Hacking a webbing that's entangling a character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Hacking a webbing that's entangling a character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SiCK_Boy
07-05-07, 06:02 PM My question apply in a general sense to just about any form of webbing that provokes entanglement, but to have a specific exemple, let's assume we're talking about the webbing from a Bebilith (MM page 42).

A character gets entangled in the webbing.

What are his options to get out?

1 - Escape Artist check (DC given in the Bebilith's description)

2 - Strength check (DC given in the Bebilith's description)

3 - Hacking at it?

My question is: can a character currently entangled in a Bebilith's webbing attack the webbing with his weapon in order to get out? If so, what are the rules applying to those attacks? I know the hardness and hp of the webbing, but what is its AC? Does the player gets any further penalty beyond the entangled status? Can he use any weapon? Does he have to have the weapon in hand beforehand?

My ruling would be that the web has AC 5 (Base 10, Medium Size, -5 for 0 dex), and that the character can only use slashing weapons. I'd give a further -4 penalty on attacks with two-handed weapons. If the attack is made from the outside (by a character hacking the web to free its companion), I'd assign some damage to the imprisoned character if the attack roll is sufficient to hit both the web and the character (50% of the total damage would go to the character, while the web would still take 100% damage).

Any exact ruling or suggestion on that issue would be appreciated. Refer me to the books and pages number when possible.
darkdrgon2136
07-05-07, 06:18 PM Im sure people will correct me if Im wrong, but wouldn't the web not have an AC? Im pretty sure that you would just roll damage and apply hardness, like atacking a chest or door.
Nom
07-05-07, 07:04 PM Hacking is not an option, unless you have fire. Hacking just gets your weapon sticky, without significantly reducing the effect of the web.
Mock26
07-05-07, 07:46 PM I would actually argue that hacking is an option. However, as pointed out above, it does get the weapon sticky and requires that it somehow be cleaned off. I would rule that if a person was stuck in the web and had a slashing weapon in their hand they could attempt to use it to hack their way out with a strength check but at a DC of 4 less than that for a standard strength check to escape. I would also call for half damage and no strength bonus because of the physical restrictions from being caught in the web. Additionally, there would probably be a limit on how many times they could try to cut their way out before their weapon became gunked up due to strands of web. If they didn't have their weapon in their hand I would rule that they could try to get it out with a strength check of two less than one to break free.
Phrennzy
07-06-07, 10:08 AM Webs are considered an object. It has no AC. It is an automatic hit since they are unattended objects. Just roll damage and apply hardness and such, as per the section on objects.
SiCK_Boy
07-06-07, 02:22 PM An object always has an AC (PHB p. 165), but inanimate objects have a -2 penalty as well as 0 dex (thus another -5 penalty), and you score an automatic hit when you take a full round action to line up your attack (with a melee weapon... with a range weapon, you only get +5 to hit).

As for the main question, is there any reference, anywhere, as to why "hacking" isn't an option? And why are the web considered "sticky"? What would be the option for a character simply entangled in a non-sticky net?

Phrenzy: your simple answer doesn't seem to take into consideration the fact that a character is stuck inside the web/net. Or did you mean that no damage ever apply to the imprisoned character, whatever the actions taken by other characters? Do you consider a web/net to give full cover then?
Mock26
07-06-07, 02:42 PM And why are the web considered "sticky"? What would be the option for a character simply entangled in a non-sticky net?

Webs are considered sticky because, well, they are sticky.

