Burrow with an umber hulk [Archive] - Wizards Community

Burrow with an umber hulk [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Slad Chaos
08-06-05, 04:40 AM What is the speed for an umber hulk to burrow ?

What is the size of the burrowed rock in 8 hours, for example ?

Thanks for your help.
obrysii
08-06-05, 10:01 AM 1. Look in the monster manual entry for the Umber Hulk's Burrow speed

2. I don't know what you're asking. An Umber Hulk cannot burrow through rock.
Slad Chaos
08-06-05, 10:15 AM Look in the Monster Manual, the umber hulk burrows in the rock.
Algorithm_X
08-06-05, 12:46 PM and leaves tunnels too, both of which have to specified in the creature description. Burrow of 10ft per round you do the math. Also since they have a respectable Int score they make good laborers when under the effects of charm monster. (need less supervision)

OR
you take this formula

One dead Umber Hulk + One 5th level Goblin Cleric +a little inspiration = Ultimate Necromatic Digging creation

Perfect for castle sieges or midnight raids into basements/wine cellars. Needs more supervision than a living version but never eats/sleeps or gets tired of digging.
Sarlax
08-07-05, 05:22 PM What is the speed for an umber hulk to burrow ?

What is the size of the burrowed rock in 8 hours, for example ?
An Umber Hulk's listed burrow speed is 20 ft. Normally, burrowing creatures cannot move through rock, but the umber hulk is an exception - the MM lists its rocks burrowing speed as 5 ft. The text states that the UH can choose to leave a usable tunnel, but it's not clear whether that's the case only for rock tunnels or whether they can leave usable dirt tunnels. I'm inclined to rule against dirt tunnels, as they'd likely collapse.

An umber hulk's dirt burrowing speed is 20 ft. Assuming it's just moving, it gets through 40 ft. of dirt every round, or 400 ft/minute. That's about 4.5 miles per hour. If the UH is going through rock, it makes 100 ft. per minute, or about 1.14 miles per hour.

This means that an umber hulk is a tunnel making machine. Given it's size, I'd estimate that its tunnels probably have a 10 ft. diameter. An ambitious civil engineer could dominate the creature and/or put out its Confusion-gaze eyes and put the thing to work in build an extensive city sewer system.

And as Algorithm_X notes, an undead version is just plain awesome. Apply the skeleton template to it (zombies can't double move) and you end up with an extremely compliant tunnel-digger (skeletons retain all speeds except non-magical flying). Even better, as a tireless and deathless abominaton, a skeletal umber hulk can work 24 hours a day.
Slad Chaos
08-08-05, 04:41 AM Are there a need to support the tunnel or room burrow by the umber hulk ?

When the umber hulk burrow in the rock, do it crush or eat the rock ?

Are the rock to remove behind it when it burrows ?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Slad Chaos 08-06-05, 04:40 AM	What is the speed for an umber hulk to burrow ? What is the size of the burrowed rock in 8 hours, for example ? Thanks for your help.
obrysii 08-06-05, 10:01 AM	1. Look in the monster manual entry for the Umber Hulk's Burrow speed 2. I don't know what you're asking. An Umber Hulk cannot burrow through rock.
Slad Chaos 08-06-05, 10:15 AM	Look in the Monster Manual, the umber hulk burrows in the rock.
Algorithm_X 08-06-05, 12:46 PM	and leaves tunnels too, both of which have to specified in the creature description. Burrow of 10ft per round you do the math. Also since they have a respectable Int score they make good laborers when under the effects of charm monster. (need less supervision) OR you take this formula One dead Umber Hulk + One 5th level Goblin Cleric +a little inspiration = Ultimate Necromatic Digging creation Perfect for castle sieges or midnight raids into basements/wine cellars. Needs more supervision than a living version but never eats/sleeps or gets tired of digging.
Sarlax 08-07-05, 05:22 PM	What is the speed for an umber hulk to burrow ? What is the size of the burrowed rock in 8 hours, for example ? An Umber Hulk's listed burrow speed is 20 ft. Normally, burrowing creatures cannot move through rock, but the umber hulk is an exception - the MM lists its rocks burrowing speed as 5 ft. The text states that the UH can choose to leave a usable tunnel, but it's not clear whether that's the case only for rock tunnels or whether they can leave usable dirt tunnels. I'm inclined to rule against dirt tunnels, as they'd likely collapse. An umber hulk's dirt burrowing speed is 20 ft. Assuming it's just moving, it gets through 40 ft. of dirt every round, or 400 ft/minute. That's about 4.5 miles per hour. If the UH is going through rock, it makes 100 ft. per minute, or about 1.14 miles per hour. This means that an umber hulk is a tunnel making machine. Given it's size, I'd estimate that its tunnels probably have a 10 ft. diameter. An ambitious civil engineer could dominate the creature and/or put out its Confusion-gaze eyes and put the thing to work in build an extensive city sewer system. And as Algorithm_X notes, an undead version is just plain awesome. Apply the skeleton template to it (zombies can't double move) and you end up with an extremely compliant tunnel-digger (skeletons retain all speeds except non-magical flying). Even better, as a tireless and deathless abominaton, a skeletal umber hulk can work 24 hours a day.
Slad Chaos 08-08-05, 04:41 AM	Are there a need to support the tunnel or room burrow by the umber hulk ? When the umber hulk burrow in the rock, do it crush or eat the rock ? Are the rock to remove behind it when it burrows ?