Dungeoneering: Back to Basics

Dean · Post by **Dean** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 2:04 am

I'm down for Ogrebattles plan I'm just unclear how it works. Are the owlbears too large to fit down the hallway? If they can fit down the hallway then how will us opening the door partway stop them from just pressing it open and coming in.

If they can fit in but barely I guess standing in the skeleton room and all firing at the monster while it barrels down at us is an OK plan

Hicks · Post by **Hicks** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 5:54 am

Ancient History: Are you using Table 56 in the PHB (in my '89 printing on page 84), "Optional Modifiers to Initiative"? Because having the Owlbear suffer a +6 to their roll for being a large creature would be awesome since we are using weapon speeds and casting times and such.

Corollary: We are using weapon speeds and casting times, right?

Sirocco · Post by **Sirocco** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 7:05 am

We could raise the door just a bit, maybe half a meter or so (a couple of feet), so that bowmen can pick off the creatures at their leisure?

OgreBattle · Post by **OgreBattle** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 6:22 pm

Guillermo can raise the door just enough so an owlbear would try sticking his head/arm through and get shot in the face, splashed with flammables, and so on.

Basically it's creating a space they can't fully fit through, but big mean owlbears will try. Though there's always the chance they figure out how to lift things and burst in.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 6:25 pm

OgreBattle wrote:Though there's always the chance they figure out how to lift things and burst in.

In that case, I can cast cause fear.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 6:58 pm

Hicks wrote:Ancient History: Are you using Table 56 in the PHB (in my '89 printing on page 84), "Optional Modifiers to Initiative"? Because having the Owlbear suffer a +6 to their roll for being a large creature would be awesome since we are using weapon speeds and casting times and such.

Corollary: We are using weapon speeds and casting times, right?

Answers to both questions: We can do that.

Dean · Post by **Dean** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 7:51 pm

OgreBattle wrote:Guillermo can raise the door just enough so an owlbear would try sticking his head/arm through and get shot in the face, splashed with flammables, and so on.

Basically it's creating a space they can't fully fit through, but big mean owlbears will try. Though there's always the chance they figure out how to lift things and burst in.

Solid idea, lets do it. Guillermo can lift the door then move back a bit, ill take up a kneeling position and can fire while kneeling under your enormous ass legs. We can soak my winter blanket in oil and keep it in front of us and give someone behind us a rope attached to a lit torch they can pull into the oil blanket for fire power/cover. I like the plan, I've got the oil and the blanket and LETS DO THIS!

Sirocco · Post by **Sirocco** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:08 pm

Uh, what about the smoke from the fire? We'll suffocate in here. It's like smoking ourselves out!

Dean · Post by **Dean** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:35 pm

Dungeons traditionally go down so the smoke would rise out of it. Second people have already been lighting fires so I think the no-smoke ship has sailed.

Dean · Post by **Dean** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 5:07 pm

If Guillermo can't try again ill try. My odds should be almost as good

OgreBattle · Post by **OgreBattle** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 8:46 pm

I'll be on standby to stab anything that pokes through while the super strong Elf tries at the door

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 11:35 pm

According to the PHB, Guillermo can't try again...ever. However, I think there was a thing where he could try again once he leveled. I'm still looking.

Sirocco · Post by **Sirocco** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 4:17 am

Here it says:

Open Doors indicates the character's chance to force open a heavy or stuck door. When a character tries to force a door open, roll 1d20. If the result is equal to or less than the listed number, the door opens. A character can keep trying to open a door until it finally opens, but each attempt takes time (exactly how much is up to the DM) and makes a lot of noise.
Numbers in parentheses are the chances (on 1d20) to open a locked, barred, or magically held door, but only one attempt per door can ever be made. If it fails, no further attempts by that character can succeed.

(emphasis mine)

It's supposed to be off the PHB (unfortunately I lent my copy a couple decades back and never got it back, so I can't cross-check it...)

Silent Wayfarer · Post by **Silent Wayfarer** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 5:36 am

Tim isn't saying much because he's useless in a fight. But I';m still here!

Hicks · Post by **Hicks** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 9:50 am

No matter. One by one, starting with the next strongest with the next strongest following, we should try to lift the door and enact the battle plan; hopefully iterative probability will favor us before my spell's duration ends. Every +1 counts, but it is still just a +1; we should only need one round to kill the owlbear to death.

OgreBattle · Post by **OgreBattle** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 8:35 pm

Man, now I kinda want to turn this into "revenge upon the gnomes", though it probably wouldn't be good to pursue them too deep into the unknown woods.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 1:10 pm

I imagine that it's too late to cast a "reasonably worded" suggestion on one of the gnomes. Or a suggestion at all, really.

Do you guys think I should cast command on one of the gnomes if one (or both) aren't pinned by Atani?

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:46 pm

Sorry for the delay this weekend, unexpected trip to Florida-da.

Dean · Post by **Dean** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 9:37 pm

When questioning these gnomes I would prioritize information about the Tomb that could be of use, then things he might do to make us forgive his thievery and attack, and finally see if we can pry any information about any nearby base they have. After we interrogate I will offer the party the option of me shadowing him to find out where they operate from.

OgreBattle · Post by **OgreBattle** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:26 am

Guillermo searches the gnome and ties him up as he's questioned.

If his info isn't useful we can always use him as a trap detector

Dean · Post by **Dean** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:38 am

Having a trap detector would seriously improve our chances of pulling this thing off without casualties. Besides the gnome, that is.

Have people ever tried using livestock? I feel like maybe herding a half dozen goats through the dungeon would be a really effective way of increasing party survivability.

Sirocco · Post by **Sirocco** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:26 am

Yeah, no. I don't think my character will consent to a prisoner being treated that way...

OgreBattle · Post by **OgreBattle** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:07 pm

So the gnome might be using another phantom sound trick, or he's tamed actual owlbears. Would anyone mind if I knocked out the gnome? If AD&D has the rules for that kinda thing anyways. Reading dragonlance and playing 4e has made me regard gnomes in the same light as kobolds and goblins (things you kill without asking questions), but Guillermo will not do so out of respect for the Paladin

Are our wagons big enough to jump on and use as high ground barriers vs owlbears?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:34 pm

Both of my spells that would work well on this guy (detect lies, suggestion) are language-dependent and I don't speak Gnome. Otherwise I'd try chatting him up.

Sirocco · Post by **Sirocco** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:17 pm

If you agree, I can hold on to him, freeing you to face what's coming; no need to knock him out. I can even try a grappling maneuver (what's the ad&d version of headlock?) to be extra sure.