When the spell is cast, the outer 5 x 5 squares become sloped around the pit. Now, let’s say a barrel is in that sloped area of the spell. Would the barrel “slide” into the pit, and on the same round the spell was cast?
Now, what if that same barrel was bolted to the floor that is now sloped at an extra-dimensional angle? Would the barrel tilt on a 45 degree angle (sloped) or stay horizontal with the floor? This would determine how the PC could interact with the barrel.
I may be putting way too much physics into the scenario but the discussion came up in our gaming session tonight and we could not agree on an answer.
Thanks for your feedback in advance!
I would say the barrel would slide into the pit immediately, but I could see an argument for a delay until, say, the start of the next round.
If the barrel was bolted to a section of the floor (why?) that is affected by a pit spell, it is no longer bolted to anything and would fall. On the other hand, ropes that secure barrels tend to be fastened to walls. You may want to roll a die to see if the barrel slips free in that case.
From a physics perspective the barrel would roll/slide into the pit almost immediately after the pit was opened - right on top of the head of anyone who failed their reflex save and simply feel into the pit - IF the slope is sufficiently steep to overcome the friction between the ground and the barrel.
If the barrel is turned sideways, even a slight slope would cause it to roll.
It the barrel is turned sideways against the slope then it would take a much steeper slope. Given that the spell even mentions a slope, and that suggests it is steep enough to cause a creature standing on said slope to possibly slide into the pit, I'd say the barrel has no chance if it is not fastened down.
If said barrel is bolted down, are those bolts in the floor that just disappeared because it got turned into a slope? Or are there bolts still in a flat, unaffected part of the floor? If the latter, what are the bolts made of? How heavy is the barrel? It seems unlikely a barrel would snap such bolts, but the right material (a weak material) and a very heavy barrel might do it.
Ropes tied off at a wall? A single rope around the middle of the barrel? Or two ropes, one around each end? Two ropes, very unlikely the barrel would move. Single rope there is a reasonable chance it might slip loose.
All of that is to say, "Ask your GM" and then just go with his answer.
I have wondered what happens if you cast Wall of Iron so that it tips over and covers a Pit with victims in it.
And then the Pit spell runs out.
-j
I like the moonbridge from the heavens oracle.
I guess they would be shunted out and only take like 1d6 damage, but I do also like the idea of smushing them.