swallowing multiple creatures with swallow whole.

[lunkhead]

Reading through the PRD I could not find a reference to how many creatures a monster could swallow whole. It makes references to the creature being swallowed having to be at least one size category smaller, but could the creature with swallow whole swallow 2 creatures 2 size categories smaller? I have a hard time believing a Dragon could only swallow one rabbit at a time. If anyone has an answer or could point me to where I might be able to find it, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

[Pizza Lord]

Hmm... that's a good catch. The amount should vary based on the creature and as such, should be listed with the creature under a Swallow Whole heading in its stat block.

It doesn't seem that the Remorhaz or Purple Worm, which do have Swallow Whole, have any information listed either. I can see that in 3.5 the Huge-sized Remorhaz could hold 2 Large, 4 Medium, 8 Small, 64 Tiny, 128 Diminutive, and 512 Fine creatures. The Gargantuan Purple Worm could hold the same despite its larger size.

I believe you may have just been making a convenient example, but dragons don't typically have Swallow Whole. Usually Swallowing Whole seems a bad idea in most cases, though. Much easier to get damaged unless your target has no way to inflict slashing damage or a light weapon. A dragon's Snatch feat was usually better; hold them in your mouth and breathe for full damage.

You might just have to make judgement calls I suppose, so... a huge dragon could probably hold 128 struggling rabbits if it managed to swallow them whole.

[lunkhead]

Yes, sorry shouldn't have used a dragon as an example was just first large creature that came to mind. I understand that it is not tactically sound, playing a one off adventure this weekend and I made tremors out of my eidolon. Thought it would be interesting having a burrowing buddy come out of the sand with tremor sense and swallow enemies. Just trying to figure out all the rules before the game in case the DM has questions.

(as an aside does stoneskin cast on my eidolon also transfer the dr to people trying to slash their way out?)

[Pizza Lord]

Quote:

(as an aside does stoneskin cast on my eidolon also transfer the dr to people trying to slash their way out?)

I don't know for sure. The two creatures I looked at from 3.5 that have Swallow Whole and Damage Reduction (Tarrasque and Gibbering Mouther) make no mention of applying DR to the damage required to cut free. The only thing that seems to apply is 1/2 Natural Armor to the AC.

While I suppose a construct or homogenous object might be able to Swallow Whole, most creatures that can are living creatures and the interior organs aren't typically as toughened to damage as other parts.

I would probably say that DR doesn't apply, but that's just me saying it. Also however, I don't apply cutting free damage to the creature's overall hit point damage. I just make it separate because otherwise Swallowing Whole is almost always going to be hugely detrimental in most cases. Easier to hit, no DR, can't really attack the Swallowed creature any more except with natural digestion and acid. That's all a personal house rule but it really happens so rarely.

Really you'll have to make a call on some things. The Gibbering Mouther for instance, doesn't actually Swallow as Engulf but it uses the Swallow Whole mechanics and you could say that its interior isn't soft organs and stomach lining (any more than the rest of its body is soft tissue and stomach lining) so maybe slashing and piercing weapons are subject to its DR.

There's no reason that a Giant Skeletal Remorhaz or some other such creature couldn't still Swallow a Creature whole. Assuming its ribcage was enclosed somehow... sure the player might not be taking bludgeoning and acid damage since it doesn't have plumbing but why wouldn't a skeleton's typical DR against slashing apply as they try and cut themselves out of their ribcage prison.

Sorry, I can't be more helpful with a rules quote to answer the question.

[Pizza Lord]

You know, I kind of want to design a huge skeletal beast with an enclosed ribcage that uses Swallow Whole now. Tiny and smaller creatures slip out automatically and Small creatures can use Escape Artist (or whatever its called now) to slip out between ribs (or back to the mouth like normal, but why?). Medium and higher have the go back to the mouth or cut their way out... Skeletal DR against non-bludgeoning will apply and it has full natural armor instead of half, since it's not soft and squishy. Might even allow a Strength Break DC to snap a rib. Broken ribs automatically heal and mend after a creature breaks one, so it can keep Swallowing Whole and other trapped creatures have to make their own way out.

Probably needs a way for the creature to damage opponents trapped in its ribcage though, since it isn't digesting them. Maybe 1d4 or 1d6 slashing and piercing damage from bone spurs lining the inside as it jumps and jostles them around (or it can stand still or move carefully to not damage them if it's intelligent and wants captives or is controlled by a master who does.)

[samerandomhero]

Not quite the same but...... I had a player who said his characters family was eaten by a zombie t-rex for a backstory. We have a pretty loose and fun style of playing when I gamed with that group.
When his character caught up with T-rex many levels later, he was swallowed whole and found himself fighting the zombified members of his family inside the t-rex.
Woot for the Paizo swallowed whole game mat tiles.
Good times.
I later went overboard and had the necro overlord creating huge monsters that held smaller undead and spit them out at the party with zombie breath weapons.

[lunkhead]

I appreciate the responses, and I like the idea of fighting previous smaller creatures in there, or at least having to deal with space possibly if multiple creatures have been swallowed. I'll just ask around the table see what people are ok with and go from there.