How to model riding out a stampede?

[Janx]

And in the case of a bison stampede, keep doing that until 100 miles of buffalo had passed beneath your feet!

I'm inclined to think it'd be easier to jump on the back and ride the front bison than it would be to keep jumping back to back. At least it'd buy you some time to ponder how to get off if they're headed somewhere bad.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'm inclined to think it'd be easier to jump on the back and ride the front bison than it would be to keep jumping back to back. At least it'd buy you some time to ponder how to get off if they're headed somewhere bad.

Clearly, yes...but it still wouldn't be easy! You think riding a bull is hard, bison are bigger, stronger, and of a nastier disposition.

 

[Janx]

Clearly, yes...but it still wouldn't be easy! You think riding a bull is hard, bison are bigger, stronger, and of a nastier disposition.

true. I wonder if the bison would buck if it's brain is stuck in stampede mode, instead of get this jerk off my back mode.

Also, don't forget that these critters ain't likely to run forever. The herd may be as big as the state of texas, but the endurance of the animal isn't. Even these super tough critters, may be strong, but may not be built for really long distance running.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Nah, they have some endurance, but their more sprinters than marathoners.

 

[Orius]

Here's 3.5's take on a stampede:

Stampede (Ex)
A frightened herd of bison flees as a group in a random direction (but always away from the perceived source of danger). They literally run over anything of Large size or smaller that gets in their way, dealing 1d12 points of damage for each five bison in the herd (Reflex DC 18 half). The save DC is Strength-based.

Though the biggest herd size the stat block lists is 30, which is only 6d12 damage.

I'd probably decide how long in rounds it would take the herd to pass, then each round each PC must make a Dex check or Reflex save or take 1d12 damage that round. Earlier editions I might use save vs. breath weapons instead. And each failed check adds a penalty to subsequent checks.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Clearly, yes...but it still wouldn't be easy! You think riding a bull is hard, bison are bigger, stronger, and of a nastier disposition.

They may be so tightly packed, you could walk to the edge of the herd!

 

[Janx]

They may be so tightly packed, you could walk to the edge of the herd!

well, we just saw stuff from el mahdi that says they are sparse normally. And if they spread over 100 miles at 15-25 per acre, it'll take time/look wierd for them to congeal into a solid mass of cows.

 

[El Mahdi]

deleted

 

[Grogg of the North]

I know this is completely off topic but, the name of the game I was thinking of was Sunset Riders. Weird how you remember certain stuff...

Intro and Demo. Cattle "riding" at 2:05
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qm8E8d9qkE