinking is verboten.

Given 4E's "exception-based design" philosophy, I'm certain that somewhere there's a global rule that says "a creature can cancel any ongoing effect it creates as a [free or minor, probably] action."