Plans, spells, wildshape and polymorph
Subject turn
Sorry I did not write anything up last night, but you guys were having such a good time planning I wanted to wait to see what you all decided.
From: Kevin
Subject Today or tomorrow
"The big question is if there is a way that they have kept magic from being used in the cell.
Salix, I know you want to get in there ASAP, but I really think one more day of getting better information is the thing to do. You could go search around with Sysiphys to get an idea of where the rat hole is on the grounds, you can get into the cell area and see if magic will work down there, we can try to detect you and Sysiphys while you are in there to see if the cells are where we think they are, Ran, Ragnar and the others can finish the plan to get us out of the compound once we have the Stormfather free. Surin can work on forging the orders we need to get us around the grounds (or he can steal the keys in case we need them). There is still a lot to work out so we can succeed."
From: Mark
Subject Questions
There have been so many e-mails on Friday and yesterday I think I might have forgotten to answer some questions put to me.
Please, if there is any question about a spell or something you need answered let me know.
Here is one I remember. The message spell is line of sight to start, but Derek is right, it need an unobstructed path after that , upto the range of the spell.
Salix wildshape can only get him to small size, so he can become a small snake(5 feet long) instead of a tiny snake (2-1/2 feet long). He might very well be able to fit in the rat tunnels, but is unlikely to be able to fit under the doors into the cells.
From: Kevin
Subject Questions
Would Salix, if he has the Natural Spell feat, be able to cast Reduce Animal on himself to make him a tiny viper?
From: Mark
Subject Wildshape and natural spell
By RAW yes. But I am not a big fan of the natural spell feat, as I have heard of several instances where it really over powers the druid.
I think I have talked to Karl about this. For example, the Reduce animal spell has verbal and somantic components. How does a snake do the hand gestures?
Salix does have the natural spell feat and I will allow it at this time. However, I reserve the right to put some limitations on the feat in the future. For example, I may limit the spell level it can be used with. Something like, natural spell can only be used on 1/2 your normal spell level, so he could use it for level 1 and level 2 spells, but not level 3 or 4 right now. When Salix got more powerful then he could use some higher level ones.
This is a discussion I will have with Karl, but for now, he can do Reduce Animal(Level 2 druid spell) when he is in wildshape.
From: Kevin
Subject Wildshape and natural spell
Thank you.
From: Kevin
Subject Plans
"Well, while I am in the gas form, I can slip through the door if needed. You can return to regular shape, either rust the door off the hinges or rust out the lock or shape the stone around the frame such that I can push it out of the wall. If worse comes to worse, we can wait for the guards to come, you and I can take them out, and then we use the keys. If Surin can steal the keys, so much the better. But, I want to make sure we know where the rat hole is in the compound and try to make sure the cells are under the main house. Ragnar should be able to help us do that.
Once we get the Stormfather out of his main cell, I can hide us from what I are undead creatures that are also guarding the dungeon. Again, this is something you could check if you were to go in with Sysiphys tomorrow and scout around some more. But if you want, we can go tonight."
From: Mark
Subject Wildshape/polymorph
Ok it seems that WOTC has made some changes to the polymorph/wildshape ability.
First the updated Wildshape ability of the druid:
At 5th level, a druid gains the ability to turn herself into any Small or Medium animal and back again once per day. Her options for new forms include all creatures with the animal type. This ability functions like the alternate form special ability, except as noted here.
Then the description of wildshape:
A creature with this special quality has the ability to assume one or more specific alternate forms. A true seeing spell or ability reveals the creature's natural form. A creature using alternate form reverts to its natural form when killed, but separated body parts retain their shape. A creature cannot use alternate form to take the form of a creature with a template. Assuming an alternate form results in the following changes to the creature:
The creature retains the type and subtype of its original form. It gains the size of its new form. If the new form has the aquatic subtype, the creature gains that subtype as well.
So by the rules as they are now, if Salix took the form of a small snake, Ally could throw a Reduce person on him and make him tiny. Salix would not need to have Reduce animal.
I hope this is clear.
From: Kevin
Subject Spells
OOC: The only problem with the reduce person is it is only 1 min/level, where reduce animal is 1 hour/level.
