| Post/Author/DateTime | Post |
|---|---|
| shades of eternity04-25-07, 03:07 PM | Death by Cows? I had this crazy idea a while back of basically sending a stampede through an orc fortress just to see how the orcs would respond. I am trying to figure out how to make this a fun, yet effective tactic. I will be starting the character at 1st level. so far a ranger with maxed out animal handling sounds like the best bet. |
| RobbyPants04-25-07, 03:17 PM | If you're looking for rules on the effect, the DMG2 has rules for mobs. I think they would do something to the effect of 5d6 stampede damage per round to anyone within the area (but it's been a while since I read it). As for how to make it happen (and control it): that's the hard part. I guess if you can bet a lot of cows in one place and then spook them (maybe lightning, but you're only level 1 :P), then they might stampede. You might be able to get a wolf or something to attack a cow, and they might run (I don't know much about how cows act). I think a "controlled" stampede would be tough to pull off at low level. Funny idea though. |
| OneVaapadMutha04-25-07, 03:22 PM | Death by Cows? I had this crazy idea a while back of basically sending a stampede through an orc fortress just to see how the orcs would respond. I am trying to figure out how to make this a fun, yet effective tactic. I will be starting the character at 1st level. so far a ranger with maxed out animal handling sounds like the best bet. Surely a group of orcs so proliferant as to afford to construct a stronghold have some sort of divine agent among them. If you could infiltrate their plans and determine when in their calendars they offer sacrifices for fertility, crops, and bounty to their demented orc deities, you could then command the herd to rush the fortress. The orcs, naturally, will think the cows are a gift from the gods and attempt to slaughter them for food. You, of course, know better. A few ideas. Feel free to add. 1. Tie a big pouch of black powder underneath each cow's stomach and have your party mage light off a fireball in the middle of the herd. 2. Instead of cows, why not just use gorgons? 3. A mass polymorph could change the cows into an alternate form more suited to deal with orcs - say, dire hyenas. You could even starve the cattle for a few days to really maximize the effect. 4. Given that some diseases can pass between bovine and porcine, why not give 'em a dose of good ol' mad cow disease? 5. Send in a rogue to coat the herd's predicted path with copious amounts of oil of impact. |
| swallowyersoul04-25-07, 03:59 PM | If you're level one, you first need a bunch of cows. Once you have a bunch of cows, judicious application of Summon Monster I or Summon Nature's Ally I, along with Flare and Ghost Sound should be enough to start the stampede. In terms of damage, I'd do a trample attempt against anyone on in the bordering squares of the stampede and an automatic trample on anyone on the inner squares of the stampede. Damage should be normal for being trampled by a regular, large animal -- but it should happen every round. |
| VrecknidjX04-25-07, 04:26 PM | Way back in 1e I once noticed how cheap chickens were in the PHB. So, I rolled up an illusionist but spent all my money on hundreds of chickens. I then used illusions to get the chickens to go into a dungeon and I ended up having mobs of chickens attack my adversaries until I cleaned the place out. Of course, I was about 11, and the DM was 10, and we were just going crazy with laughter about the whole thing, and totally going against the whole theme of D&D. But, it was fun, so what the heck. Dave |
| LadyAlaria04-25-07, 04:37 PM | It's the *through* part I'm stuck on. A stampede needs open ground. You can't stampede more than a handful of cows through a gate. For which the orcs would merely say, "Thanks for the snacks". |
| OravennasBrother04-25-07, 05:09 PM | Darn and here I thought someone was killing stuff by feeding them Beef with Mad Cow Disease. |
| Fencerboy04-25-07, 05:17 PM | These herd animals can be aggressive when protecting young and during the mating season, but they generally prefer flight to fighting. A bison stands more than 6 feet tall at the shoulder and is 9 to 12 feet long. It weigh 1,800 to 2,400 pounds. The bison’s statistics can be used for almost any large herd animal. Combat Stampede (Ex) A frightened herd of bison flees as a group in a random direction (but always away from the perceived source of danger). They literally run over anything of Large size or smaller that gets in their way, dealing 1d12 points of damage for each five bison in the herd (Reflex DC 18 half). The save DC is Strength-based. Cows are generally pretty placid, you would really need to scare them. Like, DRAGON! But to go into an orc fortress, TWO DRAGONS!! :D |
| Fromost the Grimm04-25-07, 05:51 PM | . . . and do not forget the worth of a Magic Fang or two here. +1 udders *does* have a certain ring to it . . . |
| revaar04-25-07, 05:53 PM | it sounds to me like the possibility for a new druid spell. summon stampede? |
| FntsyWlkr04-25-07, 05:57 PM | I recommend charm animal and many times cows have "heard leaders." When they would have the cattle drives, there was one cow who even got a statue (I think in Oklahoma) because he would lead all the cattle back and forth. When they stampede, maybe you could cast rage on them? |
