Goblins in trees 100' up - avoiding falling damage?

[Empirate]

In the 3.0 "Masters of the Wild" supplement, there's the Brachiation feat, which allows you to swing from branch to branch in wood environments. That looks like a life insurance feat for those tree dwelling goblins, and is very cool thematically. Imagine dozens of Gobbos suddenly attacking from all sides, when you thought your itty bitty wooden platform between walkways was a chokepoint!

 

[Rhun]

Goblins are fairly dexterous on average (Dex 13), so it sounds like you can handle this mundanely. A few ranks in Balance. Perhaps some masterwork tools for a +2 bonus to Balance (masterwork boots that provide extra grip)?

You may still end up with the occasional splattered goblin, but you wouldn't have to worry about every goblin in the tribe having magic to keep them protected.

 

[Zil]

You could borrow something like the Shingle Runner feat from Paizo's 'Curse of the Crimson Throne' and instead apply it the tree goblins. From the d20 Pathfinder SRD : Shingle Runner - Pathfinder_OGC

 

[WHW4]

The goblins have a single rope along one bottom edge of the platform. When they have to fight up there, they wear a little harness with a foot-long length of rope tied to a D-ring. They snap the D-ring onto the rope and can run along the platform all they want (as long as they don't trip up with another goblin) their little harness moving with them obviously.

If they fall, it's a quick and easy climb check to pull themselves back up.

This also has the added benefit of being a really cool target for the players: "Hey cut that lead-line! Then you jump up and down on the platform, dwarf!"

Cheap, non-magical, and practical.

 

[baradtgnome]

Not to think too deeply about the socio-economics of goblin life... but it seems to me the goblin leaders wouldn't want to spend significant resources on saving a few measly goblin lives with magic. They are more likely to do some of the mundane things that were already suggested like lines, nets, hooks and the like. The run of the mill goblin - perhaps through darwin like processes might come to posses skills or feats that could keep them from falling or increase the likelihood of survival if they did fall off. Perhaps a +3 to balance feat, proficiency with some specialized grappling hook, or even a second chance saving throw if they fall off to grab something.

I'd think that nets would be least favored - since enemies falling off would be desirable. Or perhaps the nets capture friend and foe alike requiring anyone in them to be saved: enemies captured, friends taunted or punished for their ineptness. I like the lines ideas - and if they were camouflaged then the goblins might think only they knew about them.

Now goblin leaders... they would spare no goblin resources in saving their own smelly hides. There is where to put the magic goodies.

What about the reverse? What about magic items that make it more likely foes WILL fall off? There is a nasty surprise for a party.

 

[kitcik]

What about the reverse? What about magic items that make it more likely foes WILL fall off? There is a nasty surprise for a party.

Dandu's favorite 1st level spell: Grease

 

[Alexander123]

Dandu's favorite 1st level spell: Grease

Just some friendly advice, unless you know someone personally it's kind of creepy to write so-and-so's favorite spell.

 

[kitcik]

Just some friendly advice, unless you know someone personally it's kind of creepy to write so-and-so's favorite spell.

Just some friendly advice, whether or not you know someone personally, it's kinda obnoxious to call them creepy, not to mention stupid as all hell, But thanks for the advice.

 

[Rakusia]

maybe we should start a frinedly advice thread? either that or a dandu's favorite?