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Web (Ex) Creatures with the web ability can use webs to support themselves and up to one additional creature of the same size. In addition, such creatures can throw a web up to eight times per day. This is similar to an attack with a net but has a maximum range of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet, and is effective against targets up to one size category larger than the web spinner. An entangled creature can escape with a successful Escape Artist check or burst the web with a Strength check. Both are standard actions with a DC equal to 10 + 1/2 creature's HD + creature's Con modifier. Attempts to burst a web by those caught in it suffer a –4 penalty.
Web spinners can create sheets of sticky webbing up to three times their size. They usually position these sheets to snare flying creatures but can also try to trap prey on the ground. Approaching creatures must succeed on a DC 20 Perception check to notice a web; otherwise they stumble into it and become trapped as though by a successful web attack. Attempts to escape or burst the webbing gain a +5 bonus if the trapped creature has something to walk on or grab while pulling free. Each 5-foot-square section of web has a number of hit points equal to the Hit Dice of the creature that created it and DR 5/—.
A creature can move across its own web at its climb speed and can pinpoint the location of any creature touching its web.
Format: web (+8 ranged, DC 16, 5 hp); Location: Special Attacks
1. When a spider successfully uses its web attack against a PC, are the Strength check and Escape Artist check the only options for escape? HP is listed, implying they could be cut free, but it also says that the HP is only used when they run into a 5-foot square of webbing, not so much for the direct attack.
2. Could a PC use the spark spell to free themselves from the web? It targets an unattended Fine object. Is the web unattended if stuck to the PC? Would it still be Fine? We have ruled in my games that web doesn't so much as 'ignite' as it does melt (like when you move a flame close to webbing IRL), but I have allowed the spell to work on unattended webbing against a flat surface before (just to clear the path). Not sure if it should work on a PC currently entangled by it. Maybe it should, but use the HP with this (burn away a small portion each time until free)?
2B. If the PC wasn't entangled by the web, could he use spark to free other people?
Any advice is appreciated. Initially I ruled that the player could use spark on a patch of unattended webbing near an enemy to possibly deal 1 Fire damage (much like the fire damage from a torch), though the enemy would get a Reflex save to negate. That's about as far as I've ruled anything when it comes to spark and damage so far.
1. Since a net is similar to a net, I would treat it as one for any effect not overridden by the text. I'm pretty confident that you're allowed to cut or burn a net to destroy it, so it should be sufficient for a 5-foot section of web.
2. I don't think a web would be considered a Fine object, unfortunately. Maybe over time you could light an individual strand of the web, but it's up to the GM to decide whether and when parts of an object are considered objects.
The DR 5/- implies that the web is going to be difficult to damage with something as crude as a non-damaging cantrip. For comparison, using acid splash you'd have to max out a crit to do a single point of damage, barring other special abilities. It certainly isn't balance-breaking to allow it, though.
2B: Same issue as 2.
Your ruling is certainly reasonable. The rules are most appropriate for moment-to-moment contexts such as tactical combat, and I'm inclined to relax them a little in thematically-appropriate ways when, for example, the PCs are trapped in a web for hours. I probably would have required more than one casting of spark to deal even 1 damage, though, since it is so weak compared to the durability of the web.
The DR 5/- implies that the web is going to be difficult to damage with something as crude as a non-damaging cantrip.
At first I was thinking of the spell Jolt which does electrical damage, and not the spell Spark.
An energy attack cantrip, like Acid Spash, will bypass DR 5/-.
/cevah
While on the subject, could someone clarify if the ability to create sheets of sticky webbing:
1. can be used in combat?
2. fills 3x the number of squares occupied by the spider - what if it's smaller than a square?
3. what happens if you secret webbing in this fashion into an occupied hex?
The DR 5/- implies that the web is going to be difficult to damage with something as crude as a non-damaging cantrip.At first I was thinking of the spell Jolt which does electrical damage, and not the spell Spark.
An energy attack cantrip, like Acid Spash, will bypass DR 5/-.
/cevah
Oh yeah. I was think hardness, probably because objects usually have hardness instead of DR. So DR shouldn't be a limiting factor. In that case, acid splash is probably a better bet. Spend a couple of minutes burning just the right strands and you're free, if a bit sticky.
While on the subject, could someone clarify if the ability to create sheets of sticky webbing:
1. can be used in combat?
2. fills 3x the number of squares occupied by the spider - what if it's smaller than a square?
3. what happens if you secret webbing in this fashion into an occupied hex?
I think the sheets method is intended to require nontrivial time. The throw ability is more combat-oriented. If the spider secretes webbing into an occupied square and the creature in that square doesn't move, it's going to be entangled.