<blockquote><div><cite>Eidolon wrote:</cite>I'm fairly neutral, certainly not opposed to it. It does amplify the nastiness of some threats-- you've warned us before of the fact that some opponents, like the Frost Wurm, are not necessarily going to fall within our ability to defeat, and I'm not totally clear on where this would leave us in that regard, if a predatory attack-by-surprise might be so very deadly. </div></blockquote><br/><br/>{{ >3 Eheheh.<br/><br/>No, but seriously, I'm not interested in wiping out the party. The PCs will face some very dangerous predators, but the odds will never be totally unfair.<br/><br/>In hindsight, I should have asked the PCs to make Spot, Listen and initiative checks at the start of the Frost Worm encounter. It was unfair to have it pop out like that and automatically take everyone by surprise. So, while you are right to be concerned about a mega-pred ambush, I assure you that most encounters with mega-preds will not involve surprise. (the typical macro has loud footsteps and a negative modifier to Hide).}}<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Eidolon wrote:</cite> ...Though I guess I have to ask just to be sure. No throat-phase, even when the pred's smaller than the prey or whatnot? :3 Gulping straight from maw to belly would sure be impressive to see, though, I s'pose...</div></blockquote><br/><br/>{{Conceptually, the throat stage hasn't gone anywhere. Prey still pass through the throat on their way to or from the stomach. For fine prey or collosal preds, this transit still takes several seconds. The only thing that changes in removing the throat stage from the system, is that we are now assuming that nothing lingers in the throat for longer than one round. Prey that fail to resist a swallow are completely pinned by the peristalsis and can do nothing to stop their descent. And when prey try to escape from the stomach, they have to make it all the way to the mouth in one burst or else their effort is wasted. Failing a stomach escape check by only a few points could be described as climbing partway up then sliding back down.}}<br/><br/>{{Centaur: Yes, all of Rihyan's food qualifies as non-living}}<br/><br/>{{Geno: The sheet looks good.}}<br/><br/>{{Sashi: Yeah when we started this game, I recommended CQC to all characters. It's a life-saver. Not sure what to suggest for Prestige Class; there are so many out there.}}<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>{{Now, back to the story! :3}}<br/><br/><br/>[Worg B escape attempt: 1d20(11)+18 +1(luck) = 30; DC=34; fail]<br/>[Worg B escape attempt: 1d20(18)+13 +1(luck) = 32; DC=34; fail]<br/>Indistinct lumps slide across the taut surface of Heshaar's belly as the indignant worg inside kicks and thrashes. His struggling accomplish little except to release a trapped bubble of air that had been swallowed down with him.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Goblin A drops his lance, quickly re-draws his bow, and snaps a pair of arrows arrows at the dire lion who killed his mount.<br/>[Goblin A shortbow @ Chrrou: 1d20(5)+13+1(luck)=19, miss]<br/>[Goblin A shortbow @ Chrrou: 1d20(15)+8+1(luck)=24, hit;<span style="font-weight: bold">3 piercing damage</span>]<br/><br/><br/>Hobgoblin I sees the lion's maw gape above him, a slick red cavern framed by finger-sized fangs. He dodges backwards and interposes his spearhead.<br/>*[HI spear @ Chrrou: 1d20(9) +8 +2 (rage) +1 (luck) +1(haste)= 21, hit;<span style="font-weight: bold">10 piercing damage</span>]<br/>*[HI spear @ Chrrou: 1d20(10) +8 +2 (rage) +1 (luck) +1(haste) = 22, hit;<span style="font-weight: bold">7 piercing damage</span>]<br/>*[HI spear @ Chrrou: 1d20(6) +3 +2 (rage) +1 (luck) +1(haste) = 13, miss]<br/>The lion's slashing claws tear into his chain mail, but the dreadlocked hobgoblin manages to ward off the fearsome bite.