Because I know my party will try this (having both a druid and ranger in the ranks), I offer these questions up for thoughts and observations:
Does anyone think a druid or ranger could use Wild Empathy to convince the T-Rex to not attack them? Does his hunger make this impossible unless the PCs somehow feed him? Would their only chance to avoid combat be to use Charm Animal or Dominate Animal?
I am torn on this issue. I want to reward ideas that accomplish goals without bloodshed, but at the same time I want the first encounter on the Isle of Dread to be nerve-rattling.
Thanks in advance for the help!!
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
Get yourself a ring of sustenance.. ;)
Do awaken.. and convince it a "vop" is a good idea :D
..fear the awakened NG Trex VOP saint..
Get yourself a ring of sustenance.. ;)
Do awaken.. and convince it a "vop" is a good idea :D..fear the awakened NG Trex VOP saint..
The funny thing is that I think the ranger bought a Ring of Sustenance before we started Bullywug Gambit. I need to check on that. Hmmm...... ;P
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
To use wild empathy, the druid and the animal must be able to study each other, which means that they must be within 30 feet of one another under normal conditions. Generally, influencing an animal in this way takes 1 minute but, as with influencing people, it might take more or less time.
IIRC the Tyrannosaurus appears at about 50' away (I don't have the magazine with me at the moment). Then it charges the party. It seems like wild empathy wouldn't work in this situation. I can't imagine that a ravenous predator is going to react to some druid's posturing with less than a minute's worth of studying. Nerve-rattle away with impunity I say.
Because I know my party will try this (having both a druid and ranger in the ranks), I offer these questions up for thoughts and observations:
Does anyone think a druid or ranger could use Wild Empathy to convince the T-Rex to not attack them? Does his hunger make this impossible unless the PCs somehow feed him? Would their only chance to avoid combat be to use Charm Animal or Dominate Animal?
I am torn on this issue. I want to reward ideas that accomplish goals without bloodshed, but at the same time I want the first encounter on the Isle of Dread to be nerve-rattling.
Thanks in advance for the help!!
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
As far as I can see, Wild Empathy should work just as well with a dinosaur as any other predator. Often there won't be time to use it, like if T. rex emerges from the bush right beside them, or if it detected them using scent and has been stalking them, waiting for an opportunity to charge or ambush the party. Not all predators are hungry all the time, though, and if dinosaurs had metabolisms similar to modern reptiles they will be hungry far less often than mammalian predators. Even if we assume that theropods were warm-blooded with fast metabolisms they won't be any more ravenous and likely to attack than a lion, for example (Hollywood depictions notwithstanding).
In this case then T. rex might size up the party first and determine the threat before deciding to attack, in which case the ranger or druid should definitely have a chance to use Wild Empathy to convince the dinosaur that they pose no threat.
I think this gives you a realistic model that you can use to allow your ranger and druid to use their abilities to circumvent random dinosaur encounters, while keeping the nerve-wrenching fear of being stalked by a hungry dinosaur.
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From the PHB and shorthanded by me...the druid and beastie need to study each other which generally means 30ft or closer. Like a diplomacy check to improve attitude/ starting attitude should be unfriendly/ takes roughly 1 minute but as with influencing people may take more or less time.
If they can restrain it for a minute or 3 I would say that they can try to affect or effect (which is it?) with the Wild Empathy checks.
*edit* and I think the T-rex was described as extremely hungry in the adventure.
FH
Because I know my party will try this (having both a druid and ranger in the ranks), I offer these questions up for thoughts and observations:
Does anyone think a druid or ranger could use Wild Empathy to convince the T-Rex to not attack them? Does his hunger make this impossible unless the PCs somehow feed him? Would their only chance to avoid combat be to use Charm Animal or Dominate Animal?
I am torn on this issue. I want to reward ideas that accomplish goals without bloodshed, but at the same time I want the first encounter on the Isle of Dread to be nerve-rattling.
Thanks in advance for the help!!
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
When that T-Rex comes at them make em' wet their armor!!!
As far as I can see, Wild Empathy should work just as well with a dinosaur as any other predator.
Weird. It's like I'm arguing with myself.
Anyway, as FH said, I believe that the adventure describes the T.Rex as being particularly hungry, hence the rushing right in to attack tactic.
