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Astaroth
Looking around
(1/31/03 9:22 am)
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Question concerning use of the entangle spell in the CRM
My players have just entered the CRM through the main gate last session, and I have a Rgr who loves to cast entangle. He was very disappointed when I told him it would not work inside the gate. I just could not see there being any plant life in that entry hall.
Going forward, he will be looking to cast this any chance he gets. I am not sure how to determine if there is any plant life that the spell would have any effect on in a dwarven mine, short of fungus, and I figure that this spell would not even work on fungus. Has anyone else come across this problem, and if so, how did you handle it?
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Andorax
Still here? Wow.
(1/31/03 9:33 am)
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Re: Question concerning use of the entangle spell in the CRM
Shrugged and told the Druids to choose a different 1st level spell.
That's the problem with being nature-dependant. A lot of your stuff is going to be circumstantially based, and not work when you want it. Take what you have, roll with it, and move on.
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
The guy from Belgium
Here for a while
(2/1/03 3:19 am)
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Re: Question concerning use of the entangle spell in the CRM
its just laike for example "call lightning" when underground... wont work
or "meteor swarm" when in a dungeon, also a "no go"
so like andorax says, dependant on the environment you're in
you're right to rule that it doesn't work!
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Aluvial
Here for a while
(2/1/03 6:20 am)
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Re: Question concerning use of the entangle spell in the CRM
I would let it work against the Umber Hulks in the cavern with the moss and Mushrooms....
Aluvial
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chartam
Here to stay
(2/1/03 11:45 am)
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Re: Question concerning use of the entangle spell in the CRM
Actually, meteor swarm would work in a dungeon. They're not real meteors called from they sky. They're fiery missiles that fly from your hand and explode on impact.
Chartam Plicatus, Paper Prestidigitator
- [Minibase] - [RttToEE Minis List] - [Campaign Website] -
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Quinn
Here for a while
(2/1/03 1:35 pm)
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Re: Using Entangle in CRM
I would be lenient with this. Go thru the various room descriptions and see if there is anything that can help. As pointed out, there are some rooms that contain fungi, mold, and other growths. You might want to rule that this indicates that there could be some root systems within the ground that would respond to an Entangle spell. However, many rooms are clearly worked stone, and entangle probably wouldn't work in these cases. But don't nix the abilities of the druid and the ranger in this case. It's a long, long module, and unless you break it up with plenty of excursions and adventures outside of the mines, you end up taking abilities away from this player basically because you chose to run a super adventure in a terrain that doesn't accomodate a ranger.
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CrossNightwalker
Here for a while
(2/2/03 6:10 pm)
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Re: Using Entangle in CRM
ON the other hand, you can't always cater to the player. Example: I'm a ranger that took, say, plants as my favored enemy. There just aren't a lot of plant type monsters in this campaign. Am I screwed by the DM? Not really...but my special ability doesn't come into play much. Similarly with the Druid's trackless step or woodland stride...they aren't going to be used much in a volcano.
My suggestion then is to work with the players before character creation, and give them some hints as to what lies ahead.
Bob: "I plan to create a druid, specializing in plant control."
DM: "That's fine, Bob. However, you're probably gogin to be speding a lot of time in the dungeon in this campaign, and your plant based spells may not see much use. If that's OK, go ahead."
Now that's a bigger deal for wizards and sorcerers who have a limited spell selection at any time. For druids, it's not so bad: they can simply choose other spells. Entangle doesn't work down here? Ok....I'll try Summon Nature's Ally next time.
-Cross
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Zagig
Here for a while
(2/18/03 11:40 pm)
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Re: Using Entangle in CRM
I would echo CrossNIghtWalker's comment about letting the players know what they are getting in to ahead of time. One of the players in my campaign designed a "second-story man" for his first character, believing this to be a city adventure. Of course, most of the adventure takes place underground so his character's unique qualities became less useful as the game progressed. He found it very frustrating, which I understood, and eventually retired the character.
Zag ig
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Jonesjulia
Looking around
(2/19/03 8:21 pm)
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fungi/plant whats the diff?
I've got a player with a druid in the works for my campaign so thanks for asking this question.
Technically plants and fungi aren't of the same kingdom so, since the short spell description(PHB 166) specifically says plants, I would say the spell technically doesn't work on fungi(those years spent as a Biologist pay off), .
That said I fully intend to let the Druid use said spell on fungi. Since Fungi operated in that middle world between plant and animal(cell wall but still eucaryotic cell) mayhap the druid/rangers in your party only has partial control over them. I.e. entangle works but less effectively(perhaps -1 on attack rolls -3 penalty to effective Dex).
As noted in previous submissions I've never DM'd so please feel free to shoot me down.
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chartam
Here to stay
(2/19/03 9:42 pm)
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Re: fungi/plant whats the diff?
You should note that in D&D, all fungus creatures are of the "plant" type. Real world distinctions don't necessarily apply.
Chartam Plicatus, Paper Prestidigitator
- [Minibase] - [RttToEE Minis List] - [Campaign Website] -
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Siobharek 
Still here? Wow.
(2/20/03 12:08 am)
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Re: fungi/plant whats the diff?
It might be useful to establish a minimum of fungus needed in order for the spell to work. I mean, just because there's a little moss in the cracks doesn't mean that Wormspike the Ogre will be held fast.
Note however that in Masters of the Wild, there's a spell that creates a wall of plants for a few rounds. I know of at least one campaign in which that has been very effective in connection with a variant entangle spell that causes damage (also from MotW).
But a quick heads-up to any player who wants to play a druid or ranger might be courteous.
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
Cordo Crowfoot
Here for a while
(2/20/03 12:17 am)
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Re: fungi/plant whats the diff?
Yes the spell Siobharek speaks of is Green Blockade, Druid 2 in Masters of the Wild. This spell can then be used as a vegetable matter base for Entangle or Briar Web (Briar Web is the varient entangle which causes 1d4+caster level damage, MotW, Druid 3).
I finally decided with various persons input to just make Briar Web go 5' out on each side from the Green Blockade wall. But it is still very useful as it creates a barrier that is difficult to cross, but as it is only 10' still doesn't provide total concealment to the other side so the party's sorcerer can shoot magic missiles through the branches. They have also bull rushed enemies back into the Briar Web after they emerged, which is also nasty. 
"They were immediately and absolutely recognizable as adventurers. They were hardy and dangerous, lawless, stripped of allegiance or morality, living off their wits, stealing and killing, hiring themselves out to whoever and whatever came... They were scum who died violent deaths, hanging on to a certain cachet among the impressionable through their undeniable bravery and their occasionally impressive exploits" China Mieville, Perdido Street Station |
Cordo Crowfoot
Here for a while
(2/20/03 12:20 am)
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Re: fungi/plant whats the diff?
Oh yeah, I also wanted to say I agree with the idea to allow entangle to grow out of fungi as well, as least the areas like the fungi forest near the umber hulks. These spells are already limited enough in application for dungeon crawl campaigns, so it is nice to throw the players a bone on this.
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