As for a net, I would allow a person to make an attack (with automatic hit) if they had a bladed weapon in their hand. On the first "attack" there would be no strength bonus to damage and damage would be handled in a unique way that I use. On the first round the person is only capable of dealing 1 point of damage. On the second round they are capable of 2 points of damage. On the third they are capable of 4. On the fourth they are capable of 8 points of damage. Etc. This is just damage from their base damage roll. Magical bonuses are added. Once the maximum number of points of damage they are capable of dealing they can get full strength damage bonuses. Each round the person still rolls damage, and if they get a high number they can still only do the maximum damage. If they roll lower they do the lower amount. For example, Theresa the Thief is caught in a net with her short sword in her hand. The first round she doesn't roll damage because she only does 1 point of damage. The 2nd round she rolls a 5 but only does 2 points of damage, the maximum allowed. On the third round she rolls a 1 so only does 1 point of damage, despite the fact that she could have been capable of dealing 4 points that round. I generally use 20 hit points to cut out enough space to wiggle out if you take a full round to do so. If you want to completely cut someone out it is 40 points of damage. I do allow people to roll a d20 on the off chance of getting a critical hit, which doubles the maximum possible damage for that round. I also allow for critical fumbles because the person could drop their weapon and might not be able to reach it. (And, before anyone starts a flamewar about critical fumbles, I have a custom chart that takes into consideration the character's level and reduces the chance of a fumble accordingly.)
Phrennzy
07-06-07, 04:04 PM An object always has an AC (PHB p. 165), but inanimate objects have a -2 penalty as well as 0 dex (thus another -5 penalty), and you score an automatic hit when you take a full round action to line up your attack (with a melee weapon... with a range weapon, you only get +5 to hit).

As for the main question, is there any reference, anywhere, as to why "hacking" isn't an option? And why are the web considered "sticky"? What would be the option for a character simply entangled in a non-sticky net?

Phrenzy: your simple answer doesn't seem to take into consideration the fact that a character is stuck inside the web/net. Or did you mean that no damage ever apply to the imprisoned character, whatever the actions taken by other characters? Do you consider a web/net to give full cover then?

No I consider that the web hacker is cutting far enough away from his ally to not bother with it.

If you are entangled by the web (having failed that first save) I don't think you could cut your way out, unless you have a weapon with energy properties because they could do damage without leverage.

Of course, that's adding more physics into this than is needed.

I honestly don't picture cutting the webs so much as gathering them on your weapon - so any sort of weapon could be used to free an ally.