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Hobgoblin H, knowing only Goblin, doesn't understand any of Geno's words, so he assumes they mean "I'm going to eat you". What happens next validates this guess.<br/><br/>The hunter crouches against the oncoming swing and raises his shield to block. The dragonkin easily batters it aside with a left backhand and sinks his right claw into his foe's abdomen, knocking the wind from his lungs. Dagger-sharp claws pierce chainmail and orange skin; the hobgoblin coughs up a bit of blood. The left claw follows, grabbing the hunter's club-arm and pinning it to his side.<br/><br/>When HH sees Geno's wide open jaws coming down on him, he tries to counter with his morningstar and spiked shield.<br/>*[Hobgoblin H morningstar @ Geno: 1d20(8) +8 +2(rage) +1(luck) +1(haste) -2(two-weapon) = 18, miss]<br/>*[Hobgoblin H morningstar @ Geno: 1d20(14) +8 +2(rage) +1(luck) +1(haste) -2(two-weapon) = 24, miss]<br/>*[Hobgoblin H morningstar @ Geno: 1d20(18) +3 +2(rage) +1(luck) +1(haste) -2(two-weapon) = 23, miss]<br/>*[Hobgoblin H spiked shield @ Geno: 1d20(9) +8 +2(rage) +1(luck) +1(haste) -2(two-weapon) = 19, miss]<br/>The predator's grip is too tight, and leaves little room for a real swing; the spikes slide across Geno's facial scales without penetrating.<br/>[HH grapple resist: 1d20(14) +6 +2(rage) +1(luck) +1(haste) = 24, fail]<br/>Despite his best struggles, the hobgoblin is chomped like a deli sandwich. Dragon-drool drips onto him from the ivory fangs, stinging his wounds, and Geno's pungent breath washes over his face.<span style="font-style: italic">This is bad...</span><br/>[HH hp: (28%)**]<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Hobgoblins B and G circle Rihyan with hasted steps, swinging whenever they see an opening.<br/>*[Hobgoblin B morningstar @ Rihyan: 1d20(2) +8 +2(rage) +1(luck) +1(haste) +2 (flank) = 16, miss]<br/>*[Hobgoblin B morningstar @ Rihyan: 1d20(15) +8 +2(rage) +1(luck) +1(haste) +2 (flank) = 29, hit; 9 -5 DR =<span style="font-weight: bold">4 bludgeoning and piercing damage</span>]<br/>*[Hobgoblin B morningstar @ Rihyan: 1d20(10) +3 +2(rage) +1(luck) +1(haste) +2 (flank) = 19, miss]<br/>*[Hobgoblin G scimitar @ Rihyan: 1d20(17) +7 +2(rage) +1(luck) +1(haste) +2 (flank) = 30, hit; 7 -5 DR =<span style="font-weight: bold">2 slashing damage</span>]<br/>*[Hobgoblin G scimitar @ Rihyan: 1d20(3) +7 +2(rage) +1(luck) +1(haste) +2 (flank) = 16, miss]<br/>*[Hobgoblin G scimitar @ Rihyan: 1d20(15) +2 +2(rage) +1(luck) +1(haste) +2 (flank) = 23, miss]<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>[HC disarm resist: 1d20(3) +8 +4(two handed) +2(rage) +1(luck) +1(haste) = 20, fail]<br/>Hobgoblin C thrusts his spear at Takal and ends up empty-handed.<br/>"(goblin)You bugger!" he growls, quickly pulling his knife from its belt sheath. [move action]<br/>*[HC dagger @ Takal: 1d20(19) +8 +2(rage) +1(luck) +1(haste) = 31, hit, threaten critical]<br/>[HC critical confirm: 1d20(11) +12 = 23, no critical; 7 -5 DR =<span style="font-weight: bold">2 piercing damage</span>]<br/>The hunter steps close to the monk and stabs low. Takal anticipates the thrust and is only nicked by the tip of the blade.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>HF's twelve pound axe slams into Sashi's scythe, and for a moment it looks as though the greviously wounded bunnygal might crumple beneath the impact. With eyes wide, muscles bulging, the hobgoblin pulls back his axe and lines up his final stroke that will sever Sashi's head from her shoulders. He knows the centaur is looming just behind him, but his battle rage gives him tunnel vision.