Large and larger: what does it take to fall?

[brehobit]

Say you've got a large creature. And say it gets pushed to a point that one of the 4 squares it occupies is open space (a pit or whatever). Does it fall? What if 2 or 3 squares are open space?

 

[Kordeth]

The entire critter has to be pushed into empty space, as stated on p. 285 of the PHB.

 

[Nikosandros]

The entire critter has to be pushed into empty space, as stated on p. 285 of the PHB.

Yes, this is correct.

However, if a huge or bigger creature is pushed far enough over the edge that it couldn't squeeze in the remaining space, I would rule that if falls.

 

[DracoSuave]

I'd do it a bit further, require a simple Athletics/Acrobatics role for it to function without a penalty if it's one square, require it to be harder if it were two squares, and if the majority of the creature were 'over the edge' then it'd be rolling to stay on solid land.

But that's not the rules as written and more my own personal opinion on how to do it.

 

[brehobit]

Thanks!

That seems, well, odd. Can a large creature therefor chose to stand in a place so that only one square is on the ground? That seems odd, and even worse for a huge creature.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Could always just say if 3/4 of its space is in open air it falls.
7 out of 9 for huge
3 out of 4 for large
12 out of 16 for gargantuan

 

[frankthedm]

That seems, well, odd. Can a large creature therefor chose to stand in a place so that only one square is on the ground? That seems odd, and even worse for a huge creature.

Yes they can. No more odd IMHO than size having no bearing on pushing and pulling.

 

[NMcCoy]

The main thing that seems odd to me is that a horse can walk right over a 5-foot-wide chasm without even needing to jump. Best to not think about it too much.

I like Nikosandros's ruling on the matter, and would further suggest that if you're fighting with some of your area over open air then you are necessarily squeezing.

 

[James McMurray]

The main thing that seems odd to me is that a horse can walk right over a 5-foot-wide chasm without even needing to jump. Best to not think about it too much.

He is jumping, it's just not one that he needs to make a jump check for. At least, that's how I visualize it.