Of course, if your friend is more than 5' inside the web area, you aren't going to be able to cut yourself a path to him, at least, not in any reasonable amount of time.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SiCK_Boy 07-05-07, 06:02 PM	My question apply in a general sense to just about any form of webbing that provokes entanglement, but to have a specific exemple, let's assume we're talking about the webbing from a Bebilith (MM page 42). A character gets entangled in the webbing. What are his options to get out? 1 - Escape Artist check (DC given in the Bebilith's description) 2 - Strength check (DC given in the Bebilith's description) 3 - Hacking at it? My question is: can a character currently entangled in a Bebilith's webbing attack the webbing with his weapon in order to get out? If so, what are the rules applying to those attacks? I know the hardness and hp of the webbing, but what is its AC? Does the player gets any further penalty beyond the entangled status? Can he use any weapon? Does he have to have the weapon in hand beforehand? My ruling would be that the web has AC 5 (Base 10, Medium Size, -5 for 0 dex), and that the character can only use slashing weapons. I'd give a further -4 penalty on attacks with two-handed weapons. If the attack is made from the outside (by a character hacking the web to free its companion), I'd assign some damage to the imprisoned character if the attack roll is sufficient to hit both the web and the character (50% of the total damage would go to the character, while the web would still take 100% damage). Any exact ruling or suggestion on that issue would be appreciated. Refer me to the books and pages number when possible.
darkdrgon2136 07-05-07, 06:18 PM	Im sure people will correct me if Im wrong, but wouldn't the web not have an AC? Im pretty sure that you would just roll damage and apply hardness, like atacking a chest or door.
Nom 07-05-07, 07:04 PM	Hacking is not an option, unless you have fire. Hacking just gets your weapon sticky, without significantly reducing the effect of the web.
Mock26 07-05-07, 07:46 PM	I would actually argue that hacking is an option. However, as pointed out above, it does get the weapon sticky and requires that it somehow be cleaned off. I would rule that if a person was stuck in the web and had a slashing weapon in their hand they could attempt to use it to hack their way out with a strength check but at a DC of 4 less than that for a standard strength check to escape. I would also call for half damage and no strength bonus because of the physical restrictions from being caught in the web. Additionally, there would probably be a limit on how many times they could try to cut their way out before their weapon became gunked up due to strands of web. If they didn't have their weapon in their hand I would rule that they could try to get it out with a strength check of two less than one to break free.
Phrennzy 07-06-07, 10:08 AM	Webs are considered an object. It has no AC. It is an automatic hit since they are unattended objects. Just roll damage and apply hardness and such, as per the section on objects.
SiCK_Boy 07-06-07, 02:22 PM	An object always has an AC (PHB p. 165), but inanimate objects have a -2 penalty as well as 0 dex (thus another -5 penalty), and you score an automatic hit when you take a full round action to line up your attack (with a melee weapon... with a range weapon, you only get +5 to hit). As for the main question, is there any reference, anywhere, as to why "hacking" isn't an option? And why are the web considered "sticky"? What would be the option for a character simply entangled in a non-sticky net? Phrenzy: your simple answer doesn't seem to take into consideration the fact that a character is stuck inside the web/net. Or did you mean that no damage ever apply to the imprisoned character, whatever the actions taken by other characters? Do you consider a web/net to give full cover then?
Mock26 07-06-07, 02:42 PM	And why are the web considered "sticky"? What would be the option for a character simply entangled in a non-sticky net? Webs are considered sticky because, well, they are sticky. As for a net, I would allow a person to make an attack (with automatic hit) if they had a bladed weapon in their hand. On the first "attack" there would be no strength bonus to damage and damage would be handled in a unique way that I use. On the first round the person is only capable of dealing 1 point of damage. On the second round they are capable of 2 points of damage. On the third they are capable of 4. On the fourth they are capable of 8 points of damage. Etc. This is just damage from their base damage roll. Magical bonuses are added. Once the maximum number of points of damage they are capable of dealing they can get full strength damage bonuses. Each round the person still rolls damage, and if they get a high number they can still only do the maximum damage. If they roll lower they do the lower amount. For example, Theresa the Thief is caught in a net with her short sword in her hand. The first round she doesn't roll damage because she only does 1 point of damage. The 2nd round she rolls a 5 but only does 2 points of damage, the maximum allowed. On the third round she rolls a 1 so only does 1 point of damage, despite the fact that she could have been capable of dealing 4 points that round. I generally use 20 hit points to cut out enough space to wiggle out if you take a full round to do so. If you want to completely cut someone out it is 40 points of damage. I do allow people to roll a d20 on the off chance of getting a critical hit, which doubles the maximum possible damage for that round. I also allow for critical fumbles because the person could drop their weapon and might not be able to reach it. (And, before anyone starts a flamewar about critical fumbles, I have a custom chart that takes into consideration the character's level and reduces the chance of a fumble accordingly.)
Phrennzy 07-06-07, 04:04 PM	An object always has an AC (PHB p. 165), but inanimate objects have a -2 penalty as well as 0 dex (thus another -5 penalty), and you score an automatic hit when you take a full round action to line up your attack (with a melee weapon... with a range weapon, you only get +5 to hit). As for the main question, is there any reference, anywhere, as to why "hacking" isn't an option? And why are the web considered "sticky"? What would be the option for a character simply entangled in a non-sticky net? Phrenzy: your simple answer doesn't seem to take into consideration the fact that a character is stuck inside the web/net. Or did you mean that no damage ever apply to the imprisoned character, whatever the actions taken by other characters? Do you consider a web/net to give full cover then? No I consider that the web hacker is cutting far enough away from his ally to not bother with it. If you are entangled by the web (having failed that first save) I don't think you could cut your way out, unless you have a weapon with energy properties because they could do damage without leverage. Of course, that's adding more physics into this than is needed. I honestly don't picture cutting the webs so much as gathering them on your weapon - so any sort of weapon could be used to free an ally. Of course, if your friend is more than 5' inside the web area, you aren't going to be able to cut yourself a path to him, at least, not in any reasonable amount of time.