How much weight can the Web spell support?

[Magic Rub]

How much weight can the Web spell support, if properly anchored to two or more solid and diametrically opposed points such as say canyon walls? If wood was placed overtop of it to form a bridge deck how much could the bridge hold. Or if it was used to stop a rock slide, or hold one back how much could it hold back assumeing that there was no puncturing of the web. How do you figure this out?

 

[Zarthon]

I would do it like this: You need to make a Str check DC 20 to move through the web, now in my mind you would be tearing your way through it.

According to the SRD: A stuck creature can break loose by spending 1 round and succeeding at a Strength check (DC 20) or an Escape Artist check (DC 25).

Now the max load for Str 20 is 400lbs and A character can generally push or drag along the ground up to five times the maximum load which now makes the total amount 2000lbs or approx 900 kg

900kg/2000lbs is not a lot if you are trying to stop a rockslide but I think it is more than enough if you wanted to use the Web spell as a bridge provided you kept the weight on it at any one time to less than 900kg/2000lbs

Anyway thats how I see it.

 

[Magic Rub]

900kg/2000lbs is not a lot if you are trying to stop a rockslide but I think it is more than enough if you wanted to use the Web spell as a bridge provided you kept the weight on it at any one time to less than 900kg/2000lbs

Anyway thats how I see it.

Thanks, this leads to more questions.

Is this...

1) per 5ft sqr. of the web?

2) Times the number of anchored 5ft sqrs, as one point would help to hold the next.

3) or in total for the whole web? (wich sounds rather week)

 

[Zarthon]

Thanks, this leads to more questions.

Is this...

1) per 5ft sqr. of the web?

2) Times the number of anchored 5ft sqrs, as one point would help to hold the next.

3) or in total for the whole web? (wich sounds rather week)

These are good questions, but I think we are trying to get to much out of the Web spell(it is a second level spell) in general if you wanted to stop a rockslide you would have to use a higher level spell perhaps wall of stone/force/iron.

All in all, if I had to rule on it during a game I would go with what I suggested, and then after the game if my players were not happy with what I ruled, we would sort it out and add it to the House rule book.

What I think I'll do is ask them on Sunday night what they think about it and post it here.

Till then

 

[Magic Rub]

These are good questions, but I think we are trying to get to much out of the Web spell(it is a second level spell) in general if you wanted to stop a rockslide you would have to use a higher level spell perhaps wall of stone/force/iron

The Rockslide is a poor example, ignore it & use the Bridge example. Thanks for your input.

 

[Someone]

Thanks, this leads to more questions.

Is this...

1) per 5ft sqr. of the web?

2) Times the number of anchored 5ft sqrs, as one point would help to hold the next.

3) or in total for the whole web? (wich sounds rather week)

The math is done for a 5x5 square. The web will break if: any square supports more than 2000 lbs. or the total weight on the web is more than 1000 lbs x (the minimum number of 5x5 squares attached to one of the walls)

Provided the walls are more resistant to traction than the web.

 

[Magic Rub]

I understand your point but remember the wood (or whatever) planking/decking will spread out the force to more then a single 5x5 square. Zarthon's formula/guess is a good starting point. regardless of how a group decides to use it (which then runs it self screaming into the world of house rules).

 

[Zarthon]

Just giving this a bump,

What is your opinion?...

Come on we need input!!!

 

[Devon]

a related web question

I think the equation offered before works fine -- it should be more than enough for a basic, temporary bridge, but not at all enough to stop a landslide.

It could easily, if used properly, stop someone who is rolling down an incline, but I would have to rule that it wouldn't work on a fall of terminal velocity unless every 5x5 square were stacked (such as casting in a 5-foot wide tunnel.

But we're dealing with the bridge, and it sounds fine for that purpose.

I have a somewhat related question regarding the Web spell. Recently one of my players cast Web with the anchor points being 1) the ground and 2) a Dragonne flying 20-feet off the ground.

At the time I gave him a ranged touch attack (he rolled very high, exceeding the touch armor class by atn least 12), and I ruled that, while the Dragonne wasn't entangled, its flight progress was checked, and that it crashed before the web spell collapsed upon itself.

Has the Sage given a ruling on this particular application fo the web spell already?

- Devon

 

[apsuman]

I would apply some grapple and bull rush inspired rules here.

Use the following modifiers:

Colossal +16
Gargantuan +12
Huge +8
Large +4
Medium-size +0
Small –4
Tiny – 8
Diminutive –12
Fine –16

And do a d20 Strength check. I would double the above modifier if the bolder were doing a double move (more than 20 feet round) and triple it if the rock is hustling (more than 40 feet per round).

So take for example a rickslide happening at top of a hill, The rocks just started moving and the sorcerer casts web. Even the colossal rocks don't get too far. the colossal rocks roll on average 10.5 (say 11) add the 16 and you get a "strength check" of 27 and by the web descriptions the rock would move five feet.

Right after the rocks start downhill those collossal rocks would roll 11 (+16 * 2) for a total of 43, moving 20 feet through the web.

At the bottom of the hill the rock would be moving so fast that it's average strength check would be 11+ (16 * 3) or 59, meaning that the colossal bolders would rip through 35 feet of a web.

In all the above example the rocks would be held fast after their initial busting through the web.

All in all I would say that the web spell could be an excellent way to stop (especially in the early stages) an avalanche.

Smaller rocks would be even easier to stop.


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