Go get 'em Dalesman!
Creative Director
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A tyrannosaurus is an animal, and thus it's completely within the rules to use wild empathy on it. Of course, this functions just like Diplomacy, which means that the druid needs a minute to make the check. If he wishes to rush it and make the attempt as a full-round action (requried in this case, since the dinosaur attacks them for food at once), the druid takes a –10 penalty to the check (per the rules for Diplomacy). The tyrannosaurs' initial attitude is hostile, so in order to break off it's attack the druid would have to make the dinosaur at least indifferent: a DC 25 check. Which, with that –10 penalty, is far from a sure thing.
Spells like charm animal are a much better choice for this type of situation. But you should absolutely let the druid try his best against the t-rex, since that is, after all, what druids do. If it results in a "defeat" by making the t-rex lose interest in the party, the PCs should still get full XP for the encounter, and if they play their cards right, they might even be able to recruit the t-rex as an ally.
One thing to bear in mind is that, like Diplomacy, the Wild Empathy check (or indeed Charm Animal) only improves the tyrannosaur's attitude toward the druid.
If the druid isn't alone at the time, then anyone else there is still food as far as the dinosaur's concerned.
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Creative Director
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One thing to bear in mind is that, like Diplomacy, the Wild Empathy check (or indeed Charm Animal) only improves the tyrannosaur's attitude toward the druid.
If the druid isn't alone at the time, then anyone else there is still food as far as the dinosaur's concerned.
BUT: If the druid has friends, the tyrannosaurus would be disinclined to eat the druid's friends. In my opinion, saying that the t-rex avoids the druid after a lucky Wild Empathy roll only to immediately attack the fighter is a great way to steamroll over the druid and marginalize his powers.
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BUT: If the druid has friends, the tyrannosaurus would be disinclined to eat the druid's friends. In my opinion, saying that the t-rex avoids the druid after a lucky Wild Empathy roll only to immediately attack the fighter is a great way to steamroll over the druid and marginalize his powers.
no - but if the Trex is still around when they get to the settlement..... that isn't going to be the same group of people in the Trex's eyes...
oh come on, what is so wrong about giving the PC's a win here?! They would have earned it! Why railroad them later on for it. After a charm animal and/or wild empathy why would the TREX betray a friend? This would be a great way of teaching the PC's that nothing they can do will ever work out in their favor.
Also - this is a great way to build a relationship with this creature who could eventually become an animal companion (16th Lv.).
Thanks for all the input guys - I needed it!!
James, I will use your rules suggestion and let my Druid strut her stuff (I completely forgot about the full-round action option for Diplomacy, and it makes perfect sense that it would also apply to Wild Empathy).
Also, since my Druid is a gestalt character (paired with a homebrew Beguiler variant), I want her to be able to use her diplomatic/charming abilities to win battles whenever she can(and since she was very frustrated that none of her spells worked on the Savage creatures in Kraken's Cove, I want to give her a chance to shine and save the day).
And besides (I'm with Lex on this) - we all know that we want to have a T-Rex as a pet/companion ("Sit, Grimlock, sit! Good T-Rex....") ;P
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys SInce 1369 DR"
Weird. It's like I'm arguing with myself.
They say that's the first sign of insanity :)
Anyway, as FH said, I believe that the adventure describes the T.Rex as being particularly hungry, hence the rushing right in to attack tactic.
Ah, I see. My Dungeon usually arrives 6-8 weeks after being shipped so, needless to say, I haven't seen this adventure yet.
If Mick Dundee can use Wild Empathy to put a water buffalo to sleep, the druid should have a shot at calming the T Rex -- it's the silly, heroic stuff of which D&D is made.
Of course, due to its hunger, it might be disinclined to acquiesce to the druid's request.
:P
Of course, due to its hunger, it might be disinclined to acquiesce to the druid's request.
:P
"That means 'no'."
-Captain Barbossa
gee.. feed it that prissy noble with warhorse :D
Noone will miss him, lol
I'm going to let more survivors land on the beach, but the T-rex is gonna "thin the herd" a bit. Wild empathy might be less of an option when its already downed a few people.
That being said, I'm not worried about wild empathy because I know the druid doesn't like carnivores in my game. When the diplodoci show up later though....