AKA Proof one of my players is insane. (Well we all are but this is a specific instance.)
She's working on a Trickery Cleric and noticed they get Ethereal Jaunt as a bonus spell. She's also noticed EJ lets you pass through living things while ethereal. So in her twisted mind, the obvious next question is "What happens when I stop being ethereal while my hand is in the monster's skull?"
By RAW, all that happens is that she takes damage and gets shunted aside. Seems a little odd that the creature wouldn't be damaged though. Thoughts?
ADDENDUM: The entire party is now asking about doing so with weapons rather than a limb, thus circumventing the damage they would take. So add that onto the theorizing as well. >_>
For anything else you are now in House rule zone some ideas.
1. Monster makes Fort save as normal for a spell to take the same damage as the player.
or
2. A more viscious approach would be to allow the player a will save vs spell DC to actually grab some brains. If failed shunt and damage as normal. If she succeeds then the monster makes a Fort save same DC against brain rippage. If it fails treat it like a crit on the head part of the called shot rules. on a crit fail like a massive damage crit called shot to the head. If it makes the save she takes a crit on the hand part of the called shot. If it crits she takes a massive damage crit to the hand.
The spell does not allow that by RAW or RAI. As the GM you are free to allow it of course.
They can't stop being ethereal while their hands are inside of a monster's skulls.
The game does not allow for called shots which means targeting specific body parts is not allowed. There are rules for it in the UC, but that is only for actual attacks. Anything that is a corner case is up to the GM to decide.
Alright, that works. Thanks folks.
By the way if you want to allow it without it becoming a super rare thing make it risky.
If i can kill something at little or no risk to me its a good idea if however each attempt might cost me a hand or something its less useful.
Also if you use Hero Points this is a great way for them to have a use under the ask the GM part. As in
Player: Hey I know if I stop being etheral in something I get shunted out right.?
GM: Yeah.
Player: Can I spend a hero point to do some damage to that Minotaur Barbarian thats wrecking the healer by shunting out from inside it?
GM: (ponders a sec, decides its cool enough to work with a hero point) Sure your still taking damage too though.
Sure, let the cleric rematerialize with her hand in a monster's brain. Her hand has now irrevocably melded with the monster's head, Tele Frag style. The pain is excruciating, and only amputation will save you. But hey, you killed the monster! > : D
ADDENDUM: That's a good way to lose some weapons. : D