rules call on avoiding falling... guys

[evilbob]

A recent situation came up where PCs with limited airborn options were fighting monsters that were 20' in the air, and well, to make a long story short, I had an enlarged NPC helper dimension door directly above the monster and basically fall on top of it to the ground.

While sorta funny in concept, needless to say I couldn't come up with any rules governing this situation. That's not to say that there aren't; I just didn't find them. So my question is two-fold:

First, are there any rules to cover something like this? (And if so: really?)

And second, what do any of you think about the improvised rule I used, which was: I gave the target a reflex check to avoid the falling creature that dimension doored directly above them; it was DC 10 + 5 for every size category larger the falling creature was. It seemed to work ok in that situation, but it's hardly anything standard. (Also, both creatures took falling damage, but I didn't count extra "crushing" damage because that seemed a bit overpowered.)

Comments?

 

[IndyPendant]

There are none.

That having been said, assuming you didn't want to just say "you can't target a DD spell that precisely, n00b!" and wanted to give the PC at least a chance at succeeding, here is what I would have ruled:

1) The falling character would get one (and only one) touch attack to attempt a grapple of the flying creature. If he fails the attack or the grapple check, he falls. If he succeeds in both, move to the next step.

2) Determine the NPC's weight. Can the creature *carry* the NPC and still fly? If not, they both fall to the ground, possibly with reduced damage as the creature desperately tries to keep aloft and/or "break free" of the NPC's grapple. If the creature can carry the NPC, move on to the next step.

3) In order to get the creature to the ground, the NPC needs to actually "pin" the creature. Meanwhile, the creature is probably trying to "break free". If the creature is pinned, they both immediately fall to the ground, taking falling damage. If the creature breaks free, the NPC falls. If neither succeeds, they remain in a deadlock in the air until one of them does.

That's the closest I can find to a reasonable interpretation of what should happen by RAW. You won't find specific instructions for that situation however. (I'm almost certain. : )

 

[frankthedm]

1. D-Door disorientates. You cannot do anything until your next turn after a D-Door.

 

[IndyPendant]

Heh. Good point, Frank. I had (mis)interpreted the OP that the NPC was Dimension Door'd up there by a caster (who presumably then fell).

Ah well. *shrug*

 

[mvincent]

are there any rules to cover something like this? (And if so: really?)

Dropping something (including yourself) on someone is generally resolved via ranged attack roll with 10' range increments (i.e. a 30' drop would be at -6 to hit)... i.e. it's the same as throwing something at someone.

The DM can decide:
1) Is it an improvised weapon (-4 to hit)?
2) Is it a touch attack (possible for larger bodies that would not be deflected by armor)?
3) Is the maximum range increment (x5, or 50' for thrown items) going to be waived?

 

[Bad Paper]

If not, they both fall to the ground, possibly with reduced damage as the creature desperately tries to keep aloft and/or "break free" of the NPC's grapple.

Whenever I have this situation, I use opposed Ride checks to see who rides whom to the ground.

 

[Plane Sailing]

In those situations I give a reflex save to the fallee rather than an attack roll for the faller (the faller has pretty much no options to adjust their fall, so to my mind it is like avoiding a falling rock or something).

 

[Nail]

The attack roll would be for the caster to position the DD-ed creature correctly. A grapple check might be relevant after the DD-ed creature hits the target (assuming it can take an action, as frankthedm pointed out).

 

[Random Axe]

In those situations I give a reflex save to the fallee rather than an attack roll for the faller (the faller has pretty much no options to adjust their fall, so to my mind it is like avoiding a falling rock or something).

I agree; Evil Bob, sounds like you made a decent (fair) on-the-spot ruling. I would suggest that if the PC's liked the action, then the next time it happens you can check to see if the creature is able to carry the falling weight (as described above), in which case the NPC minion is borne away (and probably will be dropped by the monster from a greater height!).

 

[mvincent]

The attack roll would be for the caster to position the DD-ed creature correctly.

Agreed