Rules Q: Black Pudding vs. Magical Adamantine

[Artoomis]

A few sessions ago I wanted to introduce my PCs to rust monsters. Little things with no hp, but..wow. PCs were camped, 2 on watch, both failed spot and listen checks miserably. Rust monsters went straight for the largest masses of metal = 2 suits of mithral full plate (one at +2, one at +3). Both characters botched their saves. What do you do?

They are heading into some dungeon adventures - I'm thinking about a trap that locks the characters in (through shifting stones) and releases a few dozen rust monsters into the area with them. From different corridors to avoid 1 shot kills with an effective spell. Not that I mind their use, just thinking evil thoughts.

Aaron

This is fine if ther is some reason for the Rust Monsters to be there. Generally speaking, things should exist for a reason. They could be the BBEG's pets, for example, and the BBEG has no metal on him, of course, except for the occasional treat for his pets.

Whatever - players generally don't like it when the challenges appear to be specifically crafted to strip them of equipment with no logic behind them Generally, that's not much fun.

 

[KarinsDad]

This is fine if ther is some reason for the Rust Monsters to be there. Generally speaking, things should exist for a reason.

Are you saying that Rust Monsters should not ever exist out in the wilderness? Wandering from the edge of one village to the next attempting to pick up a morsel of metal here or there? Or possibly wandering away from their old abandoned iron mines from time to time to find choicer treats elsewhere?

 

[Hellefire]

Actually, I was thinking of this as a deviously created trap, by an NPC of course, not that a bunch of rust monsters wandered into the ventilation system and got stuck. They being placed there by the big bad evil guys would be their reason for being there.

I may add in the illusion floor with the grand daddy black pudding though, just to add some more excitement.

Aaron

 

[Kmart Kommando]

A rogue within melee range of a huge creature noticably lacking internal organs might be better off trying something other than stabbing it.

It was in something like a sewer, and the rogue didn't really have anywhere to go. May have also been invisble rogue at the time, not sure.

 

[rvalle]

No. There is only 1 chance to save. If that save fails, it is over for the item. Magic items always get a save is true. This does not mean they get two saves if a non magical item is allowed one save.

Acid (Ex)
The creature secretes a digestive acid that dissolves organic material and metal quickly, but does not affect stone. Any melee hit or constrict attack deals acid damage, and the opponent’s armor and clothing dissolve and become useless immediately unless they succeed on DC 21 Reflex saves. A metal or wooden weapon that strikes a black pudding also dissolves immediately unless it succeeds on a DC 21 Reflex save. The save DCs are Constitution-based.

The pudding’s acidic touch deals 21 points of damage per round to wooden or metal objects, but the ooze must remain in contact with the object for 1 full round to deal this damage.

Fairly nasty, though you can always run from those slow arse puddings.

How sure are we about this? We had this exact thing happen in our game last night: PC with a magic weapon hit a Black Pudding. Per the above I gave him a reflex save which he failed and I said the end of the weapon (a +1 Holy Long Spear) was gone.

The players were upset that, as a magic weapon, it didn't get a save.

Looking around I found this in the SRD: A magic item doesn’t need to make a saving throw unless it is unattended, it is specifically targeted by the effect, or its wielder rolls a natural 1 on his save.

Isn't this something that "specifically targeted by the effect"?

rv

 

[frankthedm]

How sure are we about this? We had this exact thing happen in our game last night: PC with a magic weapon hit a Black Pudding. Per the above I gave him a reflex save which he failed and I said the end of the weapon (a +1 Holy Long Spear) was gone.

The players were upset that, as a magic weapon, it didn't get a save.

Looking around I found this in the SRD: A magic item doesn’t need to make a saving throw unless it is unattended, it is specifically targeted by the effect, or its wielder rolls a natural 1 on his save.

Isn't this something that "specifically targeted by the effect"?

rv

It did get a save.

A metal or wooden weapon that strikes a black pudding also dissolves immediately unless it succeeds on a DC 21 Reflex save. The save DCs are Constitution-based.

Rather than have the weapon's save rolled in secret, the player rolled the weapon's save and failed. I also am pretty sure the possesor of an item can substitute thier own save if higher for possesed objects, so rolling it as if it was his own save worked out exacly as it should have.

Magic items always get a save. This does not mean they get two saves if a non magical item is allowed one save.

 

[rvalle]

Ahh, thanks for that. Sounds like we did it right.

rv