Roper strands

[Voadam]

Ropers bug me mechanically six ways to Sunday. They are not aberrations but magical beasts. They have reach on a ranged attack. They do not use standard grapple mechanics for their tentacles. And their tentacles nonmagically sap strength.

Weakness (Ex)
A roper’s strands can sap an opponent’s strength. Anyone grabbed by a strand must succeed on a DC 18 Fortitude save or take 2d8 points of Strength damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.

How does this happen, an instantaneous no save poison? Negative energy connection? Any flavor text explanation for a DM to more than vaguely state "it saps your strength."?

 

[frankthedm]

How does this happen, an instantaneous no save poison? Negative energy connection? Any flavor text explanation for a DM to more than vaguely state "it saps your strength."?

""It saps your strength" is exactly what happens. It is vitally important to the Roper's CR that the STR damage is NOT from negative energy or poison.

 

[lukelightning]

I agree that they are absolutely aberrations. I think they were made as magical beasts in order to get the full BAB.

I don't mind the mechanics of the roper's strands. If it was a grapple, then the target would be pulled into the roper's square as soon as the grapple check succeeds (or, if the roper didn't have the improved grab ability, it would enter the target's space).

As for the strength damage effect, there is a fort save at least. And if it were a poison then there would be a secondary effect as well and the strength damage is bad enough on it's own.

 

[Voadam]

""It saps your strength" is exactly what happens. It is vitally important to the Roper's CR that the STR damage is NOT from negative energy or poison.

I understand mechanically there is no death ward or delay poison defenses available.

But how does something descriptively sap strength? Poison and negative energy are existing descriptions and mechanics for doing so but they don't apply to ropers. Does it pull their blood out taking away energy?

Any descriptions from older editions? An ecology of the roper article?

 

[Matafuego]

Would the Strength thingy affect undead?
I've always wondered that...

 

[Voadam]

I don't mind the mechanics of the roper's strands. If it was a grapple, then the target would be pulled into the roper's square as soon as the grapple check succeeds (or, if the roper didn't have the improved grab ability, it would enter the target's space).

Could have used a net's mechanics instead of creating a new one IMO. Its just annoying trying to figure out the interaction with freedom of movement.

 

[lukelightning]

Could have used a net's mechanics instead of creating a new one IMO. Its just annoying trying to figure out the interaction with freedom of movement.

What's so difficult about the mechanics? It's a ranged touch...it sticks to you, and drags you 10 feet each round, and you can try to get out with a strength or escape artist check or break the strand.

While it appears that RAW freedom of movement won't help you, I'd rule that it does.

 

[gnfnrf]

Would the Strength thingy affect undead?
I've always wondered that...

Undead are immune to ability damage to physical ability scores (and all ability drain).

Fascinatingly, as an aside, this means that undead are immune to green slime.

--
gnfnrf

 

[lukelightning]

Fascinatingly, as an aside, this means that undead are immune to green slime.

Hmm, I'd say that the fact that green slime corrodes flesh, leather, bone, metal, wood, etc. that it would damage undead...maybe doing 2d6 points of damage/round?

Then again, green-slime-coated ghouls sounds like a pretty nasty trick!

 

[GreatLemur]

""It saps your strength" is exactly what happens. It is vitally important to the Roper's CR that the STR damage is NOT from negative energy or poison.

That ain't exactly an acceptable excuse.

I agree that they are absolutely aberrations. I think they were made as magical beasts in order to get the full BAB.

Yeah, I'm starting to get fed up with the monster types. It tries to handle too many things at once, and ends up doing some weird things as a result. Maybe it would make more sense to let type determine only immunities and other miscellaneous traits, while some kind of "monster class" takes care of things like HD, BAB, skill points, etc.

As for the strength damage effect, there is a fort save at least. And if it were a poison then there would be a secondary effect as well and the strength damage is bad enough on it's own.

I think it's possible to have a poison effect without secondary damage, actually. Not certain, though.