weight of objects(a sailing ship)
- Thread starter Shard O'Glase
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Shard O'Glase
First Post
chilibean said:
Sorry none of that will work. We were trapped in a sand bar very solidly by the magic of some spellcaster nearby which we haven't even spotted yet, we just heard loud chanting from all around us. We ended at that nice cliffhanger, so I need something to move the boat fast if we are to escape. Elementals are nice but pushing the boat way out of their weight range, erroding the sand sure if I had the time, wait for high tide, we are already in high tide. I could cast water breathing and save my party, but that leaves the crew to the mercies of magician X. We could fight but when on a boat when you don't know who is attacking you combat doesn't sound that great and besides I'm an abjurerer without any invocation spells, and few attack spells so combat is rarely my 1st tactic.
You don't have to drag the whole weight of the boat. Some of it is still supported by water.
What spells/equipment does you have at your disposal?
A couple elementals, control water spell to raise the water level, and an Elephant Figurine?
Or when all else fails find out where the chanting is coming from and cast Silence on it. Instant Dispell until he starts using the Silent feat.
What spells/equipment does you have at your disposal?
A couple elementals, control water spell to raise the water level, and an Elephant Figurine?
Or when all else fails find out where the chanting is coming from and cast Silence on it. Instant Dispell until he starts using the Silent feat.
[James Earl Jones voice on]
The ability of a sand bar to hold a ship is insignificant compared to the power of an elemental.
[James Earl Jones voice off]
I think you are underestimating the power of an elemental ...
Assuming that you can summon a huge elemental:
A huge earth elemental has a strength of 29 which is a 1400 lb heavy load max. Huge creatures get a x4 carrying capacity, so its 5600 lbs. Creatures can push up to 5 times their max lifting capacity across level ground, so it could push a 28000 lb rock across the ground. If it can do that, then pushing a sailing ship that is stuck on a sand bar would be relatively easy.
Perhaps you don't like earth elementals ...
A huge water elemental can completely stop a 160' long ship from moving, and can slow to half speed a ship up to 320' long. It's like a damn tug boat. Also, water elementals could push more evenly so as to not damage the boat (and could easily plug any holes with their bodies). They can also create a vortex of water weighing 18000 lbs, that is 50' high. If that isn't a powerful enough dredging machine to get you free in a couple rounds, then what is?
Besides, what are you gonna do, strap a towing harness to a dragon turtle?
And if you can summon Greaters (or even Elders) ...
... those singing sandbar trapping pansies better watch out!
The ability of a sand bar to hold a ship is insignificant compared to the power of an elemental.
[James Earl Jones voice off]
I think you are underestimating the power of an elemental ...
Assuming that you can summon a huge elemental:
A huge earth elemental has a strength of 29 which is a 1400 lb heavy load max. Huge creatures get a x4 carrying capacity, so its 5600 lbs. Creatures can push up to 5 times their max lifting capacity across level ground, so it could push a 28000 lb rock across the ground. If it can do that, then pushing a sailing ship that is stuck on a sand bar would be relatively easy.
Perhaps you don't like earth elementals ...
A huge water elemental can completely stop a 160' long ship from moving, and can slow to half speed a ship up to 320' long. It's like a damn tug boat. Also, water elementals could push more evenly so as to not damage the boat (and could easily plug any holes with their bodies). They can also create a vortex of water weighing 18000 lbs, that is 50' high. If that isn't a powerful enough dredging machine to get you free in a couple rounds, then what is?
Besides, what are you gonna do, strap a towing harness to a dragon turtle?
And if you can summon Greaters (or even Elders) ...
... those singing sandbar trapping pansies better watch out!Shard O'Glase
First Post
Holy crap elementals are better than I thought. I don't have access to the monster manuel for summoning purposes so I was just estimating at what elementals can do. I had no idea they were that good.
I have got to pick up knowledge summon monster creatures or something, so my character will have a better idea of what the things he summons can do.
I have got to pick up knowledge summon monster creatures or something, so my character will have a better idea of what the things he summons can do.
Hatchling Dragon
First Post
Shard O'Glase said:
Heh, that's always throwing me too. It sounds 'sorta impressive' till you do the math, compare it to the real world (ex: What weighs 18,000 lbs? Anyone?) and then go
"OH MY GOD! And this thing listens to me?!?" 
Well shoot, seeing this shot holes in my suggestion, even before I'd had a chance to make it. Oh well, all thought up anyhow, no reason to let it go to waste. The Summon Monster line of magic isn't just about summoning the thing with the best BAB or most HP, if you want to get real power out of those spells you have to be familiar with the Monster Manual and the creatures powers. In this case summoning something that can Control Water (as previously mentioned), or perhaps even Move Earth would be just as effective as (if not more than) something with sheer power/strength.
