Can't Remove The Loot! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can't Remove The Loot! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Chrono Nexus
02-24-06, 07:24 AM My party had to escape a dungeon that was filling with water a few sessions ago when we were second level(we are now fifth level). The dungeon's tunnels were barely wide enough for any of us to fit, and they are deep. The tunnels are completely submerged. We had to leave 4 gigantic cauldrons made of adamantine there as well, since we could not remove them. Ideas about how to remove the cauldrons that are bigger then the tunnel would be nice. (fire spells won't work underwater)

Our party is broke, so dirt cheap stratedgies would be helpful.
Mentar
02-24-06, 07:50 AM It is possible that the DM did not expect you to be able to collect those cauldrons.
At low levels it would be expected that the party would not have access to items like portable holes that could hold them, thus placing them into the game would not count against the party treasure. Other items that I have seen like this are statues up to 30 feet tall, such a statue could be worth thousands of gold, but the party will not be able to move them, thus they are not counted as part of the party treasure.

If your DM stated that he did expect you to find a way to collect them, the best bet (without a portable hole) would be to break them and collect the metal. Otherwise there could be another way out near the cauldrons, such as a chimney that they could be raised through or a secret door. Before you spend an entire game session on trying to get them out, ask your DM, if he/she did not expect you to get them don't worry too much about it.
jasper
02-24-06, 07:58 AM shovel, pick, wheelbarrow.
and lots of time and hirelings.
runestar
02-24-06, 07:58 AM What about spells like shrink item to reduce their size/weight? Combine this with teleportation spells to quickly move them up to the surface.
tarkin
02-24-06, 08:52 AM They are 5th level.

So they can can cast Shrink Item, but not Teleport.

But the long duration of Shrink Item means you probably do not need Teleport

If the problem is only a short hallway or two, Reduce Person might work as well, if the person can pick up the cauldron.

It also is helpfull for teleport. Once you hit 9th level, it makes a lot of sense to get a wand of Reduce Person. It lets you bring along more friends when you teleport.
Chrono Nexus
02-24-06, 11:54 AM The dungeon is mostly composed of small hallways and tunnels. We had to crawl to find the cauldron, and it is at least 8 feet wide. None of us tried to lift it, but it looked heavy. The three casters of our group are all wizards (we also have one fighter), and none know reduce person or object. Like I said, it is underwater, and any hirelings we would try to bring would suffocate before getting to it. Adamantine is VERY tough to crack, especially when you are underwater. Your swing is slowed down, so you hit with much less force. Also, a few good hits with a pick against adamantine would only break the pick.
Wind of Darkness
02-24-06, 12:29 PM The three casters of our group are all wizards, and none know reduce person or object.

You're Wizards! Buy the spells! Reduce person is a first level spell. Cheap enough. Shrink item is third level, so its a bit more expensive, but its the cheapest way to get 'em out at your level.
Ace the Dead
02-24-06, 01:07 PM If you have no other pressing concerns, but don't have the money for a thrid lvl scroll, do some "NPC" spellcasting. Ask around for people who need spells you can cast, and do it for some change. You can undercut standard NPC spellcasters when it comes to price, and when the more established wizards complain, explain that all you really want is a scroll of shrink item and once you have it you will stop. If you're lucky they'll be willing to float you the loan to keep you out of their buisness, and you can repay them from the sale of adamantine. If your not so lucky you'll roll some saves and possibly a few new characters. :surrender
You also might find that even though the NPCs didn't complain about your buisness plan, they have no plans to sell to you on principle, which, um... hurts. Procede with caution.

You could also look for some high level good (preferably lawful good) aligned wizards (or dwarves who can find a way to cast waterbreathing) and negotiate a finders fee for the adamantine. Cuts into your profit, but saves you the trouble of digging it up ;)

Just some thoughts on your money problem.
mvincent
02-24-06, 01:41 PM A party of 5th level wizards and you can't manage a shrink item spell? If you actually can't afford to learn/buy/hire the appropriate spells, then you could probably arrange something on commission. A wizard acquaintance might be happy to "join the party" long enough to retrieve the loot and split it up. Or even easier, he could just let you copy the spells from his spellbook so you can do it yourself (and give him twice the standard fee when you are done).

