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<blockquote data-quote="Ambrus" data-source="post: 4743994" data-attributes="member: 17691">Well, in all honesty, I think you may be overcomplicating the matter. My approach is to use the existing rules rather than inventing new ones whenever possible. I agree that earth gliding with opponents is overpowering balance-wise; frankly I'm surprised you'd allow it. If I were DMing I'd likely take it one step further and say that it's likewise not possible even with most willing subjects.I'd rationalize it by saying that it's only earth elementals that are capable of passing through the earth unharmed via their earth gliding ability. Any other creature without the ability would experience going through the earth about as well as if it were being physically dragged down into a collapsing sinkhole. Only the most robust creatures, perhaps those with a burrowing speed, could likely survive being pulled through the earth. An earth elemental wanting to drag a creature underground would simply end up crushing them flat on the ground while trying to plunge beneath the surface; a maneuver which can be managed handedly with existing grapple rules, including the various means of resisting and escaping.Likewise, &quot;enveloping&quot; an opponent (as you describe it) is nothing more complicated than a straightforward grapple attempt with various options to crush or pin the opponent if it succeeds and clearly detailed consequences if it fails.Similarly, I'd tie how much the elemental can subsume into its body to its encumbrance rather than its weight. Your figure of 50% is as good as any other.That's just my two cents though. As always, I'll abide by whatever you decide. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

[QUOTE="Ambrus, post: 4743994, member: 17691"] Well, in all honesty, I think you may be overcomplicating the matter. My approach is to use the existing rules rather than inventing new ones whenever possible. I agree that earth gliding with opponents is overpowering balance-wise; frankly I'm surprised you'd allow it. If I were DMing I'd likely take it one step further and say that it's likewise not possible even with most willing subjects. I'd rationalize it by saying that it's only earth elementals that are capable of passing through the earth unharmed via their earth gliding ability. Any other creature without the ability would experience going through the earth about as well as if it were being physically dragged down into a collapsing sinkhole. Only the most robust creatures, perhaps those with a burrowing speed, could likely survive being pulled through the earth. An earth elemental wanting to drag a creature underground would simply end up crushing them flat on the ground while trying to plunge beneath the surface; a maneuver which can be managed handedly with existing grapple rules, including the various means of resisting and escaping. Likewise, "enveloping" an opponent (as you describe it) is nothing more complicated than a straightforward grapple attempt with various options to crush or pin the opponent if it succeeds and clearly detailed consequences if it fails. Similarly, I'd tie how much the elemental can subsume into its body to its encumbrance rather than its weight. Your figure of 50% is as good as any other. That's just my two cents though. As always, I'll abide by whatever you decide. :) [/QUOTE]

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