Knowledge is power, most especially when you're facing (or are a) spellcaster. Knowing what's really going on will allow you to more accurately judge what you have to do to avoid/defeat this situation. Is the sand-bar even real, you'd be able listen to the Captain/crew for comments to determine this (ex: "A sand-bar this far from shore?!? Impossible!"), or ask them straight-out. How did this sandbar get there, you said that you were suddenly trapped on it, this would indicate that it's not at all natural in origin, but how did it get there? Is it a spell or perhaps Summoned creature that's maintaining it, if so could you Dispel the magic and thus remove the sandbar?
And don't hesitate to use combinations of magics to help your cause. Example: Say you summon the biggest Kraken you can, but it's just not big enough to manage the chore. If you had access to an Enlarge or even Polymorph magic you could increase the critter's size (and perhaps power too), thus helping it help you. Toss it that Bull's Strength spell you've been holding-back for the Fighter in the next melee, it's already been pointed out that big critters get more 'bang' for a STR point so exploit that fact.
And for pitty's sake, tell us what happened! Nothing more irritating (at least to me) than to offer what we think is good advice, only to never hear how helpfull it was. Even better would be if you came up with something nobody'd thought of, we'd certainly like to hear about it and praise your creativity.
Hatchling Dragon - Did I mention I babble when I'm tired?
Shard O'Glase
First Post
I'll let you know what happens this friday since the game is this thursday.
I can't summon a huge elemental since I'm stuck at 6th level spells right now, dang death and the level loss,dang that xp cost for making magic items. The cleric though having never died, and never making a magic item might be able to assuming he has the spell prepared. Me I'm thinking 1d3 fiendish giant crocs to shove the boat, while hopefully the cleric summons a huge earth elemental to get rid of the sandbar as much as possible. There aren't many good summon monster 6 water creatures, so looking at the level 5 ones giant crocs sound better than a large shark, but maybe not better than an orca whale. Orca are small as whale go, but they are still fairly big and strong. I just think a croc since it is a land/water animal can probably get along the base of the sand bar and push, where as the pure sea creatures without traciton form the ground might be more forced to ram.
By the way thanks to contingency/ d-door when at 10hp or less, and a silent teleport always memorized I think I have a decent chance of escape for myself. I'm just worried about the crew and the rest of the party.
I can't summon a huge elemental since I'm stuck at 6th level spells right now, dang death and the level loss,dang that xp cost for making magic items. The cleric though having never died, and never making a magic item might be able to assuming he has the spell prepared. Me I'm thinking 1d3 fiendish giant crocs to shove the boat, while hopefully the cleric summons a huge earth elemental to get rid of the sandbar as much as possible. There aren't many good summon monster 6 water creatures, so looking at the level 5 ones giant crocs sound better than a large shark, but maybe not better than an orca whale. Orca are small as whale go, but they are still fairly big and strong. I just think a croc since it is a land/water animal can probably get along the base of the sand bar and push, where as the pure sea creatures without traciton form the ground might be more forced to ram.
By the way thanks to contingency/ d-door when at 10hp or less, and a silent teleport always memorized I think I have a decent chance of escape for myself. I'm just worried about the crew and the rest of the party.
Hatchling Dragon
First Post
Shard O'Glase said:
I was going to point-out that Contingency had to have a trigger that was 'observable', and not something like "10hp or less." Turns out it doesn't acutally have that particular wording in there. I may have to rule-0 that one.
Gah! Silent Teleport! That's what I get for not reading the spell descriptions carefully, I miss-out on the fact that such a usefull spell only has a Vocal component. Hm... learn something new every day
So, you didn't elaborate on your situation, how far are you from shore, that sorta thing. It's still entirely possible you're all under the effects of some type of Illusion.
Just totally from curiosity, but what is your character carrying around in way of spells? Were you expecting trouble? Sorry to pry, but as a Wizard I'm getting a reputation for having exactally the wrong spells memorised for the occation, no matter what that occation might be. Also, if you have this as a sort of 'default' spell load then I'll know what to be sure to research/aquire for my own Wizard (or NPC's) when the time comes. Thanks in advance.
Hatchling Dragon - Mom always said I should'a been a Sorcerer.
Shard O'Glase
First Post
What happened. Ok 1st how it happened. No big story, we were just traveling by ship to a capitol cioty for a vacation, as far as we knew we haddn't pissed anyone off recently so when a spell trapped our ship in a sand bar we were slightly surprised.
Anyway 11th level abjurer. I had these spells prepared. shieldx2, endure elements, unseen servant, protection from evil, summon monster 1, knock, web, levitate, protection from arrows, melfs acid arrowx2, fly, dispel magic x2, haste, circle v evil, stoneskin, poly self, poly other x2, fabricate, dismissal, energy buffer, summon monster 6, silent teleport
I have a lot of scrolls as well.
