A Swarm of Cats and a Level 1 Commoner [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Swarm of Cats and a Level 1 Commoner [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Draneth
11-20-06, 02:06 AM Alright, so hypothetically speaking, what would happen if a level 1 commoner with average starting gold (12.5) bought a longspear, spent the rest on cats (7.5gp*100cp/gp / 2cp=375 cats), then entered a gladiator contest-type-thing where he can bring into the arena whatever he can carry (being able to lift & stagger around with 400lbs)? [speaking of which, how many cats could he be able to carry in with his spear?]

I would assume that he would start by dropping all the cats in a heap around him, but how would this affect combat? Once the cats spread out, would the combatants have to make checks when attempting to move/charge through the mass of cats? Would the cats be angry after being carried around in what one would assume to be a rather large sack? Would the cats make attacks on both combatants? Would combatants have to worry about stepping on cats? Could the commoner herd the cats into a swarm under his control using Handle Animal?
ZeronHitaro
11-20-06, 02:09 AM Swarm of anything = Death for any meleer. Swarms are immune to weapon damage.
Draneth
11-20-06, 02:13 AM Swarm of anything = Death for any meleer. Swarms are immune to weapon damage.

Yes, but what would the cats do? Would they be hostile towards everything and slaughter both combatants, or would they just sit there until someone tripped over one? And how do you determine if someone trips over one?
ZeronHitaro
11-20-06, 02:20 AM Balance check or Dexterity check. It also depends on how the cats were treated.

Just a bunch of cats taken to an arena: Indifferent
Cats forced in a sack: Skitterish, defencive, but more inclinded to run
Starving, tortured, and abused cats: Violent
Tyler Do'Urden
11-20-06, 03:53 AM Cats do not attack anything more than one size category larger than them. Cats resent training. Cats rarely work in tandem.

If you brought a swarm of cats with you to a gladitorial arena, they would probably be scared off by all the screaming and fighting.

Cats in D&D are not funny.
Draneth
11-20-06, 09:29 AM That's rather depressing... oh well. It was an amusing concept while it lasted.
Shadowfax7
11-20-06, 10:44 AM Swarm of anything = Death for any meleer. Swarms are immune to weapon damage.
Only a Fine or Diminutive swarm.

Tiny swarms take 1/2 damage from slashing or piercing weapons.

Small or larger swarms aren't immune at all, but have considerable more hp.
Green_eyes
11-20-06, 11:01 AM Try hamsters instead of cats. :whatsthis:
Ryuu_Tenshi
11-20-06, 11:24 AM Cats do not attack anything more than one size category larger than them. Cats resent training. Cats rarely work in tandem.

If you brought a swarm of cats with you to a gladitorial arena, they would probably be scared off by all the screaming and fighting.

Cats in D&D are not funny.

Yes, ever try herding cats? You'd need a spell to get them to work together.

Not to say you can't go trying to find something like, say, a murder of crows, or the good old swarm of rats (possibly even dire or horrid rats!). But then the issue is getting them not to attack you.
RobbyPants
11-20-06, 01:45 PM I don't think I'll bother writing a program for this one ;)
Borne Of Hate
11-20-06, 01:47 PM Swarm of anything = Death for any meleer. Swarms are immune to weapon damage.

Yeah unless the meleer has a flask of alchemists fire on him. or has more than forty foot movement (typically)so he can outrun the swarm. If he can't outrun it
hopefully he has the intelligence to run up to something living and wait till the swarm approaches and then run away with all the speed he can muster, thereby leaving the swarm at the other living creature (in this case hopfully the person that cast/brought the swarm into play).

Swarms only mean death to the meleer that doesnt know what he is doing.

BTW: see swarm they arent a friendly summon. They will attack teammates and even you who summoned them, or in this case you who 'let the cat out of the bag'.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Draneth 11-20-06, 02:06 AM	Alright, so hypothetically speaking, what would happen if a level 1 commoner with average starting gold (12.5) bought a longspear, spent the rest on cats (7.5gp*100cp/gp / 2cp=375 cats), then entered a gladiator contest-type-thing where he can bring into the arena whatever he can carry (being able to lift & stagger around with 400lbs)? [speaking of which, how many cats could he be able to carry in with his spear?] I would assume that he would start by dropping all the cats in a heap around him, but how would this affect combat? Once the cats spread out, would the combatants have to make checks when attempting to move/charge through the mass of cats? Would the cats be angry after being carried around in what one would assume to be a rather large sack? Would the cats make attacks on both combatants? Would combatants have to worry about stepping on cats? Could the commoner herd the cats into a swarm under his control using Handle Animal?
ZeronHitaro 11-20-06, 02:09 AM	Swarm of anything = Death for any meleer. Swarms are immune to weapon damage.
Draneth 11-20-06, 02:13 AM	Swarm of anything = Death for any meleer. Swarms are immune to weapon damage. Yes, but what would the cats do? Would they be hostile towards everything and slaughter both combatants, or would they just sit there until someone tripped over one? And how do you determine if someone trips over one?
ZeronHitaro 11-20-06, 02:20 AM	Balance check or Dexterity check. It also depends on how the cats were treated. Just a bunch of cats taken to an arena: Indifferent Cats forced in a sack: Skitterish, defencive, but more inclinded to run Starving, tortured, and abused cats: Violent
Tyler Do'Urden 11-20-06, 03:53 AM	Cats do not attack anything more than one size category larger than them. Cats resent training. Cats rarely work in tandem. If you brought a swarm of cats with you to a gladitorial arena, they would probably be scared off by all the screaming and fighting. Cats in D&D are not funny.
Draneth 11-20-06, 09:29 AM	That's rather depressing... oh well. It was an amusing concept while it lasted.
Shadowfax7 11-20-06, 10:44 AM	Swarm of anything = Death for any meleer. Swarms are immune to weapon damage. Only a Fine or Diminutive swarm. Tiny swarms take 1/2 damage from slashing or piercing weapons. Small or larger swarms aren't immune at all, but have considerable more hp.
Green_eyes 11-20-06, 11:01 AM	Try hamsters instead of cats. :whatsthis:
Ryuu_Tenshi 11-20-06, 11:24 AM	Cats do not attack anything more than one size category larger than them. Cats resent training. Cats rarely work in tandem. If you brought a swarm of cats with you to a gladitorial arena, they would probably be scared off by all the screaming and fighting. Cats in D&D are not funny. Yes, ever try herding cats? You'd need a spell to get them to work together. Not to say you can't go trying to find something like, say, a murder of crows, or the good old swarm of rats (possibly even dire or horrid rats!). But then the issue is getting them not to attack you.
RobbyPants 11-20-06, 01:45 PM	I don't think I'll bother writing a program for this one ;)
Borne Of Hate 11-20-06, 01:47 PM	Swarm of anything = Death for any meleer. Swarms are immune to weapon damage. Yeah unless the meleer has a flask of alchemists fire on him. or has more than forty foot movement (typically)so he can outrun the swarm. If he can't outrun it hopefully he has the intelligence to run up to something living and wait till the swarm approaches and then run away with all the speed he can muster, thereby leaving the swarm at the other living creature (in this case hopfully the person that cast/brought the swarm into play). Swarms only mean death to the meleer that doesnt know what he is doing. BTW: see swarm they arent a friendly summon. They will attack teammates and even you who summoned them, or in this case you who 'let the cat out of the bag'.