An alchemist walks into a pugwampi lair...

[Rune]

So in my next session the PCs (including a fairly standard bomb alchemist) are entering a pugwampi-infested ruin.

The pugwampis have a shatter spell-like ability. Even though it has a pretty low DC (10), some saves will probably fail due to the pugwampi unluck aura.

My question is: How should the shatter's area attack affect the alchemist? All of his extracts are stored in glass vials and the bombs are probably ceramic. Should he make a separate save for each extract and all remaining bombs? Only one save for all?

Shatter spell wrote:

Used as an area attack, shatter destroys non-magical objects of crystal, glass, ceramic, or porcelain. All such unattended objects within a 5-foot radius of the point of origin are smashed into dozens of pieces by the spell. Objects weighing more than 1 pound per your level are not affected, but all other objects of the appropriate composition are shattered.

[*Thelith]

His items are not unattended, as he has them on his person. They are unaffected.

[Lunaramblings]

Rune wrote:

So in my next session the PCs (including a fairly standard bomb alchemist) are entering a pugwampi-infested ruin.

The pugwampis have a shatter spell-like ability. Even though it has a pretty low DC (10), some saves will probably fail due to the pugwampi unluck aura.

My question is: How should the shatter's area attack affect the alchemist? All of his extracts are stored in glass vials and the bombs are probably ceramic. Should he make a separate save for each extract and all remaining bombs? Only one save for all?

Shatter spell wrote:

Used as an area attack, shatter destroys non-magical objects of crystal, glass, ceramic, or porcelain. All such unattended objects within a 5-foot radius of the point of origin are smashed into dozens of pieces by the spell. Objects weighing more than 1 pound per your level are not affected, but all other objects of the appropriate composition are shattered.

It specifies that it effects UNATTENDED OBJECTS. Anything carried by the Alchemist would not be UNATTENDED. At least by my understanding.

[Rune]

Well, now I feel silly for not noticing that. Thanks *Thelith and Lunaramblings.

[blahpers]

A readied action to target-shatter an extract as it's being consumed is still possible, though. Which is pretty nasty, but not much more than the usual "ready-to-counterspell-with-a-bullet/arrow/bolt/magic missile" action against casters. No idea if pugwampi are patient enough for that sort of tactic, though.

[Lunaramblings]

blahpers wrote:

A readied action to target-shatter an extract as it's being consumed is still possible, though. Which is pretty nasty, but not much more than the usual "ready-to-counterspell-with-a-bullet/arrow/bolt/magic missile" action against casters. No idea if pugwampi are patient enough for that sort of tactic, though.

Targeted Shatter wrote:

Alternatively, you can target shatter against a single solid nonmagical object, regardless of composition, weighing up to 10 pounds per caster level.

It does specify NON-MAGICAL... pretty sure that Extracts count as magical??? Or am I missing something? Or are we saying that even though the Extract is magical, the container holding it isn't? I would think that by virtue of the filling being magical that it would count the entire object as the same. Right?? Maybe my interpretation is too liberal.

[blahpers]

Lunaramblings wrote:

blahpers wrote:

A readied action to target-shatter an extract as it's being consumed is still possible, though. Which is pretty nasty, but not much more than the usual "ready-to-counterspell-with-a-bullet/arrow/bolt/magic missile" action against casters. No idea if pugwampi are patient enough for that sort of tactic, though.

Targeted Shatter wrote:

Alternatively, you can target shatter against a single solid nonmagical object, regardless of composition, weighing up to 10 pounds per caster level.

It does specify NON-MAGICAL... pretty sure that Extracts count as magical??? Or am I missing something? Or are we saying that even though the Extract is magical, the container holding it isn't? I would think that by virtue of the filling being magical that it would count the entire object as the same. Right?? Maybe my interpretation is too liberal.

Hmmm. Hadn't thought of that. Gonna be some table variation on that one. : D On balance, I'd reverse my earlier statement and consider the extract magical. Maybe. Then again, there are potions, and their containers aren't magical (you can pour them into other containers without messing them up).

Oh well, hope it never comes up in play.