Team's up against an ooze with engulf.
Now they can decide to forego an aoo and make a reflex to avoid being engulfed. At which, normally, they move backwards.
What if they've got their backs against the wall to start with?
One at least has nowhere to move to.
Will they still become engulfed, or be safe while within the ooze's square?
They'd have to be 'expelled' 10 ft forward, if that would be happening.
Those who do not attempt attacks of opportunity can attempt a Reflex save to avoid being engulfed—on a success, they are pushed back or aside (target's choice) as the creature moves forward.
If they make the reflex save the target picks either being pushed back or aside.
In this case with no where to go back they would go aside the ooze and end up in a legal space behind or the the side of the ooze.
Engulf (Ex) The creature can engulf creatures in its path as part of a standard action. It cannot make other attacks during a round in which it engulfs. The creature merely has to move over its opponents, affecting as many as it can cover. Targeted creatures can make attacks of opportunity against the creature, but if they do so, they are not entitled to a saving throw against the engulf attack. Those who do not attempt attacks of opportunity can attempt a Reflex save to avoid being engulfed—on a success, they are pushed back or aside (target's choice) as the creature moves forward. Engulfed opponents gain the pinned condition, are in danger of suffocating, are trapped within the creature's body until they are no longer pinned, and may be subject to other special attacks from the creature. The save DC is Strength-based.If we're trying to work this out 100% RAW, my best guess is that
- Under normal rules a large ooze cannot occupy the same square as a medium creature.
- Since the Engulf special monster ability specifically says to put the engulfed creatures inside of the ooze, it trumps that general rule.
- If the engulf attack fails, then the creature is pushed backwards or aside - pushing them against a wall causes them to not leave their square.
- The ooze is now trying to perform a move into a square that is occupied - something ordinarily impossible.
- With a failed engulf, the exception doesn't apply and the ooze cannot perform that movement.
I'd house-rule differently of course.
Since there is no where for the target of the engulf to go after a successful save, he likely ends up in an illegal square and thus gets shunted (that, or the ooze gets shunted) as per the following rule from the Core Rulebook's Combat chapter.
Since there is no where for the target of the engulf to go after a successful save, he likely ends up in an illegal square and thus gets shunted (that, or the ooze gets shunted) as per the following rule from the Core Rulebook's Combat chapter.
I can agree with this. The difference between our interpretations is I read it as performing the attack before the ooze moved into the square, while you read it as performing the attack after. Can't really say which one is right.
Yeah, they "teleport" to the next legal square available to them since there is no square behind or to the side. Under no circumstances are they engulfed anyways.
It's just like how you can make a reflex save to take half damage from a fireball in a completely stark featureless plain while being completely naked. There is nothing to hide behind nor protect yourself with, but if you succeed on your roll you take half damage anyways.