Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Paladin's Pride 01-10-08, 12:13 AM	Without making it an intelligent magical trap, can a spell with a duration of concentration be made into a trap? Specifically, I wanted to make a psionic trap that manifests energy current (cold) at the first two intelligent creatures that enter its area of effect and then maintain the effect for 9 rounds. In reality, it's not that effective of a trap unless it holds them in place, but that's not the point. Can I make a mindless trap that nonetheless maintains the powers effect?
Seeker95 01-10-08, 08:32 AM	Your questions may stem from an assumption that you need not make. Magic items (including magical traps) are not bound by the same rules as spells. Concern yourself merely with what you want the trap to do. If you want a 9-round sentient-creature-target trap, then make it so.
celestialkin 01-10-08, 09:41 AM	Your questions may stem from an assumption that you need not make. Magic items (including magical traps) are not bound by the same rules as spells. Concern yourself merely with what you want the trap to do. If you want a 9-round sentient-creature-target trap, then make it so. But how would you know what CR it is? As a DM you can make anything happen as you like, but how do you know it's balanced? Or if it's balanced for the party level he is dealing with? Been wondering that lately a lot.
Seeker95 01-10-08, 09:48 AM	But how would you know what CR it is?Look at the minimum and maximum damage it can do and compare to other traps. For this particular trap, it *can* do a lot of damage, but only if the targets decide to just stand there. As for whether it is balanced for the party he is dealing with... that is something he has to judge based on where the trap is being placed (halfway down a long hallway might cause the trap to do more damage), what level his party is, when in the adventure it will be encountered, and what else is involved in the encounter. If you had a BBEG cast the equivalent spell on the party, would it be balanced? If the answer is yes, then it is probably balanced as a trap. If the answer is no, then it is probably not balanced as a trap. None of that changes the answer to the OP. It can be done.
celestialkin 01-10-08, 01:47 PM	Look at the minimum and maximum damage it can do and compare to other traps. For this particular trap, it *can* do a lot of damage, but only if the targets decide to just stand there. As for whether it is balanced for the party he is dealing with... that is something he has to judge based on where the trap is being placed (halfway down a long hallway might cause the trap to do more damage), what level his party is, when in the adventure it will be encountered, and what else is involved in the encounter. If you had a BBEG cast the equivalent spell on the party, would it be balanced? If the answer is yes, then it is probably balanced as a trap. If the answer is no, then it is probably not balanced as a trap. None of that changes the answer to the OP. It can be done. Thanks for the pro advice Seeker95. Much appreciated.