Animated carpet (PEACH) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animated carpet (PEACH) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
rogerd
03-18-07, 03:18 PM I am working on an animated carpet, and I made one using the standard Animated Object monster. A few issues came up.

The primary issue is that it appears that the animated carpet does not have improved grab, but it does have constrict. It says that it can simultaneously constrict multiple opponents, but I don't see how the rules support that. I am thinking that the easiest way to resolve that is to give it Improved Grab. Then it can do a slam attack, hit with it and do damage and then immediately grapple/constrict. It can repeat this until there are no longer enough spaces under the carpet to grab opponents.

I *think* that while using these tactics for 2nd and subsequent opponents, the carpet will be taking a -20 on its grapple checks. I also think that the constrict does not take an action.

I guess my main questions are:
Does adding Improved Grab make this monster too powerful?
Is there some other way the carpet can grab multiple opponents?

A secondary consideration is what a good set of defenses for the carpet are. The carpet is cloth, and gets a 0 hardness. Most objects are normally affected by acid and sonic attacks. Electricity, fire and ranged deal half damage and cold deals one quarter damage.

I'm thinking of shifting this around a bit. I'm tempted to give a hardness of 1-2. Leather/Hide is 2, and it seems to me that a woven carpet would be tougher than ordinary cloth. I can be convinced otherwise though. Furthermore, I can't see electricity dealing significant damage (cloth is an insulator), but fire should be full damage. I think it would be immune to sonic attacks. Bludgeoning weapons should be completely ineffective, unless you're trying to dust it off or something. :D Slashing weapons are either fully effective or doubly effective - not sure which. Piercing weapons will put holes in it, which will eventually reduce it to tatters, but I can't see that being very effective. Quarter damage? I'm OK with acid eating it away.

To summarize, what do you think of:
Animated Rug CR5
N Huge Construct
Init -1; Senses darkvision 60 ft, low light vision; Listen +0, Spot+0
----------------------------------------------
AC 13, touch 7, flat-footed 13
immune mind-affecting, poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, disease, death, necromancy, critical hits, non-lethal damage, ability drain, energy drain, ability damage, fatigue, exhaustion, anything requiring a fort save unless it is harmless or affects objects, death from massive damage, raise dead, reincarnate
hp 84 (8 HD) hardness 2
resist electricity (half), cold(quarter), piercing (quarter)
immune bludgeoning, sonic
Fort +2 Ref +1 Will -3
------------------------------------------------------
Speed 20 ft. (4 squares), climb 10 ft. fly 10 ft. (clumsy)
Melee slam +9 (2d6+7)
Space 15 ft. Reach 10 ft.
Atk options Constrict (2d6+7), Blind, Improved Grab
Base Atk +6; Grp +19
------------------------------------------------------
Abilities Str 20, Dex 8, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha 1

Blind (Ex)
The animated rug can grapple an opponent up to size colossal. The object makes a normal grapple check. If it wins, it wraps itself around the opponent’s head, causing that creature to be blinded until removed.

Improved Grab (Ex)
To use this ability, the animated rug must hit with its slam attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.

Constrict (Ex)
The animated rug deals 2d6+7 damage with a successful grapple check against a creature up to size Gargantuan. It can make constriction attacks against multiple creatures at once, if they all are at least two sizes smaller than the object and can fit under it.
420
03-18-07, 05:34 PM What about a Cloaker-like Engulf (Ex) ability?

-420
obrysii
03-18-07, 06:48 PM 1. Can you format this into the old format? It is very hard to critique in it's current state.

2. Animated Carpets are just Medium Animated Objects, and are statted out in the Arms and Equipment Guide.
rogerd
03-19-07, 11:54 AM Engulf is an interesting option. I think the improved grab plus constrict handle the damaging parts OK, but I like this addition:

"Attacks that hit an engulfing cloaker deal half their damage to the monster and half to the trapped victim."

It might need to be based on the square attacked though, if the carpet is grappling multiple opponents.

I updated the post to include dividing lines, but I like the new format better than the old format, so I'm retaining that.

This is in fact just an Animated Object, as you point out - Huge though. I'll check out the Arms & Equipment guide, though I'd be happier with a 3.5 source.

Roger
obrysii
03-19-07, 03:36 PM 3.0 = 3.5 if not reprinted. There is not *that* big of a difference to warrant an "I'd rather have a 3.5 source" attitude.
LivingShadow
03-19-07, 04:01 PM There is a Magic item in the (I think) Complete Mage. It is essentially a animated carpet.
rogerd
03-19-07, 05:02 PM I'll look in Complete Mage too.

