Combat through a grating (portcullis, cage, etc.)? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Combat through a grating (portcullis, cage, etc.)? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
RecycledDM
06-17-06, 02:13 PM Anyone know of a set of rules / modifiers regarding combat (melee, missiles, spells) through a grating (like a portcullis or cage)?

In the absence of anything "official," how about some houserule ideas?

Thanks.
Dheran
06-18-06, 01:35 AM Here's the house rule I use:

Piercing weapons or touch attacks are unaffected because you poke straight through the openings. Other 1-handed or missile attack types incur a -2 penalty to hit and damage, representing the bars getting in the way. 2-handed weapons (except for piercing) incur a -5 penalty to hit and damage because of their greater bulk.

I haven't had to deal with oversized missiles (such as from the Hulking Hurler) but the easiest solution would just have them attacking the bars.
runestar
06-18-06, 03:11 AM I adopted the text from forcecage as a variant rule... :)
Barred Cage: This version of the spell produces a 20-foot cube made of bands of force (similar to a wall of force spell) for bars. The bands are a half-inch wide, with half-inch gaps between them. Any creature capable of passing through such a small space can escape; others are confined. You can’t attack a creature in a barred cage with a weapon unless the weapon can fit between the gaps. Even against such weapons (including arrows and similar ranged attacks), a creature in the barred cage has cover. All spells and breath weapons can pass through the gaps in the bars.

This is the most simplified version of the rules I can find. Just as well too... :)
RecycledDM
06-18-06, 04:15 AM Runestar,

Simple sounds good to me. The bars are about 1' apart, so I'll just say that all combatants have cover (+4 to AC) against one another.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RecycledDM 06-17-06, 02:13 PM	Anyone know of a set of rules / modifiers regarding combat (melee, missiles, spells) through a grating (like a portcullis or cage)? In the absence of anything "official," how about some houserule ideas? Thanks.
Dheran 06-18-06, 01:35 AM	Here's the house rule I use: Piercing weapons or touch attacks are unaffected because you poke straight through the openings. Other 1-handed or missile attack types incur a -2 penalty to hit and damage, representing the bars getting in the way. 2-handed weapons (except for piercing) incur a -5 penalty to hit and damage because of their greater bulk. I haven't had to deal with oversized missiles (such as from the Hulking Hurler) but the easiest solution would just have them attacking the bars.
runestar 06-18-06, 03:11 AM	I adopted the text from forcecage as a variant rule... :) Barred Cage: This version of the spell produces a 20-foot cube made of bands of force (similar to a wall of force spell) for bars. The bands are a half-inch wide, with half-inch gaps between them. Any creature capable of passing through such a small space can escape; others are confined. You can’t attack a creature in a barred cage with a weapon unless the weapon can fit between the gaps. Even against such weapons (including arrows and similar ranged attacks), a creature in the barred cage has cover. All spells and breath weapons can pass through the gaps in the bars. This is the most simplified version of the rules I can find. Just as well too... :)
RecycledDM 06-18-06, 04:15 AM	Runestar, Simple sounds good to me. The bars are about 1' apart, so I'll just say that all combatants have cover (+4 to AC) against one another.