It's possible that your DM doesn't want you to have the treasure, but if not it shouldn't be hard to:
1) Cast water breathing, alter-self (aquatic elf) or possibly dimension door to reach the loot
2) Cast shrink item on the loot
3) Put in your handy haversack (or even just your pocket) and leave

Another option might be to:
1) create an opening above the loot room using rock to mud, a controlled Xorn, or possibly some other burrowing creature (purple worm?).
2) Turn the cauldrons upside down
3) Fill the cauldrons with air (using a create air spell or a hose) and let them float to the surface.
Chrono Nexus
02-24-06, 10:56 PM Sorry MCVincent, you misunderstand. The huge object adamantine cauldron is trapped in a dungeon which is made up of much smaller tunnels(hewn stone tunnels at that). The entire dungeon is also filled with water.
The cauldron can't float up (it weighs more than the heavy-armored fighter), it would only bump into the dungeon ceiling.
We are dirt broke, a controlled xorn is not an option.
runestar
02-24-06, 11:11 PM More or less, shrink item is probably a must to make moving the cauldron more expedient. How about the levitate spell? It can move the cauldrons up or down, so all you need is to provide the forward momentum. But the duration is only 1min/lv, so you might need multiple watersproof scrolls to complete a single trip.
smrtgmp
02-25-06, 01:05 AM I too cast my vote for shrink item. Water breating can get you down to the cauldrens.

If you're too broke to afford scrolls, then sell your services as a mage for a while, or go cream so baddies. Or you could ask the DM why he's being so stingy with the gold (assuming you havent squandered away what you've been given thus far).
Oliver D'Argent
02-25-06, 07:53 AM As long as you can get to where the cauldron is and back in ten hours or less, one casting of Water Breathing at your level will take care of that problem.

At 5th level, though, Shrink Item may or may not work - depending on how your DM interprets it. At 5th level, Shrink Item will affect 10 cubic feet of material. In a solid block, this is equal to a cube this measures just a little under 2 feet, 2 inches on each side. If your DM is going on the total volume of the item, there is no way you will be able to shrink an 8 foot cauldron. If he is only using the total volume of the material of the object, you might have a chance. That is also assuming that the cauldron is not magic.

The point is moot, however, if none of you know the Shrink Item spell and cannot afford to buy it. You are either going to have to: A.) do some more adventuring or other work to raise the money; B.) find an NPC Wizard who knows the spell and is willing to trade it for a spell or spells that your group knows (or some other service); C.) wait until 6th level and take it as one of the spells you get for gaining a level.
Purkake
02-25-06, 08:50 AM BTW: the fire-spells thing must be a house rule. By RAW you can cast fire spell underwater just fine as long as you make a DC 20+spell level spellcraft check.