Anyway we were trapped the cleric cast summon monster 7 summons a huge earth elemental, I use summon 6 summon 2 giant crocs. The earth elemental went after the sand bar weakening it, digging us out to some degree, the crocs pushed. The dm let the ship escape, but then the ship was struck by lightning and a big hole appeared and we started to sink. I cast fabricate and patched the boat, the cleric busted true seeing to try and find who was attacking us. Another bolt of lighting and another hole and we started sinking again. The true seeing let the cleric see that we were surrounded by tritons. They were boarding the ship while invisible, with a powerful spellcaster in the back. They easily overwhelmed the crew, while the party got caught in a evards/ solid fog. I cast haste then used a scroll of d-door to get free. I was hit by a dimensional anchor, and a pol7y other I actually made my save v poly other. So I then cast a dispel at the fog, and it didn't work, and then an anti magic shell and moved toward the solid fog. A wizard in a anti magic shell should be closer to his companions I didn't make it to them to free them from the solid fog.(yes I admit not one of my best plans) Since I was unconscious I left the room so I don't know how the rest of the party was taken. But we ended up at the bottom of the sea.
The tritons were willing servants almost worshipers of a kraken archmage, and we were taken liie apparently many other people to be his slaves. The entire area is somehow warded against teleport style stuff or at least I am pretty sure since I couldn't cast summon monster 1. You were probably wondering why I had that memorized. But I've been captured and put in a teleport free zone one too many times in this gms game to waste a 6th level spell on the hope he didn't do it again. So far all we've done is trry to set up some dialogue with the other slaves to learn what is going on. They are too scared to be very cooperative so we haven't ;eanred much yet, accept that we are screwed and have no equipment, even my hidden shrunk, nahuls undetectable aura stuff was taken.
Anyway 11th level abjurer. I had these spells prepared. shieldx2, endure elements, unseen servant, protection from evil, summon monster 1, knock, web, levitate, protection from arrows, melfs acid arrowx2, fly, dispel magic x2, haste, circle v evil, stoneskin, poly self, poly other x2, fabricate, dismissal, energy buffer, summon monster 6, silent teleport
I have a lot of scrolls as well.
Anyway we were trapped the cleric cast summon monster 7 summons a huge earth elemental, I use summon 6 summon 2 giant crocs. The earth elemental went after the sand bar weakening it, digging us out to some degree, the crocs pushed. The dm let the ship escape, but then the ship was struck by lightning and a big hole appeared and we started to sink. I cast fabricate and patched the boat, the cleric busted true seeing to try and find who was attacking us. Another bolt of lighting and another hole and we started sinking again. The true seeing let the cleric see that we were surrounded by tritons. They were boarding the ship while invisible, with a powerful spellcaster in the back. They easily overwhelmed the crew, while the party got caught in a evards/ solid fog. I cast haste then used a scroll of d-door to get free. I was hit by a dimensional anchor, and a pol7y other I actually made my save v poly other. So I then cast a dispel at the fog, and it didn't work, and then an anti magic shell and moved toward the solid fog. A wizard in a anti magic shell should be closer to his companions
I didn't make it to them to free them from the solid fog.(yes I admit not one of my best plans) Since I was unconscious I left the room so I don't know how the rest of the party was taken. But we ended up at the bottom of the sea. The tritons were willing servants almost worshipers of a kraken archmage, and we were taken liie apparently many other people to be his slaves. The entire area is somehow warded against teleport style stuff or at least I am pretty sure since I couldn't cast summon monster 1. You were probably wondering why I had that memorized. But I've been captured and put in a teleport free zone one too many times in this gms game to waste a 6th level spell on the hope he didn't do it again. So far all we've done is trry to set up some dialogue with the other slaves to learn what is going on. They are too scared to be very cooperative so we haven't ;eanred much yet, accept that we are screwed and have no equipment, even my hidden shrunk, nahuls undetectable aura stuff was taken.
Hatchling Dragon
First Post
Off the Topic...
Not to go into it, but I can see this thread devolving into a "That's a Killer DM there!" argument. Blocking T-port/planar travel is one thing, and with the power that Kraken (?!?) displayed it could probably manage it, but I'm a bit sceptical about the 'took all my hidden/shrunk/no-aura stuff' bit.
But, for all I know about your campain/DM, it could simply be his way of 'setting the stage' for the next part of your current campain.
Best of luck either way.
Oh yes, what school did you give up for Ajbur? Don't think I could ever justify giving up any of my potential spell selection to specialize. Too easy to have extra spells on scrolls or in objects in 3e, at least to my thinking. *shrug*
Hatchling Dragon
Not to go into it, but I can see this thread devolving into a "That's a Killer DM there!" argument. Blocking T-port/planar travel is one thing, and with the power that Kraken (?!?) displayed it could probably manage it, but I'm a bit sceptical about the 'took all my hidden/shrunk/no-aura stuff' bit.
But, for all I know about your campain/DM, it could simply be his way of 'setting the stage' for the next part of your current campain.
Best of luck either way.
Oh yes, what school did you give up for Ajbur? Don't think I could ever justify giving up any of my potential spell selection to specialize. Too easy to have extra spells on scrolls or in objects in 3e, at least to my thinking. *shrug*
Hatchling Dragon
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