I need a good plant trap

[Chaoszero]

Here is the scenario:
Characters are in an overgrown castle that was eaten by the forest ala Monkey City in the Jungle Book. They come across the room that used to be the garden. Now it is choked with plant life; vines and bushes everywhere. As the players step into the room, the plant life seems more than it appears!

I need it to be a lvl 1 encounter, and am trying to base it off of the Spear Gauntlet trap in the DMG (p 87) with a little sprinkle of Daggerthorn Briar (p 90).

What do you think?

 

[Rechan]

Looks good to me. Although, a trap only counts as 1 monster (unless it's an elite). So, unless you use more than 1, or Spear Gauntlet + Daggerthorn, you might want to add a little more to the encounter.

Unless there is some monsters breathing down their neck, or there's a time limit, your PCs are more likely to slowly burn/hack their way through. So I would give them a little bit of pressure.

1) Magical Crossbow Turret. Reskin these as plants that fire thorns when their tremorescence is activated. So PCs have some incentive to move through the room quicker.

2) Flame Jet. These are flowers that produce a hypnotic pollen that draws animals closer to them. Instead of doing fire damage (and ongoing fire damage), it does psychic damage, and pulls the target. Of course, that pulling effect is right into the path of one of the other hazards.

3) Consider this article; the Dew Frond hazard might make a good lower level version of the Daggerthorn Briar.

 

[Wannamingo]

Many of the traps on the PHB can be converted into "plant traps", but if you want something different and more specific, you should try these Hazards from Dark Sun that Rechan just posted.

 

[Chaoszero]

okay, how's this for lvl 1 encounter?

2 Dew Fronds (from the dark sun attachment)
1 Bliss Eater (below); based off the flame jet.

the Bliss Eater pulls the target(s) into the nest of Dew Fronds.
The dew fronds are lvl 4 and the Bliss Eater is lvl 2; is that too hardcore for five 2nd level PCs?


Bliss Eater Level 2 Obstacle
Hazard 125 XP
Bliss Eaters easily blend with the foliage of their tropical surroundings. They have brilliant violet plumage to their flowers.
Hazard: A bliss eater secrets an aura of endorphins that lure any non-fey closer and then spurts a noxious fume that, while is intoxicating, is also deadly.
Perception
No check is necessary to notice a Bliss Eater.
Additional Skill: Nature
DC 15: The character identifies the plant as a Bliss Eater.
Trigger
When a creature is within range of the porous blast, it makes its attack as an immediate action. It then rolls initiative and attacks each round.
Attack Opportunity Action Close blast 3
Target: All targets in blast
Attack: +4 vs. Will
Hit: 1d8 + 3 psychic damage, and the target is pulled 1 square.
Effect: Each time a Bliss Eater attacks, the target is pulled 1 square.
Countermeasures
A character can attack a Bliss Eater (AC 10, Fortitude 10, Reflex 10; hp 20).

 

[Rechan]

The dew fronds are lvl 4 and the Bliss Eater is lvl 2; is that too hardcore for five 2nd level PCs?

Standard Encounter for a party of 5 2nd level PCs:
125 x 5 = 625

This Encounter:
4th level Dew Frond: 175
4th level Dew Frond: 175
2nd level Bliss Eater: 125
Total: 475

Conclusion: Easy.

Suggestion: Either add in 1 Bliss Eater, 1 Dew Frond, or 1 hazard/trap of 2-4th level.

Suggestion 2: Bliss Eater looks good, although I'd have it pull 2.

 

[Quartz]

Perhaps the vegetation makes it difficult terrain?