From: Kevin
Subject Spells and plans
OOC: Given Mark's recent determinations (on Wildshape and Natural Spell), I would like to propose the following plan:
The group spend one more day making preparations for the rescue and escape. During the next day, Salix should Wildshape into a small viper and then reduce animal on himself into a tiny viper. Allistair can cast Mage Armor on him to help protect him and Harp could cast Status on them so he can sense where they are during the day. Salix and Sysiphys should slither up with Allistair and the two snakes can drop off when he gets to work just like Sysiphys did the day before. Salix will be looking for refences in the compound so they can figure out where the rat entrance is. He and Sysiphys can then spend most of the day looking around the jail, and seeing if magic works in the cell block area, etc. He and Sysiphys exit the same way they came in (Sysiphys can kill some of the rats if he wants just to whittle down the number).
Ran, Kal, and Ragnar could work out a plan to enter the grounds with Mund and Allistair, while Surin works with the Mockers to create a diversion AFTER we have Acer out and forge the orders for Harp to attend Allistair.
The night of the escape, Salix does his Wildshape and reduction, and they slither up Allistair sleeve. Harp joins Ally into the grounds, they get to where the rat hole is. Allistair casts gaseous form on Harp (and he imbues it on Sysiphys as a touch spell). Harp floats along as he follows the two snakes into the cell area. Harp will float into the cell with the Stormfather. Salix shapes back to normal, uses Rusting Grasp and/or Stone shape on the cell door, hinges and/or lock, with Harp helping from the inside. Once open, they pull the Stormfather out, gaseous form him. We then have two options - we can all fight our way out (using Hide from Undead) or Salix and wildshape and reduce back to a tiny viper and he, Sysiphys and Acer can leave the way the group came in and leave it to Harp to fight his way out. Harp will have surprise and he is pretty sure he can take out the guards. It is up to Salix.
Once outside, they hook up with Allistair. Mund or Harp can carry Acer. Allistair casts invisibility and fly on both himself and whoever is carrying Acer. They fly about 1/2 mile (assuming 40 ft/round since whoever has Acer probably has a heavy load) and land, Ally does his rope trick, and they climb up and hide for the next many hours.
The rest of the group can make/use the diverson on the other side of the compound to give the guys plenty of time, assuming we know where the cell block exits or where the rat hole is.
Enough from me. Take this an do with it what you like. I always over plan, much to the dismay of my brother and fellow gamers.
I really need to do some realy work now.
From: Mark
Subject plans
I guess you did not read what I wrote. The Salix still has the Human type, not animal, so he can not use Reduce animal. He has to use reduce person.
From: Kevin
Subject Plans
Sorry, I total spaced on that.
OK, Karl, I will leave this up to you. I gues we could have Allistair put Reduce Animal on Sysiphys as a touch spell and have the viper touch you when we get close to the cell area?
Any one want to pipe up, or are you all bored of this and just want to do something?
From: Derek
Subject spells
As long as Salix and Harp can get through the rat tunnels to the basement, it isn't really so critical that Salix be able to slip under the first few doors, is it? Harp can materialize and Salix return to normal size, and you can bash the guards, get the keys, go get the Stormfather, and get back out. If undead show up Harp can take care of them with his spell, and Sysyphys will still be along for a gaseous form on the stormfather if needed.
From: Kevin
Subject Spells and plans
Agreed.
Lets see what Salix wants to do.
From: Ashley
Subject Plans
Hi all, I'm back from my camping-imposed exile. Surin will follow Salix's lead and is willing to do whatever is needed, even if it means turning into a swirling ball of gas.
From: Karl
Subject Plans
Except if he wants to get back out and ally isn't there to reduce him again.
From: Karl
Subject Spells
How will Salix get re-reduced to get back out again?
From: Karl
Subject Spells
OOC - I'm talking about for the scouting tonight (assuming we do that). We can't bash guards and stuff if we're just scouting.
On the other hand, that's a good arguement for doing it all tonight rather than scouting another night.
IC - Salix says to Harp, "I'm not sure of the value of scouting again. Does it really make a difference where the cell is? Also, either there is or isn't an anti-magic field active. Either way we should go prepared with the possibility that there is."
From: Porter
Subject Plans
"I'm still concerned about having so few of y'all in there in case it goes bad, but I don't have a better idea."
From: Kevin
Subject Plans
You have a very good point. Set it up the way you want and we will go with that.