Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ayra 03-10-08, 07:06 AM	According to the underdark excerpt on mineral warriors (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20031003e) everyone who gets the mineral warrior template gains a burrow speed of half their highest speed. I actually wondered how a mineral warrior burrows. He can move through the ground, but how exactly does he do it? I looked at the burrow description (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#burrow) in the d20srd but it said to look at the individual creature descriptions, which mineral warriors seems to be lacking. When looking at the delver (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/delver.htm) for instance, I can understand how he moves through the dirt: His corrosive acid that is extraordinarily effective against stone. Additionally: How does a mineral warriors navigate through the ground? The delver has tremorsense (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#tremorsense), but the mineral warrior only gets darkvision. It would be very hard to navigate through dirt if you can't perceive anything around you (for reference it'd be worse than swimming in very unclear water or navigating through a thick fog). Wouldn't this make the burrowing speed pretty much useless, except for just hiding under the ground?
Orenmir 03-10-08, 10:33 AM	Since the Mineral Warrior template description lacks detail on how the burrowing is done, I'd say leave it up to the player and/or DM to create their own fluff (probably enhanced "scoop-like" hands with enlarged tough fingernails, etc.). I'd allow the base race to have some influence on the method of burrowing. I would agree that there wouldn't be much in the way of navigation, although I would say he would be adept at burrowing in a straight line and able to "know" how much of a turn he takes and how far he goes, etc.
Cifer 03-10-08, 06:30 PM	I'd say the same as Orenmir - allow the player to choose his preferred way of burrowing and consider the character able to have a good sense of direction regarding straight lines, distances and the point of his entry.
Ayra 03-11-08, 06:16 AM	Thanks for the replies! My character (a human barbarian/fighter) will gain the mineral warrior template in a couple levels and I have no clue how to let him burrow himself. Using his hands to dig a hole seems too slow for a 15ft. burrow speed and I'm currently lacking the creativity to think of an alternative way for him to burrow. Any ideas other than using his hands as shovels :p?
Cifer 03-11-08, 09:51 AM	Just dive into the stone. For you, it has a more waterlike consistence.
Orenmir 03-11-08, 10:26 AM	Thanks for the replies! My character (a human barbarian/fighter) will gain the mineral warrior template in a couple levels and I have no clue how to let him burrow himself. Using his hands to dig a hole seems too slow for a 15ft. burrow speed and I'm currently lacking the creativity to think of an alternative way for him to burrow. Any ideas other than using his hands as shovels :p? Read the description on Mineral Warrior and the Mineralize spell. This should give you some insight on the transformation that your human will undergo. His body will mutate -- and part of this mutation will include stone-like and scoop-shaped hands with rocks for fingernails. Maybe his head becomes more pointy to help him push through the earth. His toes become sharper to dig into the ground for pushing. Just remember -- he's no longer completely human!
Ayra 03-12-08, 06:05 AM	Thanks both :) I'll look through the mineralize spell, but diving into the earth sounds pretty neat too ;) Thanks again!