Special Conversion Thread: Plants

[Cleon]

Good points. I think Reflex save makes the most sense in this case.

I agree.

Let's start roughing it out:

Sword Grass (CR 1?)
These dangerous plants grow a spray of leaf-blades from an underground stalk, These leaves are several feet long and razor sharp, but otherwise resemble ordinary long grass. A standard patch of sword grass has 1d6 stalks each occupying its own 5-ft square, but larger patches are not uncommon. A 5-ft square spray of sword grass has 5 hit points and can be cut down (AC 12, DR 5/slashing) or burned away. The sword grass will grow back with 1d3 weeks unless the plant's stalk and roots are pulled or dug out from the ground.

It requires a successful DC [20?] check against Spot or Knowledge (nature) to recognize a patch of sword grass as a threat. Any creature that unknowingly moves into a square of sword grass it takes [1d8?] slashing damage, halved with a successful DC [15?] Reflex save. A creature that knows a 5-ft square contains sword grass can move through it slowly and carefully, taking no damage if they succeed at a DC [15?] Reflex save or a DC [15?] check using their [Escape Artist or Tumble] skill, or [1d4?] slashing damage if they fail - such movement uses the rules for hampered movement. Any creature biting or grabbing a spray of sword grass (to uproot it, for example) automatically takes [1d8?] slashing damage with no saving throw.

 

[Shade]

I'd recommend DR/slashing to harm it.

 

[Cleon]

I'd recommend DR/slashing to harm it.

That makes sense, I'll amend it.

Anything else?

 

[freyar]

Those numbers look pretty good! I could see dropping the Spot/Know DC slightly, but it's ok. One other possibility: I don't get a Ref save feel from moving carefully through the grass. Want to change that to a Dex check or maybe Tumble or Balance skill check?

 

[Cleon]

Those numbers look pretty good! I could see dropping the Spot/Know DC slightly, but it's ok. One other possibility: I don't get a Ref save feel from moving carefully through the grass. Want to change that to a Dex check or maybe Tumble or Balance skill check?

A Dex check would always have a lower modifier than a Reflex save, so I would rather keep the Reflex save.

Like the idea of adding a Balance or Tumble check. Escape Artist could also work.

 

[freyar]

Well, if you used a Dex check, you'd lower the DC. Let's at least add a skill check as an alternative to the Ref save.

 

[Cleon]

Well, if you used a Dex check, you'd lower the DC. Let's at least add a skill check as an alternative to the Ref save.

Yes, but then you'd either have a ridiculously easy skill check DC or you'd need a separate DC for the skills.

I'll stick to Ref for the time being.

I'll revise it.

EDIT: Updated

Thinking it over, I'm not sure Balance is such a good fit, I left it at Escape Artist and Tumble.

 

[freyar]

How about we drop the Ref save and Escape Artist and just leave it with Tumble? The reason I don't like the Ref save is that Ref saves are, well, unconscious reflexes, whereas picking your way through sword grass is intentional. I think a skill check fits better.

 

[Cleon]

How about we drop the Ref save and Escape Artist and just leave it with Tumble? The reason I don't like the Ref save is that Ref saves are, well, unconscious reflexes, whereas picking your way through sword grass is intentional. I think a skill check fits better.

I see no evidence in the rules that Reflex saves are only unconscious. It's just a measure of how good a character is at ducking out of the way, so I would keep it in.

Plus, I like the Escape Artist, since that covers squeezing through difficult-to-navigate areas, like the narrow gap between razor-sharp grass blades!

 

[Shade]

I agree that a skill check is a better fit, and like both Escape Artist and Tumble.