How to fight a roper? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How to fight a roper? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
duhtroll
07-08-05, 11:43 PM Hi all -

We have a party of 6 - spiked chain wielding scout, monk, paladin, doppleganger cleric of lathander, whisper gnome rogue/invis blade, and human mystic theurge/shadow adept.

The party is level 5 and 6.

We may re-encounter a roper soon. (we don't know, call it a hunch knowing our dm) How the heck do we fight it? It seems with SR 30, free strength drain (few can make a DC 18 Fort save) and touch attacks, how can we possibly defeat this?

I know it was mentioned to use fire but it has a range of 50' and with normal fire we have a range increment of 10'.

Can anyone help?

Thanks!
-A
Arklich
07-09-05, 12:22 AM Flame Arrow scrolls
duhtroll
07-09-05, 12:07 PM Anything else? It's a good idea but I don't have that spell.

There has to be something else that will work. Or are ropers on par with oozes in their brokenness for CR?

Thanks,
-A
Need_A_Life
07-09-05, 01:55 PM Fly... if I remember correctly they're living treetrunks so flying is perfect!

or try the optimization boards...
UMiskatonic
07-12-05, 04:39 PM Ropers are not quick. You can effectively fight them from range. If you decide to fight something with 50ft reach in a 50ft cave, you are asking for it.

Touch attacks are also effective. Without a decent dex, they have a very bad touch AC. So hit them with all those touch spells.

I don't know if this would work RP wise, but you might be able to effectively poison it.

Freedom of movement will prevent the grapple attacks. If that's out of your league, grease spells will also help.

Good luck.
Harrow Blade
07-15-05, 09:57 PM Forgive me for sounding narky but is there a character development question in there somewhere other than how to develop a life after a roper?
Can anyone say crossbow? unless there is no way to get a clear shot outside of 50' all you need to do is pepper it with bolts or spells like melfs acid arrow and other spells that ignore SR. Failing that remind your dm that ropers are CR 12, quite a challenge for a group of 5th and 6th level characters.
Finally Have your monk get some sort of fire resistance then charge it with a sack of alchemists fire vials and hey presto big bag if exp for you! yay and happy. Next challenge please.
ShiverTheBard
07-16-05, 01:16 AM Get your ass handed to you buy it. Watch as a helpless centaur ally is literally ripped in half. Barely survive first encounter with those Roper after losing two party members.

Afterwards, get to lvl 6 and take the Saint Template, as a monk. Everytime it attacks you, it takes a d6 of holy damage. Give it a nice grappling hug for a d6 of holy damage. Rinse and Repeat on the other Roper 20 feet over.

Now mind you, this is from personal experience.

Ok, sorry that's just what my VoP Monk/Saint did and completely trashed two Ropers after nearly dieing to one a level ago. Seriously though just stay out of it's range and shoot arrows lit on fire at it. Even better if there are any plants nearby. Should be a walk in the park if you just all use bows.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
duhtroll 07-08-05, 11:43 PM	Hi all - We have a party of 6 - spiked chain wielding scout, monk, paladin, doppleganger cleric of lathander, whisper gnome rogue/invis blade, and human mystic theurge/shadow adept. The party is level 5 and 6. We may re-encounter a roper soon. (we don't know, call it a hunch knowing our dm) How the heck do we fight it? It seems with SR 30, free strength drain (few can make a DC 18 Fort save) and touch attacks, how can we possibly defeat this? I know it was mentioned to use fire but it has a range of 50' and with normal fire we have a range increment of 10'. Can anyone help? Thanks! -A
Arklich 07-09-05, 12:22 AM	Flame Arrow scrolls
duhtroll 07-09-05, 12:07 PM	Anything else? It's a good idea but I don't have that spell. There has to be something else that will work. Or are ropers on par with oozes in their brokenness for CR? Thanks, -A
Need_A_Life 07-09-05, 01:55 PM	Fly... if I remember correctly they're living treetrunks so flying is perfect! or try the optimization boards...
UMiskatonic 07-12-05, 04:39 PM	Ropers are not quick. You can effectively fight them from range. If you decide to fight something with 50ft reach in a 50ft cave, you are asking for it. Touch attacks are also effective. Without a decent dex, they have a very bad touch AC. So hit them with all those touch spells. I don't know if this would work RP wise, but you might be able to effectively poison it. Freedom of movement will prevent the grapple attacks. If that's out of your league, grease spells will also help. Good luck.
Harrow Blade 07-15-05, 09:57 PM	Forgive me for sounding narky but is there a character development question in there somewhere other than how to develop a life after a roper? Can anyone say crossbow? unless there is no way to get a clear shot outside of 50' all you need to do is pepper it with bolts or spells like melfs acid arrow and other spells that ignore SR. Failing that remind your dm that ropers are CR 12, quite a challenge for a group of 5th and 6th level characters. Finally Have your monk get some sort of fire resistance then charge it with a sack of alchemists fire vials and hey presto big bag if exp for you! yay and happy. Next challenge please.
ShiverTheBard 07-16-05, 01:16 AM	Get your ass handed to you buy it. Watch as a helpless centaur ally is literally ripped in half. Barely survive first encounter with those Roper after losing two party members. Afterwards, get to lvl 6 and take the Saint Template, as a monk. Everytime it attacks you, it takes a d6 of holy damage. Give it a nice grappling hug for a d6 of holy damage. Rinse and Repeat on the other Roper 20 feet over. Now mind you, this is from personal experience. Ok, sorry that's just what my VoP Monk/Saint did and completely trashed two Ropers after nearly dieing to one a level ago. Seriously though just stay out of it's range and shoot arrows lit on fire at it. Even better if there are any plants nearby. Should be a walk in the park if you just all use bows.