Strange Ruling

[Dougal DeKree]

Hello!

Last week a GM made some very strange ruling, i simply do not understand.

The party met cloakers, and one party-member botched a will-save and got wrapped up. The char flying upwards, the GM said "well, i guess, you lost control now and drop your weapons. Since you are flying, they break." Ok, Shortswords+1 probably won't survive a fall from >20', but dropping weapons because of what?

I read the description of several conditions and haven't seen a single one, that fits here. Any suggestions?

Dougal DeKree, retired gnomish illusionist

 

[Black Omega]

Well, why wouldn't a magic sword survive a fall like that?

And if the person got engulfed, even if the weapon was dropped it would not be falling since the character is surrounded by Cloaker.

The only two effects that require a will save and sound like what you are talking about suggest nothing that would make a person drop their weapon. The effect that simulates Hold Person would be quite the opposite. The PC could not have dropped his sword even if he wanted to.

 

[Dougal DeKree]

hmm

thanx for answering, black omega.

About the fall: actually i am not quite sure, how high the char was, when the GM ruled that the swords were dropping, since i was not there. I guess it was 2nd round after taking off, so taken the speed of a cloaker lets say only upwards (worst case) i guess 60 feet or so? that's 6d6-hardness - quite a good chance they shatter...

About being wrapped up: I love that point! Feeling quite dumb though, not to have thought of that myself

Hmm i hope the GM will be generous enough to re-rule the situation...

 

[Hypersmurf]

The conditions that cause people to drop things are stunned (automatic) and panicked (50% chance).

The cloaker's moan can cause fear, but not panic. Cloakers don't have any stun effects.

-Hyp.

 

[N' Scur rah]

Hi,
as I know, a Cloakers moan can cause different effects: The victim enter a trance, unable to attack or defend themselves until the moaning stops. Or it is overcome by nausea and weakness.
Affected characters fall to the ground and are unable to take any
actions, including defending themselves. Or the effekt ist like a hold person spell.
But none of these effects make you drop your weapons.

 

[Drawmack]

Unless the DM house ruled it. I know that I do. Any time you are nauseous you stand a 25% chance of dropping your weapons. Reason is covering mouth and stomach.

However, this sounds like a cheesy DM tactic to fix giving out an item that is too powerful.

 

[N' Scur rah]

Hm, that's ok.
But the victim was not nauseous, it was in trance. Can you drop your weapons in trance? I am not shure about that. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[IceBear]

By the rules no, but I can see some DMs house ruling it so there is a chance they would.

IceBear

 

[The Souljourner]

By the rules - Character shouldn't have dropped his weapons, that only happens in specific cases, none of which were in effect. Also, magic weapons require magic or magic weapons of same or higher enchantment to break them, so a fall of any height would not break them.

Of course your DM can do whatever he wants, but it's generally good practice to follow the rules when they exist, except in very rare circumstances.

-The Souljourner

 

[officeronin]

They were +1 swords? Since the earth is not +1 enchanment, they could not break, under the rules for breaking magic items.

Still, DMs can do as they see fit...

OfficeRonin