I need an escape button

[0-hr]

I recently had a beloved character swallowed (and killed) by a Froghemoth. While I was sitting in the critters mouth, wrapped securely in it's inescapable toungue, I couldn't help but notice that I was the only character who didn't have a Dimension Door, or Gaseous Form, or Freedom of Movement, or ANY way to escape such a predicament.

My new character, who will likely be a 10th level druid using the shapechanging variant in PHBII, is definitely going to have some means to escape being in a grapple. If it also serves as a way out of a creature's stomach, all the better.

All I've found thus far is a Cape of the Montebank. That's a little pricey at 10k for once a day. What other alternatives are there? (I'm thinking this must be a common problem among characters so some people must have come up with some good ideas ).

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[szilard]

Hmmm... with a standard (non-shapeshifting) druid you have some built-in options (such as wild-shaping into an octopus, which has a large escape artist bonus). Shapeshifting variant is harder.

Look at the swift spells in the Spell Compendium. Some of those might be useful. Updraft, maybe?

-Stuart

 

[Overkill_Engine]

Custom magic item: Ring of Grease, variable caster level, lvl 1 version should maybe be 2000 gp for a continous/(mental) use activated version (I could be wrong). Basically gives +10 on checks to escape/resist grapples.

Ironwood breastplate with +1 Ironwood spikes that have been enhanced with the spell storing property, put something nice in them like vampiric touch or chill touch. Anything that actually manages to grapple you will regret it.

 

[Pinotage]

As a druid you should gain a Str bonus from your predator form, so I would imagine you could shapeshift and just break out of the grapple.

For wizards, Benign Transposition is quite handy, if you have a fighter willing to take your spot in the grapple.

Pinotage

 

[Scharlata]

Benign Transposition

Oh, ja!
This spell quite often saved our asse t s on those occasions.

Antilife shell?

 

[Legildur]

Antilife shell?

Pretty useful, but not effective against constructs, elementals, outsiders, or undead.

An additional point to remember is that it also blocks other PCs! My elven druid 14 cast an extended version (Sudden Extend metamagic feat) so that he had a couple of hours coverage (about as long as a day's adventuring lasts in a dungeon environment before you have to rest). But we found it was restricting the tactical movement of other PCs as they couldn't move within 10ft radius of the druid.

 

[Wolfwood2]

I recently had a beloved character swallowed (and killed) by a Froghemoth. While I was sitting in the critters mouth, wrapped securely in it's inescapable toungue, I couldn't help but notice that I was the only character who didn't have a Dimension Door, or Gaseous Form, or Freedom of Movement, or ANY way to escape such a predicament.

My new character, who will likely be a 10th level druid using the shapechanging variant in PHBII, is definitely going to have some means to escape being in a grapple. If it also serves as a way out of a creature's stomach, all the better.

Gaseous Form is only a third level spell, so you could get it in a potion for only 750 gp. Consider it a back-up item to be used only when you really need it.

 

[szilard]

Oh, yeah. Druids also get Freedom of Movement... though it takes a standard action to cast. I'd suggest putting it into a 1 use/day item, but that would cost as much as a Cape of the Mountebank.

-Stuart

 

[moritheil]

Keep in mind that the ring of freedom of movement is repeatedly pointed out as a steal at 40k. That suggests the power of such an item and the fundamental importance of being able to break out of grapples.

At lower levels, grease is your friend.

 

[mvincent]

I recently had a beloved character swallowed (and killed) by a Froghemoth.

You didn't have a weapon handy to cut your way out? Spiked armor or a dagger strapped to your wrist is a good contingency. I always felt that being on the inside of a monster was one of the safest locations (and easiest way to damage it).

the ring of freedom of movement is repeatedly pointed out as a steal at 40k.

Also note: a cleric with the travel domain effectively has this for free. Oddly, I haven't had an occasion to use this ability yet (but the travel domain spells are excellent just by themselves).