The Spell Entangle requires preexisting plants, weeds, or something similar to be present in order to function at all, so it usually cannot be cast indoors (the presence of decorative plants and the like notwithstanding). I'm looking for ways to create the necessary conditions for Entangle to function in otherwise barren places without resorting to cheese like carrying around a plant all the time.
I recently stumbled upon the Witch hex Swamp's Grasp, which states:
The witch can cause an area to become an entangling quagmire.
Effect: One 10-foot square per witch level within 90 feet becomes difficult terrain for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the witch’s Intelligence modifier. If the witch uses this hex again before the duration of the previous use has expired, the effects of the previous use of this hex end immediately.
It doesn't explicitly mention plants or the like, but as far as I know "plants" is not an actual game term (aside from the creature type, which is not relevant here), let alone "weeds", etc. The other flavor terms used in the ability ("swamp", "quagmire" and "entangling") suggest to me it wouldn't be unreasonable to target such an area with the Entangle spell.
Would you say that an area affected by Swamp's Grasp would meet the necessary conditions for Entangle?
i fail to see how a murky muddy magical swamp turn by itself into a plant life form.
to be fair. unless were speaking of an area that can't support plant life form (a den of an undead that specifically described as harmful to plants and animal life forms, pool of magma etc) i usually wave away the need for plants to be present. considering some microscopical algae or fungi might be present, it's a level 1 spell no need to go brick walling it.
Plus it's always fun seeing the party's melee try to wade in or circumvent it (or switch to range attacks and deal with the plant's cover etc)
The spell does not specify how big, or how many plants are needed for it to function. Since the spell also causes the area to become difficult terrain the plants probably don’t need to be that big. An area with plants large enough to actually entangle someone is probably already difficult terrain to begin with. So, I have to agree with zza ni about the need for plants.
The spell will probably not work in most indoor settings, but most outdoor settings should be fine. As long as there is some plant life available it should work in most cases.
I do have to agree with the rest of the people who say that the hex will not work the way you want it to.
|
Area plants in a 40-ft.-radius spread
...
This spell causes tall grass, weeds, and other plants to wrap around creatures in the area of effect or those that enter the area.
...
If the plants in the area are covered in thorns, those in the area take 1 point of damage each time they fail a save against the entangle or fail a check made to break free. Other effects, depending on the local plants, might be possible at GM discretion.
I don't see how zza ni can say that there is no need for plants or that "microscopical algae or fungi" might be enough. The spell doesn't make plants grow (the mythic version does that) and being coated in microscopical algae or fungi will hardly slow down a person.
The area affected are the plants in a 40-ft.-radius spread, not the terrain.
For reference:
Source Mythic Adventures pg. 93
The spell functions in areas without any vegetation, causing plants to spring up out of the ground. These plants can reach creatures that are up to 10 feet in the air. Plants affected or created by the spell sprout thorns that deal 1d6 points of damage each round to creatures in the area.
i didn't say that RAW the plants are not needed. my 1st post pretty much talked about the raw and how the hex won't work.
the 2nd post however said that i myself house ruled that looking around for plants and waiting for the target to be near them to cast a 1st level spell seem like a hardball and steep requirement and thus I wave it unless the area can't support plants to begin with.
it was by far not meant to be taken as the how the spell work by the rules - rather how i work with it to allow the players to use a spell in a more flexible way then how the rigid rules allow it to be used.
questioning how a house-rule work with the RAW is kinda redundant as by definition it simply doesn't.
(the reason why i still limit it in areas that won't support plant life is because those places usually have a reason to limit the players in some way, aka lava\undead unnatural aura etc as part of their challenge, so that should have a challenging effect )
|
|
i didn't say that RAW the plants are not needed. my 1st post pretty much talked about the raw and how the hex won't work.
Ok.
1) I was replying both to you and Mysterious Stranger, and he was making an argument that seems to argue RAW while citing your post.
I should have kept Mysterious Stranger citation at the start of my post.
BTW: having run through 3 feet high grass as a child I can attest that it isn't difficult terrain, but it will be very different if that grass was grabbing me. Even 1 foot high grass will become difficult terrain in that instance.
2) We have a spell that does what your house rule does (and more), and it is the Mythic version of Entangle. You can house rule the way you prefer, but making a spell "half mythic" seems a bit strong.
1: the mythic version does a lot more then double this. it effect up to 10 ft in the air. it can be used even in magma\ undead infested areas and it deal damage even if the plants do not originally have thorns. so half of it it's not.
not to mention that as the size of the 'other plants' is not listed microscopical algae and fungi should work if they are in the area. so no. i don't see it as overpowered i see the original raw -only work if the target went into the bushes for a leak- over stiff.
2: as i don't use mythic rules the only thing left here is my house, my rules.