Random Elf Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Random Elf Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SpikeRosered
11-05-07, 11:42 AM Can elves imagined in the PHB walk on top of snow as Legolas did in the LoTR movies?
Krusk
11-05-07, 12:40 PM No, but a high enough level elven ranger could.
Orenmir
11-05-07, 12:52 PM There's no special ability as such.

I would probably make it a Balance check to try. Being slightly lighter than a human, I might give an Elf a very small bonus for the check (granted he had big feet and/or big shoes for his size!). Depending on the density and moisture of the snow, the DC should be pretty high -- like 30 in dry snow, 25 in typical snow, 20 in packed snow. Then again, you could probably just tell him if he falls in or not. Have you ever tried to walk over snow that high?
SpikeRosered
11-05-07, 12:57 PM Haha, oh well. I have an elven character with cold resistance 10 (through feats) and the party is about to head toward a snowy region of the world. I though it would be funny if not only the cold didn't affect my character but he could run on top of the snow as well.
Ralvuimego
11-05-07, 03:11 PM Its almost covered in the Epic rules for the Balence skill. Balencing on water is a DC 90 balence check, and since snow is more likely to support his weight than water, I'd probably kick the balence check down to 70. Still, that's a really high DC for a non-epic character to make. There IS a spell in the Spell Compendium (And probably Frostburn, but I don't own the book so I couldn't tell you) called Snow Shoes, which allows you to stand on snow effortlessly. It's a spell for Rangers, Clerics, and Druids, so it's well within your reach.
Killydd
11-06-07, 12:38 AM Boots of the North(or whatever they're called now) will let you walk on snow/ice like normal ground(and a couple of other things) for 2500(DMG)
Lokathor
11-06-07, 12:43 AM There's also a spell called "Showshoes" that rangers and druids can get. It's in Spell Compendium, and probably Frostburn.
Bahumut
11-06-07, 01:28 AM hmm....anyone think the Druid's Trackless Step would keep them from leaving footprints?

also, how many of you DMs would allow a ranger's woodland stride to help him in snow, or other nature-caused impairments? i know it says he "may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at his normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment.", but what other situations would that help him in?
Ralvuimego
11-06-07, 09:28 AM How many of you DMs would allow a ranger's woodland stride to help him in snow, or other nature-caused impairments? i know it says he "may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at his normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment.", but what other situations would that help him in?

I'd have to say no to this one, and for two reasons.

1. It would completely negate the usefulness of the ranger spell "Snowshoes"

2. It's called "Woodland Stride", implying that they can avoid common forest based terrain difficulties. If one of my players wanted to play a ranger that doesn't have the woodland theme, I'd gladly substitute Woodland Stride for "Mountain Stride (for Mountains and Caves)", "Winter Stride (For Snowy terrain)", or "Dune Stride (For desert terrain)". ((Note: These are all homebrew, and there aren't any rules for them. I can write up some specifics if needed, though))
Krusk
11-06-07, 10:33 AM also, how many of you DMs would allow a ranger's woodland stride to help him in snow, or other nature-caused impairments? i know it says he "may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at his normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment.", but what other situations would that help him in?

Id say that this is almost exactly what this is for. It is for the woods though, but like ralvuimego says, i would allow a desert or ice stride for those environments.
risner
11-06-07, 02:30 PM Can elves imagined in the PHB walk on top of snow as Legolas did in the LoTR movies?

No, but I think one of the races in Frostburn can.
Napoleon_the_Clown
11-07-07, 04:13 AM Sure, if he were wearing a decent set of snowshoes.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SpikeRosered 11-05-07, 11:42 AM	Can elves imagined in the PHB walk on top of snow as Legolas did in the LoTR movies?
Krusk 11-05-07, 12:40 PM	No, but a high enough level elven ranger could.
Orenmir 11-05-07, 12:52 PM	There's no special ability as such. I would probably make it a Balance check to try. Being slightly lighter than a human, I might give an Elf a very small bonus for the check (granted he had big feet and/or big shoes for his size!). Depending on the density and moisture of the snow, the DC should be pretty high -- like 30 in dry snow, 25 in typical snow, 20 in packed snow. Then again, you could probably just tell him if he falls in or not. Have you ever tried to walk over snow that high?
SpikeRosered 11-05-07, 12:57 PM	Haha, oh well. I have an elven character with cold resistance 10 (through feats) and the party is about to head toward a snowy region of the world. I though it would be funny if not only the cold didn't affect my character but he could run on top of the snow as well.
Ralvuimego 11-05-07, 03:11 PM	Its almost covered in the Epic rules for the Balence skill. Balencing on water is a DC 90 balence check, and since snow is more likely to support his weight than water, I'd probably kick the balence check down to 70. Still, that's a really high DC for a non-epic character to make. There IS a spell in the Spell Compendium (And probably Frostburn, but I don't own the book so I couldn't tell you) called Snow Shoes, which allows you to stand on snow effortlessly. It's a spell for Rangers, Clerics, and Druids, so it's well within your reach.
Killydd 11-06-07, 12:38 AM	Boots of the North(or whatever they're called now) will let you walk on snow/ice like normal ground(and a couple of other things) for 2500(DMG)
Lokathor 11-06-07, 12:43 AM	There's also a spell called "Showshoes" that rangers and druids can get. It's in Spell Compendium, and probably Frostburn.
Bahumut 11-06-07, 01:28 AM	hmm....anyone think the Druid's Trackless Step would keep them from leaving footprints? also, how many of you DMs would allow a ranger's woodland stride to help him in snow, or other nature-caused impairments? i know it says he "may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at his normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment.", but what other situations would that help him in?
Ralvuimego 11-06-07, 09:28 AM	How many of you DMs would allow a ranger's woodland stride to help him in snow, or other nature-caused impairments? i know it says he "may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at his normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment.", but what other situations would that help him in? I'd have to say no to this one, and for two reasons. 1. It would completely negate the usefulness of the ranger spell "Snowshoes" 2. It's called "Woodland Stride", implying that they can avoid common forest based terrain difficulties. If one of my players wanted to play a ranger that doesn't have the woodland theme, I'd gladly substitute Woodland Stride for "Mountain Stride (for Mountains and Caves)", "Winter Stride (For Snowy terrain)", or "Dune Stride (For desert terrain)". ((Note: These are all homebrew, and there aren't any rules for them. I can write up some specifics if needed, though))
Krusk 11-06-07, 10:33 AM	also, how many of you DMs would allow a ranger's woodland stride to help him in snow, or other nature-caused impairments? i know it says he "may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at his normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment.", but what other situations would that help him in? Id say that this is almost exactly what this is for. It is for the woods though, but like ralvuimego says, i would allow a desert or ice stride for those environments.
risner 11-06-07, 02:30 PM	Can elves imagined in the PHB walk on top of snow as Legolas did in the LoTR movies? No, but I think one of the races in Frostburn can.
Napoleon_the_Clown 11-07-07, 04:13 AM	Sure, if he were wearing a decent set of snowshoes.