Swarms v Melee

[orion90000]

Besides throwing some acid flasks/alchemists' fire and running away. What are some creative non-magical ways to combat swarms?

I've wondered about dropping a stone slab/door/tower shield... rolling a log over it...

What about flying swarms? Would a thunderstone disrupt a bat swarm?

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Wind effects (natural or magical) can disrupt a swarm, so in some circumstances simply opening a door or window during a windstorm could disperse a low-level swarm.

I imagine other similar effects that cause air or water to "whoosh" in a hose-effect, as well: an actual hose, a burst water/steam pipe, decanter of endless water.

Against mundane flying swarms (bees, locusts, etc) smoke should work to disperse it: a smoking brand, ordinary fire, smoke bomb, etc.

[edit]. And thunderstones vs bats is a great idea, since deafening attacks mess up their blindsense. I think that would at least diminish their attacks, if not disperse it entirely.

 

[Borthos]

Eversmoking bottle vs insects FTW. and honestly, I don't think that a thunderstone vs bats would work as well as you think. I think it would only "blind" them for one roud before they got their bearings back. It would be a damn good distraction, though.

 

[orion90000]

I've decided that for my group I would allow a shield bash at half damage since a shield has more surface area than a weapon would. Sound reasonable?

 

[Jhaelen]

I've decided that for my group I would allow a shield bash at half damage since a shield has more surface area than a weapon would. Sound reasonable?

Hmm, dunno. I mean there are already swarms against which weapons deal half damage (those consisting of relatively large creatures).

But against swarms of diminutive creatures? I don't see anyone doing any damage with a shield against a mosquito swarm.

 

[IronWolf]

I've decided that for my group I would allow a shield bash at half damage since a shield has more surface area than a weapon would. Sound reasonable?

I could see this, though I see it less shield bash and more taking the shield, holding it by the edge and making a wide arc through the swarm like a massive oversized fly swatter.