Oozes that split... do they re-form?

[scott2978]

So I had a situation in my game where an ooze (a black pudding) was split a few times, but has an opportunity to re-form back into one "piece". So my question to the hive mind is this: how would you rule an ooze becoming one again after being split up in combat? No wrong answers, but I've already decided that "they don't" is off the table in my game. But what's your opinion?

 

[koesherbacon]

I've never seen any actual rules for this. However, if this came up in my campaign I'm DMing, I'd say as a full-round action an Ooze can reform itself with it's split duplicates. For every smaller duplicate to combine with another it would take a full-round action.

Basically, if there's 2 splits, it'll take 1 round to reform one ooze. If there's 3 splits, it'll take 2 rounds to reform as one. For every X splits, it'll take X-1 rounds to reform as one.

 

[Sunseeker]

I think the "merge as a full around action" presented above is a fair approach.

Though I would say it depends on how the splits function. Could two "clones" reform into a lesser version of the original? Could multiple clones then each take their own actions to reform? Does only the original retain the ability to re-merge it's clones? If Clone A and Clone B reform into each other, was that Clone B's full action or Clone A's? Does the new Clone AB get the remaining action?

I think for simplicity's sake, I'd rule only the original has the ability to reabsorb it's children, and it's an action on behalf of the original, not the clone.

 

[TarionzCousin]

So my question to the hive mind is this: how would you rule an ooze becoming one again after being split up in combat?

Only if your DM is feeling generous. Otherwise they become two oozes, usually with the same stats, HP, and attacks as the original ooze.

 

[koesherbacon]

I'd say that in order to merge with one another it takes both the full round action of both mini-oozes. Then, they act on the next initiative round of the one with the highest initiative.

Let's say the initiative looks like this:

1. Halfling Rogue
2. Dwarf Fighter
3. 1/4th Ooze B
4. Gnome Wizard
5. 1/4th Ooze A
6. Half-Orc Barbarian
7. 1/4th Ooze C
8. Elf Cleric
9. 1/4th Ooze D

The ooze has already been split into 4 equal size mini-oozes. The Rogue goes first, then the Fighter. Then it's Ooze B's turn. It takes a full-round action to merge with Ooze A. Then the Wizard goes. Ooze A is already in the process of joining with Ooze B so it gets no further action. Barbarian goes next. Ooze C merges with Ooze D. Ooze D does not get to do anything this turn either b/c it's merging with Ooze C.

The next round of initiative looks like this:

1. Halfling Rogue
2. Dwarf Fighter
3. One-Half Ooze B
4. Gnome Wizard
5. Half-Orc Barbarian
6. One-Half Ooze B
7. Elf Cleric

Again, the Rogue and Fighter go first. Then Ooze A begins to merge with Ooze B. Then all the rest go because Ooze B is already merging with Ooze B.

On the third round all the mini Oozes have merged together to reform their original Ooze (with fewer HP, though).

The final initiative order looks like:

1. Halfling Rogue
2. Dwarf Fighter
3. Full-size Ooze
4. Gnome Wizard
5. Half-Orc Barbarian
6. Elf Cleric

If the party reduces the Ooze to 1/2 HP again, it splits into 1/2 Oozes A and B again. If one of them gets reduced to 1/2, they split as well. And the process continues until there's no more Ooze to reform with itself.

 

[Savage Wombat]

I wouldn't bother letting them rejoin. The old Ecology of the Ochre Jelly article implies that the two oozes go eat stuff until they're both full-sized oozes.