I was just wondering if a Druid wild shapes into a Huge Air Elemental how is the DC of his Whirlwind attack calculated?
I was just wondering if a Druid wild shapes into a Huge Air Elemental how is the DC of his Whirlwind attack calculated?
Elemental abilities based on size, such as burn, vortex, and whirlwind, use the size of the elemental you transform into to determine their effect.
A Huge air elemental lists its whirlwind as DC 21.
Ahh thanks Fuzzy, but is there any way to make it higher or that's it?
Um. If you actually were an air elemental you could take Ability Focus (whirlwind) to get a +2; I suppose the GM could let you take that anyway even though the ability is only present part of the time---it's not like it would be OP, underpowered if anything.
Whirlwind says:
An affected creature must succeed on a Reflex save (DC 10 + half monster's HD + the monster's Strength modifier) when it comes into contact with the whirlwind or take damage as if it were hit by the whirlwind creature's slam attack. It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked up bodily and held suspended in the powerful winds, automatically taking the indicated damage each round. A creature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round to escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage but can leave if the save is successful.
So should the DC be 10 plus half druid level plus strength modifier? Isn't that a more specific rule than the others quoted?
Or maybe the Polymorph rule supercedes it...
So many possibilities Atalius is confused
Wild Shape functions as the Elemental Body spell so I'm of the view that the polymorph rules supersede the specific ability rules, just as they do for poison or any other ability.
It's this line that muddies the water:
Elemental abilities based on size, such as burn, vortex, and whirlwind, use the size of the elemental you transform into to determine their effect.
I would posit that the DC of an ability is not its effect. The size of the whirlwind, which creatures get caught up in it and if it increases the damage of a Call Lighting spell are the effects based on size.
I suppose I could see the rules going either way; I'm pretty sure the line I quoted is the most specific, but DC might not be an "effect" as Decimus Drake says. A bit of forum searching shows whirlwind DC has been controversial in the past. Bah.
But going purely from a game balance perspective, the Wis-based DC Avoron supplied looks best. Your mileage will vary. :)
But going purely from a game balance perspective, the Wis-based DC Avoron supplied looks best.
I think I'll also vote for Avoron's "spell DC". I have no idea if it's well balanced, but it seems like the intent of the rule is to provide a DC for all special creature abilities while polymorphing, not just the ones that aren't specified elsewhere.
Avoron is correct, as supported by Decimus Drake. IMO.
Dc is from spell dc.
Other... refers to size of whirlwind. Qv powerful shape
I think we need an official ruling (a bit late, but still) on all wild shape DC-related questions: they are all based on polymorph spells (so 10 + spell level + wisdom), but wild shape is a supernatural ability (so 10 + half druid level + charisma), BUT the abilities are keyed off real abilities (so either 10 + half HD + relevant ability OR something else, depending on the ability). Sheesh.
I think we need an official ruling (a bit late, but still) on all wild shape DC-related questions: they are all based on polymorph spells (so 10 + spell level + wisdom), but wild shape is a supernatural ability (so 10 + half druid level + charisma), BUT the abilities are keyed off real abilities (so either 10 + half HD + relevant ability OR something else, depending on the ability). Sheesh.
I'm on my phone so can't link it, but scroll up to avorons post for the FAQ. 10+spell level of the spell you are emulating+spellcasting ability modifier.
Yeah, it's definitely the spell DC.
The polymorph rules are more specific so they'd be what was used.