Net Question

[Spalkulus]

I was just looking at the description of the net in the PHB 3.5. If you get entangled by the net, the description gives you two clear-cut options to escape, either by an Escape Artist check or a Strength check to burst the net. (And none of these are particular easy for an average character.) But it also mentions that a net has 5 hp.

Does it say anywhere in the books what you can do to destroy the net by reducing it to 0 HP? I mean, one would probably rule that only slashing weapons would damage the net (fire could also be a good option), but if any entangled sword-wielding adventurer can just attack the net and deal 5 points of damage to get out of entanglement, well that just seems very easy. And can your friends attack the net without damaging you, if you are entangled by it?

 

[Goobermunch]

I have no net answers, only gross ones.

That said, you should be able to destroy the net by use of a slashing or piercing weapon doing more damage than it has hitpoints. Nets aren't the most useful weapons in D&D.

--G

 

[dcollins]

This might not be a definitive answer, but the Large Net Trap in the DMG specifies that victims act as though Grappled. That would mean they could only attack with a light weapon already in hand, which seems quite reasonable to me.

 

[Darklone]

Since the net usually is an attended object, you need a Sunder attempt to break it.

 

[argo]

Although an opponent may be holding onto a rope attached to the net I don't think considering it to be an attended object is correct. Why should the net get the other guy's Dex bonus to AC? Is he going to pull the net off you at the last second to prevent you from cutting it and then wrap it around you again? Doesn't make sense.

I also don't think that using the grapple rules is quite right either. Being wraped in a net applies the Entangled penalties which are very different from the Grapple penalties. Which set of penalties should you apply? Both? Who makes the opposed grapple checks against you? What if the other guy looses his grip on the rope, what is the grapple check of an inanimate net? In a grapple we imagine the other guy is holding your wrist to prevent you from stabbing him with a dagger, how will a net that is wraped around you prevent you from cutting it with an opposed grapple check?

I would handle this by saying that you can only damage a net with a light slashing weapon. I would let you draw a light weapon normally but attacking the net is a special full round action (keeps it balanced with escaping or bursting the net, both full round actions). I would have you make an attack roll against an unattended object: if we assume that a net is the same size as the victim then it wold be AC 5. The chance of rolling a nat 1 is enough to represent the "oh no, I dropped my dagger" factor IMHO. So this means it will take the victim a minimum of 1 round to cut free of the net, 1.5 if he isn't already holding a light slashing weapon and possibly even longer if he is unlucky enough to roll a nat 1 or roll really bad for damage. I think that gainning an entire round or more for your side is enough of an advantage considering that it is only a touch attack to get started.

Just my $0.02

 

[dcollins]

Who makes the opposed grapple checks against you? What if the other guy looses his grip on the rope, what is the grapple check of an inanimate net?

DMG, Large Net Trap: Grappled by net (Str 18).

 

[Stalker0]

Nets are the best weapons against guys with slashing weapons... that's the way it is.

However, they are great against monks, archers, or mace weilding clerics

 

[Darklone]

Although an opponent may be holding onto a rope attached to the net I don't think considering it to be an attended object is correct. Why should the net get the other guy's Dex bonus to AC? Is he going to pull the net off you at the last second to prevent you from cutting it and then wrap it around you again? Doesn't make sense.

If you would have fought someone with a net, he ensnared you and dragged you around the whole fighting place, you wouldn't say that

As long as the guy who threw the net still holds the end (or rope) of it and drags you left and right and rolls you around, I don't see a big chance to cut the net... fits the description of an attended item perfectly to me.

If he simply threw it and let it go... no big problem to get out. Tricky, but shouldn't be more than one standard action.