The Swallow Whole ability

[Presto2112]

When it comes to some of the bigger critters, almost nothing is as gruesome as their ability to swallow you whole. However, something about the ability has always bugged me, as in this text from the Purple Worm:

A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 25 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 17). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out.

Is this "muscular action" something that has been observed in the wild or in a lab, or is it simply an issue of mechanics, with the designers not wanting three or four swallowed PCs to escape through the same hole in the worm's gut?

 

[MarkB]

The latter.

Not that I can actually think of an example of any animal in nature surviving someone cutting their way out of it, so for all I know, they may all have this 'muscular action wound-closing' thing going for them, and just never get to use it.

 

[frankthedm]

When it comes to some of the bigger critters, almost nothing is as gruesome as their ability to swallow you whole. However, something about the ability has always bugged me, as in this text from the Purple Worm:

Is this "muscular action" something that has been observed in the wild or in a lab, or is it simply an issue of mechanics, with the designers not wanting three or four swallowed PCs to escape through the same hole in the worm's gut?

Creatures in D&D worlds evolve based on different rules. Creatures heal very fast in the D&D world. A nearly fatal wound can be healed in but only a few days of rest. Such quick healing leads to the evolution of predators that attack after suffering wound after wound and creatures that can survive having their guts torn open. Atter a while those guts even get use to such abuse.

In our world animals avoid getting hurt because wounds heal slowly and infection is a danger with every wound. Those creatures that were too aggressive died off long ago. In a D&D world, this is not the case. In a D&D world the animal that fought until it was nearly unconscious and killed it’s prey /rival, does not die of infection form it’s open wounds, but rather will have all it’s wounds healed in just a few days.

The gut hole closing migh be unrealistic, but so is healing from -9 to full in less than two weeks.

 

[phindar]

Frank, I would like to salute that heroic defense of what is otherwise kind of a dumb rule.

 

[lukelightning]

How about just reimagining it as "after the creature has taken x points of damage, it barfs you up."

Far more realistic. And funnier.

 

[Presto2112]

How about just reimagining it as "after the creature has taken x points of damage, it barfs you up."

Far more realistic. And funnier.

Hehe, yes, this works, too. Getting your digestive system perforated by daggers and stuff from the inside would definitely be a suitable definition for indigestion.

 

[Kunimatyu]

I like this.

In terms of the reasoning behind this ability, the only thing I can think of is Perseus cutting his way out of a sea monster's belly. I can't think of any other examples of a D&D-like Swallow Whole mechanic.

Regurgitation, on the other hand...

 

[lukelightning]

Heck, you could make it even funnier and say that after x amount of damage the creature barfs you up...along with a grease effect in a 10' square.

 

[Henry]

In my D&D games, I've redescribed it this way, because fireballs and flying dragons notwithstanding, I just can't see some creature "getting over" having an at least one or two foot wide hole carved into it from the inside... however I can easily see "messily regurgitates you."

 

[frankthedm]

Frank, I would like to salute that heroic defense of what is otherwise kind of a dumb rule.

Oh it is still pretty dumb . I too prefer "do X damage to induce regurgitation" idea. I do prefer a setting where a hole to the stomach leads to an increadably slow painful death.