Spells or spell-like effects with the fire descriptor are ineffective underwater unless the caster makes a Spellcraft check (DC 20 + spell level). If the check succeeds, the spell creates a bubble of steam instead of its usual fiery effect, but otherwise the spell works as described.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Chrono Nexus 02-24-06, 07:24 AM	My party had to escape a dungeon that was filling with water a few sessions ago when we were second level(we are now fifth level). The dungeon's tunnels were barely wide enough for any of us to fit, and they are deep. The tunnels are completely submerged. We had to leave 4 gigantic cauldrons made of adamantine there as well, since we could not remove them. Ideas about how to remove the cauldrons that are bigger then the tunnel would be nice. (fire spells won't work underwater) Our party is broke, so dirt cheap stratedgies would be helpful.
Mentar 02-24-06, 07:50 AM	It is possible that the DM did not expect you to be able to collect those cauldrons. At low levels it would be expected that the party would not have access to items like portable holes that could hold them, thus placing them into the game would not count against the party treasure. Other items that I have seen like this are statues up to 30 feet tall, such a statue could be worth thousands of gold, but the party will not be able to move them, thus they are not counted as part of the party treasure. If your DM stated that he did expect you to find a way to collect them, the best bet (without a portable hole) would be to break them and collect the metal. Otherwise there could be another way out near the cauldrons, such as a chimney that they could be raised through or a secret door. Before you spend an entire game session on trying to get them out, ask your DM, if he/she did not expect you to get them don't worry too much about it.
jasper 02-24-06, 07:58 AM	shovel, pick, wheelbarrow. and lots of time and hirelings.
runestar 02-24-06, 07:58 AM	What about spells like shrink item to reduce their size/weight? Combine this with teleportation spells to quickly move them up to the surface.
tarkin 02-24-06, 08:52 AM	They are 5th level. So they can can cast Shrink Item, but not Teleport. But the long duration of Shrink Item means you probably do not need Teleport If the problem is only a short hallway or two, Reduce Person might work as well, if the person can pick up the cauldron. It also is helpfull for teleport. Once you hit 9th level, it makes a lot of sense to get a wand of Reduce Person. It lets you bring along more friends when you teleport.
Chrono Nexus 02-24-06, 11:54 AM	The dungeon is mostly composed of small hallways and tunnels. We had to crawl to find the cauldron, and it is at least 8 feet wide. None of us tried to lift it, but it looked heavy. The three casters of our group are all wizards (we also have one fighter), and none know reduce person or object. Like I said, it is underwater, and any hirelings we would try to bring would suffocate before getting to it. Adamantine is VERY tough to crack, especially when you are underwater. Your swing is slowed down, so you hit with much less force. Also, a few good hits with a pick against adamantine would only break the pick.
Wind of Darkness 02-24-06, 12:29 PM	The three casters of our group are all wizards, and none know reduce person or object. You're Wizards! Buy the spells! Reduce person is a first level spell. Cheap enough. Shrink item is third level, so its a bit more expensive, but its the cheapest way to get 'em out at your level.
Ace the Dead 02-24-06, 01:07 PM	If you have no other pressing concerns, but don't have the money for a thrid lvl scroll, do some "NPC" spellcasting. Ask around for people who need spells you can cast, and do it for some change. You can undercut standard NPC spellcasters when it comes to price, and when the more established wizards complain, explain that all you really want is a scroll of shrink item and once you have it you will stop. If you're lucky they'll be willing to float you the loan to keep you out of their buisness, and you can repay them from the sale of adamantine. If your not so lucky you'll roll some saves and possibly a few new characters. :surrender You also might find that even though the NPCs didn't complain about your buisness plan, they have no plans to sell to you on principle, which, um... hurts. Procede with caution. You could also look for some high level good (preferably lawful good) aligned wizards (or dwarves who can find a way to cast waterbreathing) and negotiate a finders fee for the adamantine. Cuts into your profit, but saves you the trouble of digging it up ;) Just some thoughts on your money problem.
mvincent 02-24-06, 01:41 PM	A party of 5th level wizards and you can't manage a shrink item spell? If you actually can't afford to learn/buy/hire the appropriate spells, then you could probably arrange something on commission. A wizard acquaintance might be happy to "join the party" long enough to retrieve the loot and split it up. Or even easier, he could just let you copy the spells from his spellbook so you can do it yourself (and give him twice the standard fee when you are done). It's possible that your DM doesn't want you to have the treasure, but if not it shouldn't be hard to: 1) Cast water breathing, alter-self (aquatic elf) or possibly dimension door to reach the loot 2) Cast shrink item on the loot 3) Put in your handy haversack (or even just your pocket) and leave Another option might be to: 1) create an opening above the loot room using rock to mud, a controlled Xorn, or possibly some other burrowing creature (purple worm?). 2) Turn the cauldrons upside down 3) Fill the cauldrons with air (using a create air spell or a hose) and let them float to the surface.
Chrono Nexus 02-24-06, 10:56 PM	Sorry MCVincent, you misunderstand. The huge object adamantine cauldron is trapped in a dungeon which is made up of much smaller tunnels(hewn stone tunnels at that). The entire dungeon is also filled with water. The cauldron can't float up (it weighs more than the heavy-armored fighter), it would only bump into the dungeon ceiling. We are dirt broke, a controlled xorn is not an option.
runestar 02-24-06, 11:11 PM	More or less, shrink item is probably a must to make moving the cauldron more expedient. How about the levitate spell? It can move the cauldrons up or down, so all you need is to provide the forward momentum. But the duration is only 1min/lv, so you might need multiple watersproof scrolls to complete a single trip.
smrtgmp 02-25-06, 01:05 AM	I too cast my vote for shrink item. Water breating can get you down to the cauldrens. If you're too broke to afford scrolls, then sell your services as a mage for a while, or go cream so baddies. Or you could ask the DM why he's being so stingy with the gold (assuming you havent squandered away what you've been given thus far).
Oliver D'Argent 02-25-06, 07:53 AM	As long as you can get to where the cauldron is and back in ten hours or less, one casting of Water Breathing at your level will take care of that problem. At 5th level, though, Shrink Item may or may not work - depending on how your DM interprets it. At 5th level, Shrink Item will affect 10 cubic feet of material. In a solid block, this is equal to a cube this measures just a little under 2 feet, 2 inches on each side. If your DM is going on the total volume of the item, there is no way you will be able to shrink an 8 foot cauldron. If he is only using the total volume of the material of the object, you might have a chance. That is also assuming that the cauldron is not magic. The point is moot, however, if none of you know the Shrink Item spell and cannot afford to buy it. You are either going to have to: A.) do some more adventuring or other work to raise the money; B.) find an NPC Wizard who knows the spell and is willing to trade it for a spell or spells that your group knows (or some other service); C.) wait until 6th level and take it as one of the spells you get for gaining a level.
Purkake 02-25-06, 08:50 AM	BTW: the fire-spells thing must be a house rule. By RAW you can cast fire spell underwater just fine as long as you make a DC 20+spell level spellcraft check. Spells or spell-like effects with the fire descriptor are ineffective underwater unless the caster makes a Spellcraft check (DC 20 + spell level). If the check succeeds, the spell creates a bubble of steam instead of its usual fiery effect, but otherwise the spell works as described.