This is probably already addressed somewhere, but how do various methods of teleportation work in regards to creatures being grapple by, or that are inside the teleporter. Escpecially when the method of teleportation is a supernatural ability, and not one that lists a save DC for unwilling targets.
For context, I've got a Fey Creature (Bestiary 3, 116) Froghemoth (Bestiary 1, 136). It has the froghemoth grab and swallow whole abilities, as well as the Fey creature ability long step:
A fey creature can teleport up to 10 ft. per hit dice as a move action. It may use this ability once every 1d4 rounds
The fey froghemoth can teleport pretty large distances (160 ft. maximum). So what happens if it does so while grappling someone? Do they go with it, or do they drop as it teleports away. And if they're inside it do they stay inside as it teleports, or does it (and its stomach) poof away around it, leaving the swallowed person in the space where the stomach once was.
If it can teleport with people, then I imagine this would be a rather good hunting tactic. Grab someone and then poof off so that you don't have to deal with their friends. In a dense marsh, and with the fey creature SLAs it gains, one or two jumps of 160 ft. is probably enough to isolate a person from their allies.
The most basic teleportation spells are Dimension Door and Teleport. They can be used to teleport willing creatures along with the caster. Given that most creatures would rather be 160 feet away from a Fey Froghemoth than in his stomach, I think that the Fey Froghemoth would leave his victim behind in one of the squares that it departed from unless that victim is already unconscious (in which case it counts as "willing").
Hmm, willing targets only huh? That makes sense I guess (froggy can still use his deep slumber SLA to make creatures willing, heh heh heh...). Though I suppose now I should look into how many willing creatures a fey creature can teleport with them using long step...
Dimension Door seems most comparable to long step, so I'll use it.
Dimension Door allows 1 willing creature per 3 caster levels. A fey creature's SLAs say caster level is equal to the fey creature's HD. Long step isn't one of its SLAs, though I suppose the caster level for SLAs could still apply it. In which case long step allows 1 willing medium or smaller creature to be brought along per 3 hit dice.
...I.e. in the case of the fey froghemoth, up to 5 can be brought.
|
Given that a likely outcome of this tactic is a dead PC (that is a CR15 beastie, after all), and no way for his friends to get the body back, I'd be leery of allowing it to take the PC without a save at the least. Also, this opens up the possibility that the PCs will try it - grapple a foe, and dimension door or teleport away with him.
EDIT: Also, the deep slumber only affects up to 10 hit dice, so if it's going to be effective on a PC, the feyghemoth is already a really tough encounter. Taking a PC away that way is a death sentence.
^Heh, my players already know the above tactic, or a variation on it. Surprise Plane Shift is one of my favourite ways to get rid of an enemy or two, and they've picked up on the tactic.
But anyways, since Dimension door (and Teleport) only allows for bringing willing creatures, I'm applying the same rule to long step.
Edit: Hmm, true. I forgot about Deep Slumber's limit... Well, if I'm ever feeling cruel I could use it to snatch hirelings or NPCs travelling with them I suppose.
...Probably best not to though.
We once got a T-Rex to swallow whole a vampire, and then teleported the t-rex outside to dismiss him. That was the most effective way to kill a vampire we found.