But where does the DIRT go? [Archive] - Wizards Community

But where does the DIRT go? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
lancean
04-07-04, 09:08 AM In last night's game, the party wizard was finalizing his plans. He is gonna polymorph into an Umber Hulk and use it's digging ability to undermine some earthworks. Fair enough, but then it struck me...

Where does the DIRT go? :uh-huh:

The umber hulk digs. It leaves behind a tunnel. Just out of curiosity... where is all the dirt and rock that used to FILL this space? It doesn't eat it, it can't shove it to the side, and it certainly isn't carrying it all back to the beginning of the tunnel...

I am bewildered, and the "don't worry about it, it's magic" explanation just isn't working. So where does the dirt go?:confused:
ieattrollsforbreakfast
04-07-04, 09:15 AM Well, in the monster entry it says it doesnt leave a tunnel unless it chooses to. So my theory is that if it doesnt not chose to, it is basically pushing the dirt behind it, and it if does want to it will have to take the dirt out to the entrance. Another explaination could be that it compacts the dirt around it while digging, so that it takes up less room, is more stable, and so will make a reasonable, but easily collapsable, tunnel.
Adrez Nesnsid
04-07-04, 09:40 AM That second explanation is exactly what I was thinking.
Thomar_of_Uointer
04-07-04, 02:15 PM In the Artemis Fowl series, dwarves burrow. Without tools.

Really, they just take the dirt in one end and it comes out the other end.
Edymnion
04-07-04, 04:49 PM Pretty much been said.
For a loose passage, you just shove the dirt behind you, filling up the tunnel as you go. This is typically a BAD idea unless you have some way to breath that doesn't require fresh air (or don't need to breath at all). The second way to make a more permanent tunnel is to compact the earth. Gets the dirt out of the way, and reinforces the tunnel so it doesn't collapse on you. You still have issues about fresh air if the tunnel gets too long though.
Wickerbull
04-07-04, 06:28 PM Hmm, I've never thought about this before.

Maybe they secrete some kind of dirt dissolving acid. Or, maybe they do like the earth worm and absorb the dirt, then expel it.

You know what this calls for? A $40.00 book about Umber Hulks, descibing every detail of their lives. Yeah. Umbernomicon. Has a nice ring to it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
lancean 04-07-04, 09:08 AM	In last night's game, the party wizard was finalizing his plans. He is gonna polymorph into an Umber Hulk and use it's digging ability to undermine some earthworks. Fair enough, but then it struck me... Where does the DIRT go? :uh-huh: The umber hulk digs. It leaves behind a tunnel. Just out of curiosity... where is all the dirt and rock that used to FILL this space? It doesn't eat it, it can't shove it to the side, and it certainly isn't carrying it all back to the beginning of the tunnel... I am bewildered, and the "don't worry about it, it's magic" explanation just isn't working. So where does the dirt go?:confused:
ieattrollsforbreakfast 04-07-04, 09:15 AM	Well, in the monster entry it says it doesnt leave a tunnel unless it chooses to. So my theory is that if it doesnt not chose to, it is basically pushing the dirt behind it, and it if does want to it will have to take the dirt out to the entrance. Another explaination could be that it compacts the dirt around it while digging, so that it takes up less room, is more stable, and so will make a reasonable, but easily collapsable, tunnel.
Adrez Nesnsid 04-07-04, 09:40 AM	That second explanation is exactly what I was thinking.
Thomar_of_Uointer 04-07-04, 02:15 PM	In the Artemis Fowl series, dwarves burrow. Without tools. Really, they just take the dirt in one end and it comes out the other end.
Edymnion 04-07-04, 04:49 PM	Pretty much been said. For a loose passage, you just shove the dirt behind you, filling up the tunnel as you go. This is typically a BAD idea unless you have some way to breath that doesn't require fresh air (or don't need to breath at all). The second way to make a more permanent tunnel is to compact the earth. Gets the dirt out of the way, and reinforces the tunnel so it doesn't collapse on you. You still have issues about fresh air if the tunnel gets too long though.
Wickerbull 04-07-04, 06:28 PM	Hmm, I've never thought about this before. Maybe they secrete some kind of dirt dissolving acid. Or, maybe they do like the earth worm and absorb the dirt, then expel it. You know what this calls for? A $40.00 book about Umber Hulks, descibing every detail of their lives. Yeah. Umbernomicon. Has a nice ring to it.