Discusion of the "Muscular Action" rule.

[KA-BOOM!]

At first I was going to put this on the Rule Questions page but realized it wasn't so much a question as a rant/discussion.

This is a rule that has bugged me since I first played 3.5 and usually amounts to something like this...

"Once the creature cuts it's way out of another creatures stomach, muscular action closes the hole; another trapped opponent must cut its own way out"

Now my knowledge on the subject in real life is somewhat limited to Pica cases and the like. But the rule just strikes me as plane stupid. It's a hand wave to justify a tactic that very few real world animals use (swallowing prey alive, whole, and [b]conscious[b/]) and many who do often die as a result.

I suppose it's there to keep players from using it as an easy way to kill something, but the monster shouldn't have been stupid enough to swallow the target in the first place. (ever since I started playing Alchemists in Pathfinder the GM doesn't even try it with me because I just gulp down Energy Resistance and Detonate)

Certain exceptions should be noted. Some creatures are constructed or created with this specifically in mind. I recall at least one in 4th edition (hey, might not been real D&D but it was a great hack and slash.)

[Umbral Reaver]

A wizard did it.

[James Jacobs]

It bothered us too. Which is why in Pathfinder, muscular action cannot close the hole. Once you cut your way out of a monster with swallow whole, the hole remains.

[Blueluck]

Well, now that we have that cleared up, who wants waffles?

[KA-BOOM!]

Are they Blueberry?

[Blueluck]

It's the internet, they can be any kind of waffles you like, even blueberry.
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Darn it! Now I'm hungry.

[CWheezy]

What bothers me is that human rogues cannot backstab in the dark.

Doesn't that not make sense that if you sneak up on someone when it is dark you don't get precision damage?

[Drachasor]

Sidenote: There are a number of enemies where it is better to not cut your way out and instead just keep attacking from within.

[Kazaan]

CWheezy wrote:

What bothers me is that human rogues cannot backstab in the dark.

Doesn't that not make sense that if you sneak up on someone when it is dark you don't get precision damage?

How are you going to be precise if you can't see? Tell them to hold still while you feel for the right place to stick the dagger?

[CWheezy]

Kazaan wrote:

How are you going to be precise if you can't see? Tell them to hold still while you feel for the right place to stick the dagger?

I didn't realize I had to specify between darkness and total darkness.

Also, if I am a master of knives, I think I would know where to put the dagger, and not have to feel for it

[Kazumetsa Raijin]

Blueluck wrote:

Well, now that we have that cleared up, who wants waffles?

Smothered in strawberries or blueberries please.

[Drachasor]

Blueluck wrote:

Well, now that we have that cleared up, who wants waffles?

Yes, we must all have waffles.

[Lastexile0]

CWheezy wrote:

I didn't realize I had to specify between darkness and total darkness.

Also, if I am a master of knives, I think I would know where to put the dagger, and not have to feel for it

Humans don't have darkvision, that's why.