Greasing a Black Pudding - Will this Work?

[Herremann the Wise]

Hello Everyone,

I'm pitting my players against a huge Black Pudding in the near future and just know the party wizard will try greasing it when the creature tries to climb out of the sewer channel it will be in. Considering the thing has an unrivalled dexterity of 1, I'm thinking it's going to slip right back down into the depression it was in when it tries to climb up the sewer wall. I'm just wondering if this would be the correct ruling?

The Black Pudding is huge 15x15 and the area affected by a grease spell is 10x10.
The slightly enhanced HD version I'm using has a Climb of +16 (and can always take 10).
A Black Pudding can dissolve organic and metal material. Is the product of a grease spell considered organic? Could the grease spell slow the creature while it dissolves the grease if it is?
I'm assuming that any reflex save or balance check that the ooze has to make wil fail and fail miserably.

I suppose I'm just trying to prepare for a possibly horrendous encounter that could swing very much for or against the PCs. If the PCs come up with a great idea, I certainly don't want to hit it with the Nerf bat.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Infiniti2000]

First of all, let me say that it's a good idea to get a handle on a ruling you know will come up beforehand. But, it's far from a horrendous encounter. It would be great for the players and thus great for the game if it went the way you fear. It's not a bad thing when an a players makes excellent use of even a low level spell.

However, the pudding cannot be greased. It is not an object.

Obviously, then, you must mean that the wizard will grease a 10ft section of the wall. I may not be understanding the scenario, but is there no other wall the pudding can climb out on? Maybe the pudding would just go elsewhere? That is neither bad nor good, just a consequence of the grease.

A really mean (though not really terrible) idea would be to litter the bottom of the sewer with spikes. When the ooze falls onto them, instead of being damaged, he splits. Then, he takes off into the sewers and escapes out different holes...

 

[Infiniti2000]

Oh, and speaking of greasing a black pudding, has anyone seen hong lately?

 

[atomn]

I like Infiniti2000's suggestions and would combine them. I'd let the spell slip the pudding back into the sewer but then have it ooze its way another way in. That way one minor spell wouldn't completely negate your encounter but the player's quick, creative reaction would earn the group some time to rally and form a plan before getting attacked full out.

 

[frankthedm]

Allowing low level spells to be more effective than they deserve to be is a bad thing for the game. Some people may claim it is a good thing and is “creative use of a spell” but when a low level NPC wizard does the same thing to the players leading to a TPK, their tune will likely change. Think of the situation as if a player was in control of the monster, would that player not ask if the pudding “could still be hanging onto the non greased area?”

Or if an enlarged player was climbing a 15’ ladder and had the grease spell nail only one 5’ side of his 10’ face, Would that player not pleaded to be still holding onto the non greased area?

Grease used to be flammable in previous editions of the game, the rules are currently silent on the matter. Objects coated in grease are not rendered immune to acid though so it most likely is dissolvable.

The pudding itself can not be greased. Also the area underneath the pudding in all likelihood can not be targeted with a grease spell because unlike other creatures, the pudding does cover it’s entire space with it’s body.

Does the channel only have a 10x10 surface area? If not the pudding is still hanging on to the other areas. To get past the greases spot it should have to use the movement reducing ‘squeezing’ rules since it has less surface to climb.


grease (grēs) n.
1. Soft or melted animal fat, especially after rendering.
2. A thick oil or viscous substance, especially when used as a lubricant.
3.
a. The oily substance present in raw wool; suint.
b. Raw wool that has not been cleansed of this oily substance.
4. Slang. Something, such as money or influence, that facilitates the attainment of an object or a desire: accepted some grease to fix the outcome of the race.
Grease
Conjuration (Creation)
Level:
Brd 1, Sor/Wiz 1

Components:
V, S, M
Casting Time:
1 standard action

Range:
Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target or Area:
One object or a 10-ft. square
Duration:
1 round/level (D)
Saving Throw:
See text
Spell Resistance:
No
A grease spell covers a solid surface with a layer of slippery grease. Any creature in the area when the spell is cast must make a successful Reflex save or fall. This save is repeated on your turn each round that the creature remains within the area. A creature can walk within or through the area of grease at half normal speed with a DC 10 Balance check. Failure means it can’t move that round (and must then make a Reflex save or fall), while failure by 5 or more means it falls (see the Balance skill for details).
The spell can also be used to create a greasy coating on an item. Material objects not in use are always affected by this spell, while an object wielded or employed by a creature receives a Reflex saving throw to avoid the effect. If the initial saving throw fails, the creature immediately drops the item. A saving throw must be made in each round that the creature attempts to pick up or use the greased item. A creature wearing greased armor or clothing gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks and on grapple checks made to resist or escape a grapple or to escape a pin.
Material Component
A bit of pork rind or butter.

 

[Question]

If the PCs wanted to avoid the encounter, they could easily block off the sewer with a wall of force.

I wonder what happens if you kill a black pudding then try to cook it for dinner? Or turn it into some sort of jelly dessert?

 

[frankthedm]

If the PCs wanted to avoid the encounter, they could easily block off the sewer with a wall of force.

I wonder what happens if you kill a black pudding then try to cook it for dinner? Or turn it into some sort of jelly dessert?

I'd recommend the consumers contact a varient of Slimy Doom that is ingestion transnmision and spawns a black pudding when they die from the disease.

If someone gets a pudding at thier mercy and does not burn it to ash [in far excess of HP damage it takes to "kill it"], they are begging to be screwed over.

 

[Goldmoon]

I'd recommend the consumers contact a varient of Slimy Doom that is ingestion transnmision and spawns a black pudding when they die from the disease.

If someone gets a pudding at thier mercy and does not burn it to ash [in far excess of HP damage it takes to "kill it"], they are begging to be screwed over.

But what if a Troll ate a black pudding? Would the pudding be considered acidic for those purposes?

 

[Question]

The very name "Black pudding" consumes up hilarious images of adventurers eating it.

For the record a chinese delicacy involving turtles is literally a black pudding.

 

[Fieari]

I would say that it would. On the other hand, what about a half-green dragon troll?