As I was coming up with ways for my sorcerer to set a trap for a anti-paladin who loves charging into the fray, but isn't stupid enough to fall for an obvious trap, I came up with the idea of casting invisibility on some caltrops and spreading them out right before he arrives. The question is, would I have to cast invisibility on each separate caltrop (which is impossible, given the duration of the spell) or would I be able to cast invisibility into the bag and make all of them invisible? Or would I be better off hiring someone to weave a net with spines at each rope junction so that it's all one object that can be laid out and have invisibility cast on it?
Invisibility would need to cast separately on each caltrop unfortunately. It says specifically that it affects a creature or object. Any objects dropped by an invisible creature become visible again.
What level is this party? It wouldn't be out of line for a haunt or some of the harder to see regular mechanical traps.
Illusions can cover a range of caltrops :)
A floor covered with oil would be hard to charge across...and is flammable!
You could always cast Invisibility, Mass(though it's a level 7 spell) if you wanted to have a trap like. It works on any number of creatures or objects, so long as no two are more than 180 feet apart.
What level is this party? It wouldn't be out of line for a haunt or some of the harder to see regular mechanical traps.
Illusions can cover a range of caltrops :)
A floor covered with oil would be hard to charge across...and is flammable!
It's a 4th-level party, with me as the only arcane spell caster (I normally focus on necromancy, but I teamed up with the rogue and start combat by casting invisibility on him so that he can easily sneak attack). I guess I could see about buying a scroll of silent image...
Would it work if I bought a large, flimsy bag that was about 5 feet wide laid out flat, spread the caltrops out inside it, and then cast invisibility on the bag? Or a lay the caltrops out on one half of a sheet, fold the other half over, and cast invisibility on the sheet?
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Would it work if I bought a large, flimsy bag that was about 5 feet wide laid out flat, spread the caltrops out inside it, and then cast invisibility on the bag? Or a lay the caltrops out on one half of a sheet, fold the other half over, and cast invisibility on the sheet?
It would not work. Invisibility can be cast on an object or creature. If cast on a creature, the gear it carries also becomes invisible. A piece of paper is not a creature.
If you can pick the battleground, you may be able to use Still Image to hide the caltrops or hide a spiked pit. You could also just camouflage them using natural materials.
Depending on how much time you have you could try to have a something custom made that connects the caltrops to be one item.
Some ideas have been made in how that could work. Here are more:
Have caltrops made with small loops/bails on the feetand connect them with thin thread.
Take a thin net and attack the caltrops to it. When it is 5x5ft it might be more difficult to lay out but it should be possible.
But on the other hand, why do you need the caltrops to be invisible? If painted in a similar colour as the ground where you want to lay them out they are hard to notice already. And even is he notices them what will he do? Flee? Move at half speed?
What I would suggest is laying out the caltrops without making them invisible and have an invisible creature (summoned creature or mount called by the spell made invisible) in the square behind the one with the caltrops.
1) If he doesn't notice the caltrops and charges through he has a chance to step on them and goes to 2)
2) After he crosses the square with the caltrops (by whatever means, be it charging through, malking or jumping over) he bumps into the invisible creature and can't continue without an acrobatics roll.
If it's a combat capable creature he can either move back taking an AoO or he can fight. If he fights he has another chance to be hit by the caltrops for fighting in the square.
At least that's how I understand it.
To the OP ... it would probably be easier to ready and action to cast grease if the hardy charges. Since it hinders movement, it will stop any charge
I like the net with caltrop idea. Alternatively you can make a mat (can be woven wicker or whatever) and have metal spikes protruding from the top. Just roll it out and cast invisibility on it. Might be a bit of a bear to lug around, but that why we have bags or holding or pack animals.
SHARD GEL might be a better choice for what you are trying to do than caltrops.
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There are a few spells that target weapons that say they can be cast on up to 50 arrows or bullets at a time. I would say that though it isn't said you could cast invis on 50 arrows or bullets at a time as well. And one squares worth of caltrops.
I would say once the caltrops deal any damage they all become visable.
What if you cast Invisibility on a block of ice filled with Caltrops?
What if the ice melts?
The block of ice would be invisible...the caltrops would still visible. The ice is an object "carrying" the caltrops, but since it is not a creature the language about carried objects turning invisible wouldn't apply in this case.
It would look like floating caltrops. Once the ice melted...it would look like non-floating caltrops.
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What if you cast Invisibility on a block of ice filled with Caltrops?
What if the ice melts?
The block of ice would be invisible...the caltrops would still visible. The ice is an object "carrying" the caltrops, but since it is not a creature the language about carried objects turning invisible wouldn't apply in this case.
It would look like floating caltrops. Once the ice melted...it would look like non-floating caltrops.
Oh. Would this mean I could only make one brick in a wall invisible?
What about a coinpurse? Would the coins be visible?
Actually the bricks are mortared together making it 1 object. Coins are not part of purse, they are just contained inside it. So no, they would be visible.
This is according to the way it is written. Only CREATURES that are invisible'ed have the objects they carry turn invisible. Objects that are invisible'ed do not affect any other object on them or in them.
Although I know where you're going...and most GM's would allow for it...PC's would almost certainly cry foul if a GM tried to freeze a bunch of caltrops together to claim it is 1 unit.
Booyah! I like the way you think :)
Ah.
So, you could cast Animate Objects on a carpet, then cast Invisibility on it, and spread some caltrops on top of it.
They would be invisible, as they are carried by the invisible creature.
To go one further, an animated rug's attack is a grapple/smother attack, no? Imagine getting grappled by a rug covered in pointy little metal bits...
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Ah.
So, you could cast Animate Objects on a carpet, then cast Invisibility on it, and spread some caltrops on top of it.
They would be invisible, as they are carried by the invisible creature.
EDIT: Didn't see the part where the OP said his party was 4th-level.
I second the illusion idea. A Silent Image of an unremarkable floor could easily conceal caltrops, marbles, a Grease spell, or any other hazard you can locate. Silent Image can be an amazingly useful spell if you're quick with ideas. It'd probably even be worth getting a wand of it.
This still assumes that you know when the BBEG is about to arrive (and from which direction) before he gets close enough to see you lay the caltrops and cast the spell.