Rhino Death from Above Attack

[jodyjohnson]

It's an elaborate Bullrush attack with all the rules that implies (AoO, etc.). A forceback would be against a solid object (the floor).

This would make it fairly ineffective which is fine for me since it would become a very lame SOP attack and outside the spirit of the game (5th level utility ability allowing 30d6 damage?)

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Don't forget a falling rhino isn't very steerable. The guy looks up, sees a rhino, walks 3 steps, and you fall on the caltrops he dropped instead of the guy himself

 

[elbandit]

Good idea!

It's an elaborate Bullrush attack with all the rules that implies (AoO, etc.). A forceback would be against a solid object (the floor).

This would make it fairly ineffective which is fine for me since it would become a very lame SOP attack and outside the spirit of the game (5th level utility ability allowing 30d6 damage?)

How much damage would the force back do?

 

[elbandit]

An Idea

Would it be better to count such an attack as a Bull Rush or maybe a Grapple? I keep thinking that perhaps it should be one of those types of actions.

 

[jodyjohnson]

The dragon Crush attack is the closest corollary in game. It treats it as a grapple/pin. Even with a colossal dragon the damage isn't all that impressive.

The restriction is targets 3 sizes smaller which is a large gap. Grants a Reflex save.

As a purely arbitrary house rule I'd say Bull Rush with equal falling damage to both (1d6 per 10') plus 1d6 per 5' of push back to the target.

Both end up prone.

 

[Corlon]

This reminds me of the "create water" fiasco that a friend of mine (been playing since 1st edition) informed me of.

Apparently clerics (and the clever physicisists who played them) had figured out that if they were to caste the spell create water way above the head of a creature, the mass of water with the acceleration of gravity would deal a whole bunch of damage.

Also the "it deals them damage so they'd have to think before doing it" doesn't really apply when the wizard says "I think I'll summon a celestial orca on that guy."

But seeing as how it's kind of...annoying for DMs to just say "no, you can't do that," I'd say do the attack role, allow a reflex save to negate, and deal a good amount of damage to the attacker.

This also brings up the question of what would happen if instead of jumping out of the way the person being dropped apon just raised his spear and readied for the vertical charge of a 2k lb. beast?

 

[jodyjohnson]

PHB p172 lists the restrictions on Conjuration spells regarding causing object to appear in mid-air for just such ploys.

 

[elbandit]

What about this?

Here is what I came up with, a maneuver similar to the stuff in the Book of Iron Might:

Beast Belly Flop – The creature must spend a standard action to initiate the beast belly flop on to one or more smaller creatures by being dropped onto them. The attacker must fall a minimum of 20 feet to perform this type of maneuver. This provokes an attack of opportunity from the creatures that are in the targeted area of the falling creature. The defenders must then make a Reflex save against a DC 15. If they succeed they are moved out of the area. This forced movement does not provoke an attack of opportunity and cannot put the defenders in dangerous terrain.

Creatures in the target area that fail take damage equal to 1D6 + 1.5 x STR Bonus + 1D6 per 20 feet that the creature dropped to make the attack. In addition they are knocked prone and considered pinned. However, the pinned creatures get a +8 circumstance bonus to escape due to the haphazard nature of the pinning. The attacking creature takes normal falling damage based on height and is also knocked prone.