Traps: How do they WORK?

[Charwoman Gene]

CRUSHING ROCK
Level 2 Blaster Trap
XP 125
A giant boulder that follows the route indicated on the map.
Perception
No check is necessary to notice the crushing rock.
Trigger Initiative +5
The trap rolls initiative when the encounter begins. It has a speed 6.
Attack
Standard Action • Melee
Target: All creatures in the same space as the rock.
Attack +7 vs. Reflex
Hit: 2d6 damage, knock prone, and move that creature to the nearest open space of its choice.
Countermeasures
• A character who makes a successful Athletics check DC 10, or DC 20 without a running start, can jump over the rock’s square.
• An adjacent character to the rock can make a successful Strength check DC 19 to reduce the rock’s speed by 2. If the rock is reduced to
0 speed, it is disabled.

What does that mean in terms of using it in an adventure?

 

[Lacyon]

What does that mean in terms of using it in an adventure?

Clearly, you need to map out a path for it ahead of time, for one. It's also only 125 XP, so it's not an appropriate encounter for more than 1 PC without something else (monsters or more traps - probably monsters).

It doesn't list a preset trigger, other than "when the encounter begins". Presumably this means that it's either triggered actively by team monster when they start the fight, or the monsters wait until the party sets it off before jumping out of hiding. Alternatively, it could "appear" later in the fight, as with creatures that get called in after the alarm is sounded, either because the PCs step on a trigger plate or the monsters pull the lever or whatever.

It probably goes well with creatures who know its path and can push, pull, slide, or lure PCs into that path.

What else would you like me to speculate on?

 

[Sojorn]

...Blaster Trap?

What, do traps have roles too?

 

[vagabundo]

You could have four of them (500xp encounter).

Maybe rolling around randomly ...

 

[shadowguidex]

...Blaster Trap?

What, do traps have roles too?

Some do damage, some might trap you (nets, pits), others might hinder you (quicksand, caltrops).

 

[Mort_Q]

...Blaster Trap?

What, do traps have roles too?

Type, role, whatever.... but yah.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drdd/20080104a

 

[Kwalish Kid]

...Blaster Trap?

What, do traps have roles too?

Who rules Trap Bartertown?

 

[Lacyon]

Another thing to keep in mind is that when the boulder hits you, it gets to move you into the nearest open space of its choice - potentially the same location that the next boulder is going to hit, the nearby pit trap, or into a flanking position with a pair of nasty monsters.

 

[Sojorn]

Another thing to keep in mind is that when the boulder hits you, it gets to move you into the nearest open space of its choice - potentially the same location that the next boulder is going to hit, the nearby pit trap, or into a flanking position with a pair of nasty monsters.

"Its" is referring to the creature I think.

 

[Lacyon]

"Its" is referring to the creature I think.

Stop making so much sense