So my PC's got the sphere the last session and although I'd read the rules multiple times I couldn't figure out how you determine what's hit by it. The rules don't call for a to hit roll. Does is annihilate everything in its path? Or just in the square in which it stops? What am I missing.
Shade325
Does is annihilate everything in its path?
Yes. Everything.
Even air?
|
So my PC's got the sphere the last session and although I'd read the rules multiple times I couldn't figure out how you determine what's hit by it. The rules don't call for a to hit roll. Does is annihilate everything in its path? Or just in the square in which it stops? What am I missing.
Shade325
You can probably make it simpler by saying that it autohits (or make it a ranged touch) residents of the last square it stops in. It can hit any number of inanimate objects during its movement.
For when it hits someone, you can either take the standard, auto-destruction, or treat it like the new disintegrate (particularly since it seemed based off the old disintegrate): 40d6 damage (maybe save?). If your PCs ever lose control, they'll appreciate it....I'd suggest you make a ruling that there isn't pressure towards the sphere; otherwise, you have a rather complicated bag of worms.
IIRC, the Sphere of Annihilation and the Talisman of the Sphere are listed in the DMG, under artifacts. If so, I'm pretty sure they have rules mechanics for dealing with them.
IIRC, the Sphere of Annihilation and the Talisman of the Sphere are listed in the DMG, under artifacts. If so, I'm pretty sure they have rules mechanics for dealing with them.
You would be wrong. The rules detail control and movement but don't describe how to attack something with it.
Do you make a touch attack?
A ranged touch attack?
How many attacks do you get? One per round or iterative?
Does it not require and attack roll? Does it hit everything in its path?
Does it hit everything in the square it stops in?
If no attack roll is there a saving throw?
There is no information on these types of questions in the rules. The rules only deal with control and movement. Not destruction.
FYI for those who haven't gotten this far in the path.
Shade325
You would be wrong. The rules detail control and movement but don't describe how to attack something with it.
From the DMG: "Any matter that comes in contact with a sphere is instantly sucked into the void, gone, and utterly destroyed."
As far as I'm concerned, if something is in the path of the Sphere of Annihilation, that's it, it's gone. It does not need to make an attack roll, it gets to move 10+ feet (depending on the control check made to control the Sphere) once a round. Everything in the squares that it passes through and ends up in is destroyed.
Just as there is no attack roll, there is no saving throw against it, nor can someone suddenly jump or tumble out of the way when it is not their go (their fault for not stearing clear when they had the opportunity to do so).
If you want to be somewhat lenient, you may wish to allow victims of a sphere a Reflex save (DC 40-ish) when the sphere enters their square. Success pushes that character 5 ft. away (character's choice which direction), unharmed. However, if the sphere's got more movement to it, this could mean multiple Reflex saves...
EDIT: Another option would be a Fortitude save (also around DC 40)... failure is disintegration, success indicates 5d6 damage is taken. If the damage taken from a successful save brings a character to 0 hp or below, that character is disintegrated. However, a character would only risk having to make one Fortitude save per round instead of a relentlessly following orb of destruction for the Reflex save variant. I would suggest using either the Reflex save or the Fortitude save.
However, at the most basic, a sphere of annihilation annihilates things. Period. If you brought one to Kord's realm and it entered his square, Kord would cease to exist (though you could argue for divine protections and institute them as DM fiat*, there is nothing in the rules as written that prevent it). Nothing survives a sphere of annihilation.
*
OK, rereading the rules, it appears that none of Shade's questions are directly answered. Implicitly, I think, the sphere automatically hits and destroys anything in any squares in its path. It is supposed to be a nasty powerful artifact, well-hidden because even the powers of chaos fear its potential to destroy the multiverse. Some possibility of deific immunity is hinted at in the description, since it takes "deity-level intervention" to restore a destroyed character to life.
In terms of verisimilitude, it is hard to imagine having no chance to move out of the way of a 2 foot diameter object coming through your 5 x5x5 cube, unless it moves with extroardinary rapidity. Does it jerk into motion in spurts when the user concentrates on it, streaking at the speed of light? You even get a reflex save for a lightning bolt, for crying out loud. So coming up with some limits to nerf the thing isn't out of the question.
Ummmm, lets keep in mind that we're talking about Spheres of Anihhilation, not a sphere. Minor artifact remember? Which means there are more than 1. It is kind of counter-intuitive that a minor artifact can be stronger than a major, but the fact is the artifact classifications is based on "unique" and "not-unique". Spheres of Anihilation form spontanously on the negative energy plane, out of voidstone. They're rare, rare like a diamond the size of your fist, but that doesn't mean unique.
Just wanted to chime that in.
|
i'm reminded of the umbral blot (aka the blackball). if memory serves it is listed in the ELH as a construct. i say this because i envision the sphere as a failed attempt at trying to create one of these nasty creatures and therefore would use the information listed there under its "Combat" heading.
I've DMed the final scene.
Based on this I say sure, reflex save to get out of the way or one way trip to a magical equivalent of a black hole. Note that part of a swarm is sucked away. Usually one square. Kyuss cannot dodge if he's still tied to that obolisk. His cloak and weapon are lesser artifacts so they go away.
As for true ressurection or clone, the soul is gone.
I would rule that a lost soul might take this opportunity to move in to a vacant body. The person must roleplay as someone different. Go watch the last season of Angel and study Enya. A whole different personality. Same skills and stats but hard time accessing the body's memories. Make it a concentration check vs 20. Bonus +10 for the history era the soul came from. -10 for anything that happened after. You might hit their knowledge local, royalty, and some geography.
Nilspace was gotten rid of so noone could go there to get things.
What goes in to the orb is gone, out of the game, and can't be gotten back. The hair or toenail clippings left behind still exist with no connection to the things lost.