Should he recognize a rust monster? (Savage Tide Mild Spoiler)

[carborundum]

In the following session, one PC is going to encounter a rust monster. He's a 4th level Water Genasi Fighter with 14 Int and no ranks in Knowledge skills. Should he recognize the rust monster for what it is or not?

It's tricky - if I show him a picture, the player will recognize it. If I describe it as "an orange beastie with weird antennae" and then have it destroy his new magic shield or his bestest sword, there'll be uproar.

Any tips for handling such a situation, folks?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

In the following session, one PC is going to encounter a rust monster. He's a 4th level Water Genasi Fighter with 14 Int and no ranks in Knowledge skills. Should he recognize the rust monster for what it is or not?

It's tricky - if I show him a picture, the player will recognize it. If I describe it as "an orange beastie with wierd antennae" and then have it destroy his new magic shield or his bestest sword, there'll be uproar.

Any tips for handling such a situation, folks?

Yes, I think he should. I would expect PCs to recognize really common monsters like trolls and rust monsters on sight -- that's really common adventuring knowledge. (And any description should point out that it looks like a big bug ... unless the mental image I'm holding warped over the years.)

Similarly, I'd expect him to recognize a beholder, but I expect he'd only have a vague idea of what its eye rays do.

 

[megamania]

Yup. At that level and knowing these creatures are the ultimate anti-armor fighting creatures they would remember it

 

[Reynard]

Has the party ever encountered one? How common are they?

Here's a question: did the PCs start at 1st level? If so, then they know what exists by what they have fought. If not, I suggest giving them a level check vs a DC of 10+creatures CR to determine if they have encountered it before.

The best solution, though, is to give the players some clues and let them figure it out. And don't get too down on them for metagaming, as long as they do it with style. The clasic example is the troll. It is one thing for the mid level, never fought anything but orcs PCs to suddenly start slinging burning oil as soon as they see the "8' tall, clawed green skinned humanoid" -- it is another entirely for the player to respond to the magical healing of the monster's flesh with, "Okay, that blow's Regdar's mind. He starts fighting defensively, waving the torch to keep the thing at bay. ::rolls dice:: Hey look, I hit ::rolls dice:: 3 points of fire damage." and then give the DM a sly little smirk. that's metagaming, and it is fun.

In general, using well known (to experienced players) monsters with what are intended to be "gotcha" abilities is kind of a waste. Better to recast the monster as something else. maybe you use the rust monster's stats, but instead of rusting items it turns them to leafy wood and you describe at some druidic abberation. That way, you get to surprise them with a "new" creature, add a little something to your milieu and still keep the "gotcha".

 

[Piratecat]

The knowledge (dungeoneering) skill specifically allows you to recognize aberrations. DC 10 (for easy) should let him know that this monster destroys metal. Personally, I think I'd let the guy make an untrained skill check for this one. It's more fun that way.

 

[carborundum]

They've never encountered them but they are 'classic' beasties which you'd kind of expect every adventurer to have heard of. They wreck your stuff - everyone talks about that!

It's the pet of a group of creatures who all use natural equipment (clubs, leather armour) so he won't see it do it's stuff. Had he went the way the story suggests he would seen it do it's thing. Since he took a different route and is causing havoc, I'm having the mooks call it up from another floor to try and stop his reign of slaughter.

Maybe I should just have the beast's handler say "Surrender now, you know what a rust monster is, don't you, human?"

 

[Klaus]

One thing to remember in cases like this: the character has lived in the D&D world *all his life*. He probably trained to be a Fighter since he was a wee lad. More than likely, he listened to stories of veterans about trolls regenerating, rust monsters eating swords and whatnot.

So while the character may not get everything right ("He only eats steel!" -- attacks with silver sword -- "Eeeep! RUN!"), the basics should be common enough knowledge among professionals like him.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

The last time I had a Rust Monster show up in play, I simple decsribed it as a red-brown cockroach looking thing about the size of a cocker spaniel....

One of my players, bless his heart, jumped out of his chair and climbed up on a nearby counter crying out 'keep it away!!!!!!'


So, in addition to asking if the character might know what it is.. would your player recognize it?

 

[Haffrung Helleyes]

rust monster

This is a problem with the 3E rules -- in 1E, monsters had a rarity entry in the MM. I really hope 4E brings this back.

Actually, I think rust monsters would be extremely rare. But I bet they would be pretty well known! Maybe Fighters should get a +5 circumstance bonus to recognize their class nemesis.



In any case, I agree with PirateCat.

Ken

 

[Croesus]

Oops...Never mind.