This came up in a friendly discussion tonight and seemed like an interesting question. Are guns as useless as they'd seem at first glance against a rust monster? As most ammunition is made of metal, it would seem that these little buggers would be a total pain. So, thoughts?
Rust monsters aren't immune to metal. You can definitely shoot one dead with normal bullets, as long as you don't let it eat your gun.
Pathfinder Maps Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
And, last I checked, lead doesn't "rust" as such.
Only the rust monster's antennae cause rust, lead is harder to oxidise than copper or iron.
Why would shooting the rust monster in the abdomen cause the bullet to rust before it penetrates the monster's carapace?
If you hit a rust monster with a sword it is NOT turned to rust. Only if the weapon is hit with the rust monsters antennae would the sword rust. Considering that, I see no reason that the bullets would rust unless the rust monster hit them with its antennae.
Unless this is some absurd, intelligent rust monster that was fabricated to have feats to deflect projectiles with its antennae. Then I might be worried.
Going from memory, the rule is that a rust monster takes full damage from any attack that hits, whether or not your metal axe survives the process. Same applies to bullets, arrows, or rapiers.
Also going from memory, rust monster blood, the "hairs" on their carapaces and their feathery antennae are all capable of rusting things. The "Ecology of" article back in days of yore said the only part that doesn't melt metal is their bony plated tail. A Rust Monster mating ritual involves the male carrying choice metal morsels to a female on the aforementioned scoop and presenting it to her.
I recall some adventure involving the destruction of one of those "rogue, unstoppable metal montrosity" things that involved getting alchemically-preserved rust monster blood past its prodigious defenses.
I'll admit it. I don't hate rust monsters. Does it suck to lose an item to one? Yes. That's what they're there to do however; provide a challenge that doesn't revolve around just another monster which either does tons of damage, takes tons of damage, controls peoples' minds, or outright kills them.
Rust monsters are the kind of creature you can use to your advantage with a little common sense and even without it, they can be distracted by tossing aside some iron spikes or scraps of metal. God forbid a PC has to give up some iron spikes to an encounter and then have the nerve to complain about losing a sword or a dagger afterwards when they refuse.
If they were poorly-designed or allowed no defense, that's one thing, but the PCs most likely to be affected by the rust monster are also most likely to have high Fortitude saves and in addition, have the most likely equipment (weapon/armor) affected be magical as well.
Rust monster in pathfidner are actually very tame - they destroy item only from 2 hits if you fail 2 reflex saves (well, metal-wearing characters usually have low reflex saves) and they have rather low HP, so if thrown at level 6 party ranger can drop one with arrows before it even approaches. And unlike 3.5 they do not destroy weapons that used to strike them with no save.
Pathfinder Maps Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Ever wonder how those strange critters came to be? Yes, it's part of the prehistory of D&D:
http://diterlizzi.com/home/owlbears-rust-monsters-and-bulettes-oh-my/
IMO, Rust monsters are only second in ridiculousness to flumfs.
Pizza Lord wrote: I'll admit it. I don't hate rust monsters. Does it suck to lose an item to one? Yes. That's what they're there to do however; provide a challenge that doesn't revolve around just another monster which either does tons of damage, takes tons of damage, controls peoples' minds, or outright kills them.
Rust monsters are the kind of creature you can use to your advantage with a little common sense and even without it, they can be distracted by tossing aside some iron spikes or scraps of metal. God forbid a PC has to give up some iron spikes to an encounter and then have the nerve to complain about losing a sword or a dagger afterwards when they refuse.
If they were poorly-designed or allowed no defense, that's one thing, but the PCs most likely to be affected by the rust monster are also most likely to have high Fortitude saves and in addition, have the most likely equipment (weapon/armor) affected be magical as well.
I like rust monsters too.
I mean it depends on how they're used. Yes, they're easy to be a dirty grudge-monster wrecking the melee-martial's day for no good reason, but there are a lot of uses for a critter that destroys metal, and having a magical means of destroying metal makes sense in the context of the fantasy world.
And in my games of Simcity: Magic Edition I have a lot of uses for a well-placed, well-contained Rust Monster.
Wheldrake wrote: Ever wonder how those strange critters came to be? Yes, it's part of the prehistory of D&D:
linkified
IMO, Rust monsters are only second in ridiculousness to flumfs.
Removed a few baiting posts and replies to them. Additionally phrases like "retardulous" are really never OK for use on paizo.com.
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Hama Flametinker III wrote: Unless this is some absurd, intelligent rust monster that was fabricated to have feats to deflect projectiles with its antennae. Then I might be worried. Ohhh, an intelligent Rust Monster with monk levels...muwahhh!
Wow, that was a fast flare-up. Good ninja-mod moves there Chris.
Swashbucklersdc wrote: Hama Flametinker III wrote: Unless this is some absurd, intelligent rust monster that was fabricated to have feats to deflect projectiles with its antennae. Then I might be worried. Ohhh, an intelligent Rust Monster with monk levels...muwahhh! I suspect Mssr. Flametinker was making a more specific reference.
boring7 wrote: I suspect Mssr. Flametinker was making a more specific reference. I have never seen that, =). That is totally awesome, thanks for pointing the way.
It's a cute comic, I actually have the plush rust monster they made a while back.
Wheldrake wrote: Ever wonder how those strange critters came to be? Yes, it's part of the prehistory of D&D:
http://diterlizzi.com/home/owlbears-rust-monsters-and-bulettes-oh-my/
IMO, Rust monsters are only second in ridiculousness to flumfs.
I used to have those toys.
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Flurry of antennae... with bonus feats for extra reach... mmmmm....
Sissyl wrote: Flurry of antennae... with bonus feats for extra reach... mmmmm.... Hehe, for those veteran "know all the monster" types a variant with Roper like antennae that rust as normal rather than drain strength.
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