Having trouble with Bigby...

[Three_Haligonians]

...actually, just his hands.

The thread concerning Spiritual Weapon reminded me that my group and I have been facing some confusion about the various Bigby's ________ Hand spells. Mostly concerning enemy movement. When the designated target moves, when does the hand follow? Immediately? or on the caster's turn? If the hand does more than just interpose (push, grapple, strike, crush) and the designated target moves, when does the hand try again?

Ex: Party wizard casts Bigby's Grasping Hand on evil wizard. Wizard ends up grappled and so, on his turn casts Teleport to escape. Assuming the wizard is still within range of the Grasping Hand, when does it move to grapple him again?

Thanks for your help,

J and T from Three Haligonians

 

[Diirk]

It would appear the hand moves immediately, always keeping between you and the opponent, no matter what the opponent does.

Example, forceful hand: "A very strong creature could not push the hand out of its way because the latter would instantly reposition itself between the creature and you, but an opponent could push the hand up against you by successfully bull rushing it."

Example, interposing hand: "This floating, disembodied hand then moves to remain between the two of you, regardless of where you move or how the opponent tries to get around it, providing cover (+4 AC) for you against that opponent."

Any attempts at grappling, bullrushing etc would take place on its turn, however (which would be the same point in the iniative order as when you brought it into being).

Side question: "The grasping hand can also bull rush an opponent as forceful hand does, but at a +16 bonus on the Strength check (+10 for Strength 35, +4 for being Large, and a +2 bonus for charging, which it always gets), or interpose itself as interposing hand does."

Shouldn't a 35 str be +12 ?

 

[shilsen]

Side question: "The grasping hand can also bull rush an opponent as forceful hand does, but at a +16 bonus on the Strength check (+10 for Strength 35, +4 for being Large, and a +2 bonus for charging, which it always gets), or interpose itself as interposing hand does."

Shouldn't a 35 str be +12 ?

Is that from the SRD? If so, it's an error there. The PHB says the hand has a Str score of 31, so the +10 is correct.