Need Advice on a Scenario Idea I have

[Werewolf_26]

After mentioning an older PC game (The Conan the Cimmerian computer game) to someone today, I remembered a particular puzzle/quest problem that the brave warrior faced in that game.

During one of the adventures, Conan found a jungle inhabited by a large number of hostile tribesmen (mindless goons) lead by a Sorcereress. All who had sought out the head of the sorcereress found a grizzly end (no pun intended), due to the fact she was a shape-shifter (some bear/wolf-like creature). The Sorceress laired near a large monolith that attracted metals to it.

The particular problem set out for Conan here was all of the swords he had collected to this point in the game were of a magnetic sort-they flew to the stone and were useless in the fight against the shape-shifter. The game's solution was for Conan to find an obsidian blade and slay the sorceress with that.

I thought this might make for an interesting D&D dungeon problem.

Some kind of magnetic cavern/lair of some horrible creature (perhaps even a group of lycanthropes, undead, or unusually tough monster) that uses the cave as an advantage-all of its would be slayers would come dressed up in their full plate & greatswords, only to find themselves stuck at the entrance and severely weakened.

This would also make highly specialized Warrior types seek out other (less capable of dealing out damage) weapons to combat the monsters. It may not effect wizards too much, or clerics for that matter, other than the fact that most people would have to ditch the armor and weapons for the most part that they are accustom to.

I know this would adjust CRs & ELs for the scenario. But this would mainly be used against my high level party (17th+) and they should have little trouble coping with the difficulties of the adventure.

I've spent some time looking for a simple list of what is magnetic (iron, cobalt, & nickel) and what isn't so that I should be able to construct the place logically, if it has intelligent creatures living inside the area.

What I am unclear on is whether Mithril or adamantine should be magnetic. What do ya'll think? And what do you think of the scenario in general?

Werewolf_26
"Red Elf is about to die."

 

[Ferox4]

I think it's a good concept. I also think that Mithril and Adamantine are magnetic. Obsidian, crystal, wood (Oak and Ash are very hard woods), even rude stone weapons would then be necessary. This scenario will certainly humble your high level characters!

How far does the magnetic field reach? Are their other magnetic fields in the dungeon? Perhaps as a clue to your PCs you could have them make a Strength or Balance check when walking by a magnetized wall or entry (in other parts of the dungeon) to see if they are stuck to it or if their weapons become stuck to it.

How about some Hook Horrors or Umberhulks in the main cavern. And certainly a Rust Monster or two would like to live here or Xorn as well - anything that eats metals. The sorceress (if there is one) may have been able to place some SR on them if she is aware of the party's presence.

Many interesting traps could be set using the magnetized monolith. Projectiles placed opposite the monolith that are mechanically released/tripped when something interposes itself between the two?

Just some random thoughts. I think there is some good potential here. Good Luck. F4

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Monks. Don't forget monks.

Also, how about gold, silver, or platium weapons? Magic of Faerun has rules for weapons of that sort.

 

[Fade]

A bronze sword would be a lot easier to use than an obsidian one, and probably easier to obtain.

 

[Dimenhydrinate]

All metal gets stuck on this...

In R&R1 there is a spell called... "Pillar of Attraction/Repulsion"
it is on page 96 if you can get the book and it is EXACTLY what you are talking about I think or I could be wrong and if that is the case sorry.

I used it on some of my players and well they died.

 

[Kilmore]

One thing to be careful of... the PC's keeping the sorceress between themselves and the magnet, and just letting go of their sharpies.

 

[Undead Pete]

One thing to be careful of... the PC's keeping the sorceress between themselves and the magnet, and just letting go of their sharpies.

I really don't that's a concern. The PC's weapon proficiency is not in "just letting go of their sharpies".

It would a phenomenally easy task to simply dodge them

Secondly, the PC's are 17th level, right? The sorceress should then be at least 20th to present a challenge.

Thirdly..... Even if they did hit her in such a case, it would only be one shot per PC....no STR bonus....she may take 20-25 hp damage at most.

As a DM, I wouldn't allow such a lame attack to succeed anyway.

 

[Xarlen]

Unless they emptied a bag of Caltrops...

Make her a Druid, maybe? Or even better, a Shifter. That way she can use stuff (Stone Spikes, Meld with Stone, Etc), as well as using her shapechanging powers to beat the tar out of 'em.

Likely target spellcasters, too, since the warriors are weaponless, the Spellcasters could seriously mess her up.

Another nasty thing to pull would be, if she's a druid, throw down a 'Repel Wood', after the magnetic effect has taken place.

 

[Jack Haggerty]

The puzzle sounds like an alteration of one of the original Conan Stories...

In the story, Conan hears of a haunted tomb (or somesuch). When he nears the sight, he only sees a tall black obelisk. Upon closer inspection, the ground about the obelisk is littered with bones, and a series of small holes ring the top of the pillar.

The pillar turns out to be powerfully magnetic. Conan is trapped by his metal weapons and armor. To make things worse, the pillar is hollow and inhabited by an enourmous ameoba-like creature that oozes out from the holes (think of an ochre jelly or one of the other oozes from the MM) to engulf and devour him. At the last moment, he uses his tremendous strength to free himself, and flee.

 

[Undead Pete]

The puzzle sounds like an alteration of one of the original Conan Stories...

In the story, Conan hears of a haunted tomb (or somesuch). When he nears the sight, he only sees a tall black obelisk. Upon closer inspection, the ground about the obelisk is littered with bones, and a series of small holes ring the top of the pillar.

The pillar turns out to be powerfully magnetic. Conan is trapped by his metal weapons and armor. To make things worse, the pillar is hollow and inhabited by an enourmous ameoba-like creature that oozes out from the holes (think of an ochre jelly or one of the other oozes from the MM) to engulf and devour him. At the last moment, he uses his tremendous strength to free himself, and flee.

My curiosity made me check my Conan collection (I have all the books written by R.E. Howard, 30+ novels by various other authors and approximately 200 of the Savage Sword of Conan mags put out by Marvel) to pinpoint exactly which story this is...

In case anyone is wondering, it's "The Curse of the Monolith" in Conan of Cimmeria, the 2nd in the the 12 collections of Howard stories.

And the monster does seem to be an Ochre Jelly, although it's transparent, not ochre in color.