Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tanivor 04-20-06, 09:23 PM	I'm writing a room for my PCs where they sneak through a trap-laden room made by Bugbears... What sort of things would really evil bugbears use? I've already got hidden maces that are on chains and hammer them in the face, a rolling set of logs, a few mounted floor spikes, anything else? NOTE: This room is for 5th level PCs, but lets them get the drop on the big boss. This room can be massively EVIL
BW0222 04-21-06, 01:51 AM	Well, a bugbear's favourite class is rogue, so craft (trapmaking) is definitely an option. * Paint caltrops on some areas of the floor, put real ones in different areas. Bugbears tumble around since they know where the real ones are. * Nets falling from the ceiling. * Multiple hidden crossbows in a desk firing in an arc. * Tanglefoot bags, flasks of acid, tunderstones. * Cords to release barrels of water from the ceiling to drench torches. * Use Magical Device is a class skill, so... scrolls of darkness, fog cloud, wands of invisibility, etc. * Curtains which drop from the ceiling which provide concealment and allow the bugbears to move out of sight and keep hiding - and sneak attacking. * Horns, bells, wind chimes, etc. making lots of noise in the area -- preventing PCs from talking. Lots of things you could try.
Bruunwald 04-21-06, 12:51 PM	I'm writing a room for my PCs where they sneak through a trap-laden room made by Bugbears... What sort of things would really evil bugbears use? I've already got hidden maces that are on chains and hammer them in the face, a rolling set of logs, a few mounted floor spikes, anything else? NOTE: This room is for 5th level PCs, but lets them get the drop on the big boss. This room can be massively EVIL Those sound like pretty bugbearean traps to me. Bugbears do have rogue as a favored class, but they strike me as more malicious and brutal than clever, and they're definitely not refined or overtly mechanically-minded. I would stick with what you have, and add a little flavor with some guardian or pit creatures. How about a hidden trapdoor that drops its victims down into a pit with an owlbear in it? Or a manual lever that a bugbear guard pulls to release some creature into the room? Something simple and manual with pulleys that can trap the PCs in the room at the same time.
Chobemaster 04-21-06, 01:31 PM	all creatures regardless of alignment should use the most effective and efficient traps relative to their circumstances. The difference, if there is one, is that evil creatures won't particularly care if innocents are harmed by them. Only the insane would favor traps that don't actually work as well but seem "eviller" in action. Bugbears are strong, stealthy, cunning, but not all that intelligent overall. Traps involving heavy things falling from high places, either onto targets, or as counterweights, are good, since they can hoist them in the first place. Cunningly PLACED but simply OPERATING traps would make the most sense...they're not likely to have something that looks like the game Mousetrap, but they WILL put the simple "2-ton stone drops on your head" trap in the best place possible. Traps that favor the followup action should be considered as well...they are sneaky and favor the rogue class...any trap that entangles, restrains, or otherwise denies Dex bonus should be a goal of theirs, to activate sneak attacks generally and promote flanking opportunities. Split the party...a chute trap that opens the under the third person to step on a spot. This may be pushing their intellectual capacity to implement, but VERY appropriate for the mentality.
Arganis 04-21-06, 01:37 PM	I'm with Chobe. You're going to want to stick to simple traps that are deviously employed. In many cases, there might be a more obvious trap supported by a better-hidden one. The classic implementation of this is to place an obvious pit trap that will require negotiation (jump, climb, board) to cross and then trapping the very next square.
kelvinaw273 04-21-06, 01:41 PM	Don't forget poison.
Arganis 04-21-06, 01:48 PM	Don't forget poison. A poisoned falling stone? :D At first I was joking, but now I am pondering the sheer villainy of a 2-ton falling stone coated with contact poison! :w00t:
Feeb 04-21-06, 02:28 PM	I've always been a fan of the following: Take your basic dungeon room (say 25x25x10 feet for arguements sake) Put a dummy pit trap just inside the enterance to the room. Dummy trap is a 5' x 5' pit that extends down ~20 feet. on the other side (i.e. room side) is a pressure plate that runs the length of the room and is ~5 wide. Pressure plate is well hidden. Once more than 200 lbs is dropped is on the plate, a stone enchanted with Deeper Darkness drops into the center room from a small hole in the ceiling, fill it with magical darkess. The room is ringed with simple arrow traps that fire off once per round, (trap that fires is random, manual reload) once the plate has been depressed. Through in a second pit trap, real this time, and a locked exit for extra fun. (Took the idea from the original Tomb of Horrors) None of the damage should be enough to kill a pc outright, but it should soften them up fairly well.
Otto the Bugbear 04-21-06, 07:21 PM	Bugbears are strong, stealthy, cunning, but not all that intelligent overall. :censored: :headexplo :hoppingma :rant: :nonono: Bugbear Int: 10, Wis: 10 On average, bugbears are right in that same range as humans. Some smarter, some less so. That said, we would use our strength to advantage when designing traps. Think of things like the swinging spike in Conan the Barbarian. Use any traps that an average Int creature may devise. Better ones with more bugbears (higher chance of an intelligent one helping design the traps). Cheers Otto :)