Some of the bigger differences between 3.0 and 3.5 are in the area of damage reduction, which seems pertinent for a construct. That's why I'd prefer the 3.5 source. Still, I appreciate the pointer, and I'll definitely check the A&EG out too!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
rogerd 03-18-07, 03:18 PM	I am working on an animated carpet, and I made one using the standard Animated Object monster. A few issues came up. The primary issue is that it appears that the animated carpet does not have improved grab, but it does have constrict. It says that it can simultaneously constrict multiple opponents, but I don't see how the rules support that. I am thinking that the easiest way to resolve that is to give it Improved Grab. Then it can do a slam attack, hit with it and do damage and then immediately grapple/constrict. It can repeat this until there are no longer enough spaces under the carpet to grab opponents. I think that while using these tactics for 2nd and subsequent opponents, the carpet will be taking a -20 on its grapple checks. I also think that the constrict does not take an action. I guess my main questions are: Does adding Improved Grab make this monster too powerful? Is there some other way the carpet can grab multiple opponents? A secondary consideration is what a good set of defenses for the carpet are. The carpet is cloth, and gets a 0 hardness. Most objects are normally affected by acid and sonic attacks. Electricity, fire and ranged deal half damage and cold deals one quarter damage. I'm thinking of shifting this around a bit. I'm tempted to give a hardness of 1-2. Leather/Hide is 2, and it seems to me that a woven carpet would be tougher than ordinary cloth. I can be convinced otherwise though. Furthermore, I can't see electricity dealing significant damage (cloth is an insulator), but fire should be full damage. I think it would be immune to sonic attacks. Bludgeoning weapons should be completely ineffective, unless you're trying to dust it off or something. :D Slashing weapons are either fully effective or doubly effective - not sure which. Piercing weapons will put holes in it, which will eventually reduce it to tatters, but I can't see that being very effective. Quarter damage? I'm OK with acid eating it away. To summarize, what do you think of: Animated Rug CR5 N Huge Construct Init -1; Senses darkvision 60 ft, low light vision; Listen +0, Spot+0 ---------------------------------------------- AC 13, touch 7, flat-footed 13 immune mind-affecting, poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, disease, death, necromancy, critical hits, non-lethal damage, ability drain, energy drain, ability damage, fatigue, exhaustion, anything requiring a fort save unless it is harmless or affects objects, death from massive damage, raise dead, reincarnate hp 84 (8 HD) hardness 2 resist electricity (half), cold(quarter), piercing (quarter) immune bludgeoning, sonic Fort +2 Ref +1 Will -3 ------------------------------------------------------ Speed 20 ft. (4 squares), climb 10 ft. fly 10 ft. (clumsy) Melee slam +9 (2d6+7) Space 15 ft. Reach 10 ft. Atk options Constrict (2d6+7), Blind, Improved Grab Base Atk +6; Grp +19 ------------------------------------------------------ Abilities Str 20, Dex 8, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha 1 Blind (Ex) The animated rug can grapple an opponent up to size colossal. The object makes a normal grapple check. If it wins, it wraps itself around the opponent’s head, causing that creature to be blinded until removed. Improved Grab (Ex) To use this ability, the animated rug must hit with its slam attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. Constrict (Ex) The animated rug deals 2d6+7 damage with a successful grapple check against a creature up to size Gargantuan. It can make constriction attacks against multiple creatures at once, if they all are at least two sizes smaller than the object and can fit under it.
420 03-18-07, 05:34 PM	What about a Cloaker-like Engulf (Ex) ability? -420
obrysii 03-18-07, 06:48 PM	1. Can you format this into the old format? It is very hard to critique in it's current state. 2. Animated Carpets are just Medium Animated Objects, and are statted out in the Arms and Equipment Guide.
rogerd 03-19-07, 11:54 AM	Engulf is an interesting option. I think the improved grab plus constrict handle the damaging parts OK, but I like this addition: "Attacks that hit an engulfing cloaker deal half their damage to the monster and half to the trapped victim." It might need to be based on the square attacked though, if the carpet is grappling multiple opponents. I updated the post to include dividing lines, but I like the new format better than the old format, so I'm retaining that. This is in fact just an Animated Object, as you point out - Huge though. I'll check out the Arms & Equipment guide, though I'd be happier with a 3.5 source. Roger
obrysii 03-19-07, 03:36 PM	3.0 = 3.5 if not reprinted. There is not that big of a difference to warrant an "I'd rather have a 3.5 source" attitude.
LivingShadow 03-19-07, 04:01 PM	There is a Magic item in the (I think) Complete Mage. It is essentially a animated carpet.
rogerd 03-19-07, 05:02 PM	I'll look in Complete Mage too. Some of the bigger differences between 3.0 and 3.5 are in the area of damage reduction, which seems pertinent for a construct. That's why I'd prefer the 3.5 source. Still, I appreciate the pointer, and I'll definitely check the A&EG out too!