Community

 
Jump Menu:
Post Reply
Page 1 of 2  •  1 2 Next
Switch to Forum Live View Duergar Growth vs. Dwarf
4 years ago  ::  Mar 01, 2009 - 6:11PM #1
Shadow_Imp_02
Date Joined: Dec 14, 2004
Posts: 1,400
A Duergar Shock Trooper (from Thunderspire Labyrinth) has a power:

Expand (when first bloodied; encounter) * Polymorph
The duergar shock trooper becomes Large, occupying 4 squares instead of 1. Any creature in the squares that the shock trooper comes to occupy are pushed 1 square. The shock trooper also gains reach 2 and a +5 bonus to its melee damage rolls. The shock trooper remains Large until the end of the encounter.

What if an expanding duergar is next to a dwarf? Now, I can see that the dwarf resists the push, but now I have 2 creatures occupying 1 square, illegally.

Easy way out, the duergar gets pushed back.

Suppose the duergar is between a dwarf and a wall.

OR, suppose 2 dwarves are flanking a duergar when it expands.... then what?

I thought there was some rule that explains what to do in case creatures end up in illegal spaces, but I can't find it. Maybe I'm thinking about the "Standing Up" rule, or maybe I'm thinking 3rd edition...
Quick Reply
Cancel
4 years ago  ::  Mar 01, 2009 - 6:20PM #2
tehsquirrely
Date Joined: Jun 9, 2008
Posts: 723
They're all just squeezing in the same space unless the dwarf chooses to move (which would probably be the better idea). That'd be my first reaction.
Quick Reply
Cancel
4 years ago  ::  Mar 01, 2009 - 7:03PM #3
gorditobandito
Date Joined: Jan 4, 2008
Posts: 558
i think precedence would apply to the duergar for a few reasons. First and foremost is the PnP ground rule of the specific supersedes the general, in this case the specific instance of the duergar polymorphing itself would supersede the general rule of dwarves being resistant to forced movement

and secondly, try to look at the situation rationally. Is there no creature strong enough to open a door with a dwarf on the other side? clearly the rule was not meant to be a blanket effect that threw a wrench in the game's operation, and if it should ever provide a situation like the one you are in, negate the dwarven ability (or tell the player he was moved 2 squares, and let it move down to 1)
Quick Reply
Cancel
4 years ago  ::  Mar 01, 2009 - 7:43PM #4
ModernMyths
Date Joined: Oct 11, 2008
Posts: 630

Shadow Imp wrote:

A Duergar Shock Trooper (from Thunderspire Labyrinth) has a power:

Expand (when first bloodied; encounter) * Polymorph
The duergar shock trooper becomes Large, occupying 4 squares instead of 1. Any creature in the squares that the shock trooper comes to occupy are pushed 1 square. The shock trooper also gains reach 2 and a +5 bonus to its melee damage rolls. The shock trooper remains Large until the end of the encounter.

What if an expanding duergar is next to a dwarf? Now, I can see that the dwarf resists the push, but now I have 2 creatures occupying 1 square, illegally.

Easy way out, the duergar gets pushed back.

Suppose the duergar is between a dwarf and a wall.

OR, suppose 2 dwarves are flanking a duergar when it expands.... then what?

I thought there was some rule that explains what to do in case creatures end up in illegal spaces, but I can't find it. Maybe I'm thinking about the "Standing Up" rule, or maybe I'm thinking 3rd edition...


The common sense solution here would seem to be that the duergar can't expand unless it will end up in 4 legal spaces once it does so. The other option is to allow the duergar to expand as long as it then moves to a legal space immediately. I am inclined to rule for the former, as it's within what passes for RAW on this, and rewards the PCs for smart tactical moves that keep the enemy boxed into a space it can't expand into.

The rules for occupying the space of a prone ally allow the ally to shift 1 square before standing as part of the 'Stand Up' action.

-Lefty

Jim Crocker, Managing Partner
Modern Myths, LLC
Northampton, MA
www.modern-myths.com
Quick Reply
Cancel
4 years ago  ::  Mar 01, 2009 - 8:35PM #5
Suoitidure
Date Joined: Jan 24, 2009
Posts: 3,652

tehsquirrely wrote:

They're all just squeezing in the same space unless the dwarf chooses to move (which would probably be the better idea). That'd be my first reaction.


^ this

Quick Reply
Cancel
4 years ago  ::  Mar 01, 2009 - 11:39PM #6
Lucas_Blackstone
Date Joined: Sep 13, 2005
Posts: 2,101
Lefty brought up the rule I was thinking of. You get to shift a square when standing up to avoid prone allies from illegally occupying the same squares. This is not a case of anyone being prone but the practice remains the same.

I'm a fan of either saying the polymorphed duegar "pops out" from between them, or he is now squeezing until he moves from between them.

I'd like to see what CS says about this just because this is the kind of thing they are there for.
Quick Reply
Cancel
4 years ago  ::  Mar 02, 2009 - 6:07AM #7
Paradoxic
Date Joined: Feb 14, 2006
Posts: 548
I force my dwarves out of the way when it would otherwise cause two creatures in the same square. It isn't specifically defined in the rules, so the party decided that it would be simplest to just move out of the way. Of course, I also let my players decide which square adjacent to their character they are being pushed into, so we end up with a few instant flanking situations now and then.
Quick Reply
Cancel
4 years ago  ::  Mar 02, 2009 - 11:51AM #8
Arkarian
Date Joined: Oct 1, 2008
Posts: 115

gorditobandito wrote:

i think precedence would apply to the duergar for a few reasons. First and foremost is the PnP ground rule of the specific supersedes the general, in this case the specific instance of the duergar polymorphing itself would supersede the general rule of dwarves being resistant to forced movement


I think you have this backwards. The general rule is the Duergar first becomes bloodied, and that triggers a push power. The specific rule would be the Dwarf resists 1 square of push. The general rule is for all races, except Dwarf.

I'd say the Duergar would be forced to take up 4 squares adjacent to the Dwarf. If he's beside a wall, he's squeezed. How would you rule it if they grew while in a 1 square wide hallway? Because of the sturdy wall-like nature of Dwarves, they act as an obstruction.

Now, since Duergar should know Dwarves can't be pushed, they would, if possible, move to prevent this from happening.

Quick Reply
Cancel
4 years ago  ::  Mar 02, 2009 - 11:55AM #9
mvincent
Date Joined: Jun 15, 2004
Posts: 8,288

tehsquirrely wrote:

They're all just squeezing in the same space


QFT

Quick Reply
Cancel
2 years ago  ::  Aug 29, 2011 - 11:18AM #10
HighlandRaider
Date Joined: Aug 31, 2007
Posts: 18
We had this same problem pop up this last weekend, duergar shock trooper getting bloodied whilst adjacent to two dwarves. The DM just ruled the duargar shifted instead as he grew.

Any official word on this? I notice the last post was two years ago.
visit my blog about writing, voice-over,and games (and not necessarily in that order) at mdarinyoung.wordpress.com
Quick Reply
Cancel
Page 1 of 2  •  1 2 Next
Jump Menu:
 
    Viewing this thread :: 0 registered and 1 guest
    No registered users viewing