| Fencerboy04-25-07, 09:19 PM | People, note the I am starting this character at 1st level. How about he justs wishes up a stampede of cows with his 1st level ranger spells? |
| Ogre4Hire04-25-07, 11:52 PM | Because 1st level Rangers don't get spells. If you want to get a cattle stampede at first level, buy a lot of cows (you should use the Bison stats in the Monster Manual to simulate cows, but make the gore attack a secondary weapon, as cows aren't as aggressive as bison). |
| Capt. Pixel04-26-07, 12:58 AM | Surely a group of orcs so proliferant as to afford to construct a stronghold .... Boy! it's not often that I learn a new word (I would have used prolific, but that's just me. ;) ) {Interestingly, a Google search for Proliferant only yielded 84,000 results.} |
| Kassil04-26-07, 02:28 AM | At 1st level, you're probably not going to be able to pull this off, simply because cattle stampedes do not take well to any real direction, and will tend to veer off from large, solid-looking objects (like a fortress) as being an impassable obstacle. Cattle aren't really as stupid as they're mad out to be; stampedes off cliffs are more due to the herd behind pushing the forerunners off than anything else. Cattle, even in a stampede panic, will tend to shy away from unusual odors, sights, and sounds; these are also what usually causes the stampede to begin with. You MIGHT be able to herd the stampede into the fortress if you can get a bunch of thunderstones and a very accurate set of slingers to keep setting them off to the sides of the herd and just behind them... |
| jeffepp04-26-07, 03:06 AM | Two words: Cow Launched! And, if you remember that, I want to shake your head. (Don't worry, you would only get the second joke if you got the first.) |
| Fencerboy04-26-07, 12:50 PM | Because 1st level Rangers don't get spells. If you want to get a cattle stampede at first level, buy a lot of cows (you should use the Bison stats in the Monster Manual to simulate cows, but make the gore attack a secondary weapon, as cows aren't as aggressive as bison). Ummm, please note that everything you just said has already been mentioned be me. I was being sarcastic when I said wish it up; I know they don't get spells. And notice the bison quoted in my first post? |
| IrishRover04-27-07, 03:46 PM | I have no beef with your goals...if you manage to pull it off, the orcs will be thoroughly cowed, and both the survivors, and the characters, will be speaking of the cattle-clysm for a long time to come--and that's no bull. And, I shall inflict no more pun-ishment on anyone for a bit... |
| Cariyaga04-27-07, 05:57 PM | *twitches* That...is not...punny! |
| shades of eternity04-28-07, 02:26 PM | kk new idea how would I pull this off with the lowest level and/or equipment possible? |
| Auburn04-28-07, 10:40 PM | Here's the easiest way I can think of. Build one fence on each side that start out wide apart but narrow towards the gate or what have you. The idea is to make it a chute with the exit at the gate. Now the orcs might notice you doing this, and just decide to attack on general principle. You've got to get around that somehow, but your fence doesn't necessarily have to go all the way up to the gate. If the stampede is well under way a few fenceless feet at the end won't let that many cows get avoid going where you want them to. Now you just got to get the orcs to open the gate or something. Now as to what to do to stampede them. Fire should work, and you should be able to set one without magic even. Just get it close or to be sure set their tails on fire though that's probably to cruel for a good.neutral ranger to get away with. The Chinese used to try to stampede cows through their enemies by setting their tails on fire back in the day, but they'd also tie spears on each side to increase the damage even with a less densely packed stampede. Plus the fire will catch inside the fortress if you're lucky or unlucky depending on your goals. |
| Mr. Master04-29-07, 07:24 AM | A brief suggestion from ancient roman history: -take some of the cows (10% of the total will fit) -tie some branches to their tails -lit the fire to these branches -make the cows run and run The poor orcs won't see a stampede,they'll see a legion of hell cows descending upon them followed by a tremendous fire wall.:D |
| V812204-29-07, 02:32 PM | A brief suggestion from ancient roman history: -take some of the cows (10% of the total will fit) -tie some branches to their tails -lit the fire to these branches -make the cows run and run The poor orcs won't see a stampede,they'll see a legion of hell cows descending upon them followed by a tremendous fire wall.:D hmm... you should use foxes. More flammable. |
| FntsyWlkr04-30-07, 04:53 PM | Play a ranger. 1) Animal Companion: Rottweiller. Handle Animal: Trick (herding) or 2) Animal Companion: horse. Profession: cowboy/herder. Weapon profeciency whip. then you got to steal some cows .... |
| pres_man04-30-07, 04:56 PM | I saw the title and thought it was about this: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=d2/d220010302x1 |