Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kevtar 03-21-08, 11:44 PM	Hi all, We are currently in a game where the Druid wants to summon an earth elemental who will then use earthglide to "stand inside a stone wall" and make melee attacks against a blackguard. Personally, I thought earthglide worked like flying, meaning that the elemental can move through the earth, but end in the earth and make an attack. I mean, isn't that broken for an earth elemental to stand in a wall and wail on an enemy? If you know the answer to this, please respond. Thanks in advance.
Vulcanus 03-22-08, 01:05 AM	Hi all, We are currently in a game where the Druid wants to summon an earth elemental who will then use earthglide to "stand inside a stone wall" and make melee attacks against a blackguard. Personally, I thought earthglide worked like flying, meaning that the elemental can move through the earth, but end in the earth and make an attack. I mean, isn't that broken for an earth elemental to stand in a wall and wail on an enemy? If you know the answer to this, please respond. Thanks in advance. Earth Glide (Ex) An earth elemental can glide through stone, dirt, or almost any other sort of earth except metal as easily as a fish swims through water. Its burrowing leaves behind no tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple or other signs of its presence. A move earth spell cast on an area containing a burrowing earth elemental flings the elemental back 30 feet, stunning the creature for 1 round unless it succeeds on a DC 15 Fortitude save. From what I can see, and my past experiences with Earth Elementals, they can attack from within the stone structure. If it is able to move through it like water, and you can attack while in water, I don't see why not. The problem would be determining how you could hit the Elemental after being struck by it. If it is in the walla and attacks, and then its arms and such go back into the wall, then you could not technically hit it without destroyign the wall. Unless of course you go by "All things in a around happen simultaneously, in which case you could RP that the person being struck saw an opening such as the exposed "limb" and attacked, but then at the beginning of each round the elemental would be untouchable. ~DeeJus~
Krusk 03-22-08, 01:29 AM	"like a fish through water" I believe is the exact quote used in the book. It is up to you the DM what that means exactly, but I would let their earth elemental sit in a wall. When I am a PC my earth elementals sit underground and swing up, and I really dont see a diffrence. Solution for the DM, Have you NPCS/enemies walk away from the wall. * solution 2- NPC/enemy ready actions, and attack as earth elemental reaches out of the wall.
Cranewings 03-22-08, 02:00 AM	I agree that they need to ready their actions. Personally, I'd reroll initiative every round, and only characters beating the elemental to initiative would have the ability to attack it. On the other hand, I think it is fair to say that attacking and damaging the wall would also deal damage to the creature. It isn't actually swimming, it is melded into the wall. If someone pulls out a hammer and smashes the wall, I'd say it was an automatic hit.
JancariusSeiryujinn 03-22-08, 02:36 AM	Prepare an action to attack when it attacks, or just fly away. Enemy NPCs are the world's greatest consumable users cause you can always outfit them with just enough of hte right potions, make sure to drink them (or apply in case of oils) before the party would have a chance to stop them, and walla! Buffed enemy, no change to CR, no addtional troops, and reduced treasure hand out. Also keep in mind when this comes up with similar tricks, not all earthglide monsters can see by means other than direct sight and keeping their head in the wall would impose total concealment... though I suppose there's no mechanic to prevent them from sticking their head out.