Assassin vine [Archive] - Wizards Community

Assassin vine [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ced666
05-29-07, 01:49 PM Hello,

For my next session, I will use an assassin vine (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/assassinVine.htm)but I would like to know if the PC can target the 'extension' of the plant ? Suppose that it is grappling a victim and a friend want to cut this extension. How can I solve that ? Using the rules for sundering ? That seems quite difficult...
Inigo Carmine
05-29-07, 02:36 PM I would like to know if the PC can target the 'extension' of the plant ?

No.

Suppose that it is grappling a victim and a friend want to cut this extension. How can I solve that ?

If they want to rescue their friend, they can do it the same way you would against any other creature; you either aid the friend's attempt to escape (various buff spells), kill it, render it paralyzed/unconscious (not really an option here) or somehow force it or convince it to let go.

The first two options are the most likely, as the others require some specific abilities (because it's a plant) that not every party will have access to.
Eightbitmage
05-29-07, 03:21 PM Honestly you are the only one who can answer those questions (unless you stick to absolute RAW, in which case the answer is no). Players have a tendancy to get sort of annoying in situations like this. They say things like: "Well you let us cut the tendrils off the vine creature, why can't we cut off the ogres arms?" The inability to attack specific body parts is one of the flaws of the d20 system, but it is there because honestly the alternatives are even more flawed.

You could try saying no because when the plant grapples dozens of thick strong feelers gather around the grappled person. Each one would require a good amount of choping, probably a standard action per feeler, or at least one attack to cut through a feeler. The difference of having 1 or even half a dozen of these cut in half in negligable to the person being grappled, so cutting them doesn't help, but it does hurt the plant creature.

You could try saying yes, but telling them this is a house rule exception similar to the hydra. I would say it is a sunder attempt vs 5 hp and doesn't hurt the plant when the damage is dealt. Make sure they know that this is not the norm and that in almost all other cases this won't be possible.
Krusk
05-29-07, 03:56 PM You could try saying no because when the plant grapples dozens of thick strong feelers gather around the grappled person. Each one would require a good amount of choping, probably a standard action per feeler, or at least one attack to cut through a feeler. The difference of having 1 or even half a dozen of these cut in half in negligable to the person being grappled, so cutting them doesn't help, but it does hurt the plant creature.

is how i handle it. "Ok you go to chop it off roll your damage, you manage to cut some of the tendrils off dealing X damage as". -note that-." as you cut those off there a couple more shoot out to grab on, and there are still a good ammount choking your friend". Once they deal enough damage by cutting off tendrils to kill it, they have freed their friend from its choke.
hovnarr
05-29-07, 04:08 PM Yes, that seems to be the rules intent here. The assassin vine and the vine(s) grabbing the target are the same thing. Killing the creature and severing the vines are the same thing.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ced666 05-29-07, 01:49 PM	Hello, For my next session, I will use an assassin vine (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/assassinVine.htm)but I would like to know if the PC can target the 'extension' of the plant ? Suppose that it is grappling a victim and a friend want to cut this extension. How can I solve that ? Using the rules for sundering ? That seems quite difficult...
Inigo Carmine 05-29-07, 02:36 PM	I would like to know if the PC can target the 'extension' of the plant ? No. Suppose that it is grappling a victim and a friend want to cut this extension. How can I solve that ? If they want to rescue their friend, they can do it the same way you would against any other creature; you either aid the friend's attempt to escape (various buff spells), kill it, render it paralyzed/unconscious (not really an option here) or somehow force it or convince it to let go. The first two options are the most likely, as the others require some specific abilities (because it's a plant) that not every party will have access to.
Eightbitmage 05-29-07, 03:21 PM	Honestly you are the only one who can answer those questions (unless you stick to absolute RAW, in which case the answer is no). Players have a tendancy to get sort of annoying in situations like this. They say things like: "Well you let us cut the tendrils off the vine creature, why can't we cut off the ogres arms?" The inability to attack specific body parts is one of the flaws of the d20 system, but it is there because honestly the alternatives are even more flawed. You could try saying no because when the plant grapples dozens of thick strong feelers gather around the grappled person. Each one would require a good amount of choping, probably a standard action per feeler, or at least one attack to cut through a feeler. The difference of having 1 or even half a dozen of these cut in half in negligable to the person being grappled, so cutting them doesn't help, but it does hurt the plant creature. You could try saying yes, but telling them this is a house rule exception similar to the hydra. I would say it is a sunder attempt vs 5 hp and doesn't hurt the plant when the damage is dealt. Make sure they know that this is not the norm and that in almost all other cases this won't be possible.
Krusk 05-29-07, 03:56 PM	You could try saying no because when the plant grapples dozens of thick strong feelers gather around the grappled person. Each one would require a good amount of choping, probably a standard action per feeler, or at least one attack to cut through a feeler. The difference of having 1 or even half a dozen of these cut in half in negligable to the person being grappled, so cutting them doesn't help, but it does hurt the plant creature. is how i handle it. "Ok you go to chop it off roll your damage, you manage to cut some of the tendrils off dealing X damage as". -note that-." as you cut those off there a couple more shoot out to grab on, and there are still a good ammount choking your friend". Once they deal enough damage by cutting off tendrils to kill it, they have freed their friend from its choke.
hovnarr 05-29-07, 04:08 PM	Yes, that seems to be the rules intent here. The assassin vine and the vine(s) grabbing the target are the same thing. Killing the creature and severing the vines are the same thing.