<br/><br/>While her opponent is winding up for his powerful swing, the bandit recieves a rush of energy from her buddy and uses it to land a lightning-fast slash. This, together with Rihyan's blow from behind, sends HF to the mud.<br/>[no Cleave targets]<br/><br/><br/>HJ plunges through the wind wall, leaps onto Heshaar's back and stabs his scimitar through her leather barding.<br/>*[HJ scimitar @ Heshaar (power attack 4): 1d20(13) +7 +2(rage) +1 (luck) -4 = 19, hit;<span style="font-weight: bold">11 piercing damage</span>]<br/>He is very cognizant of the danger of provoking a massive lupine (he watched with his own eyes his brother Lenko get devoured for provoking Kalsh, and he knows Heshaar is a predator of the same grade). The only semblance of a plan in his rage-drunken mind is to hold onto the sword and ride the beast until it dies.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Goblin B is now sweating visibly as he watches the Heodo's finest warriors meet their end. How much farther will this go? An image forms involuntarily in his mind of the centaur cradling a monstrously swollen abodomen, inside of which the entire clan is stuffed...<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">No.</span>He banishes the thought from his mind with a shiver.<span style="font-style: italic">The Heodo haven't come this far just to be wiped out in a single afternoon.</span>He gestures and incants another spell; this time nothing seems to happen.<br/>[Goblin B casts<a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/shield.htm">Shield</a>]<br/><br/><br/><br/>Hobgoblin K continues shouting violent, emphatic commands, her triumphant tone suggesting that the Heodo are on the verge of claiming victory.<br/>[HK casts<a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/divineFavor.htm">Divine Favor</a>: +3 bonus to her attack and damage rolls for 1 minute]<br/>In truth, she is not completely crazy for thinking this way: the outnumbered strangers have taken a lot of punishment, enough to kill even hardened fighters. The error in her calculations is a blind spot: curative magic. What she doesn't understand (or refuses to acknowledge) is that the divine auras being channeled by the little green-skin and the mousefolk have leveled the battlefield by counteracting her destruction spells.<br/><br/><br/><span style="color: red"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">&lt;&lt;Round 7&gt;&gt;</span></span></span><br/><br/>[Sen takes<span style="font-weight: bold">6 acid damage</span>from the acid arrow. A DC 13+spell level Concentration check is required to cast this round]<br/><br/><br/>The graceful female goblin falls back and stows her shortbow, leaving herself unarmed. Her long ash-grey hair, stained with mud and Kalsh's blood, billows wildly around her as she steps through the wind wall.<br/>[Inse moves 15 feet south and readies a standard action]<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><span style="color: brown"><span style="text-decoration: underline">[Status]</span><br/>Chrrou: 13/39 hp (33%)**    [AC:21 (+6 dragonhide, +4 natural armor, +2 dex, -1 size]  <span style="font-style: italic">1 constitution damage</span><br/>Geno: 30/75 hp (40%)*      [AC: 25 (+9 breastplate, +4 natural armor, +2 dexterity)]<br/>Heshaar: 31/60 hp (52%)* [AC: 18 (+3 studded leather, +5 natural armor, +3 dexterity, -1 size, -2 stuffed)]<br/>Rihyan: 28/43 (65%)*    [AC: 24 (+7 celestial chain, +4 natural armor, +6 dex, -1 size, -2 stuffed)]<br/>Sashi: 47/79 (59%)*         [AC:25 (+9 mythril fullplate, +3 natural armor, +3 dex)]  <span style="font-style: italic">1 constitution damage</span><br/>Sen: 7/54 (13%)**         [AC:23 (+5 slick chain, +4 dexterity, +3 shield, +1 size)]<br/>Takal: 21/61 hp (34%)*    [AC:26 (+1 deflection, +1 natural armor, +3 dexterity, +2 monk, +2 wisdom, +7 holy)]</span><br/><br/><span style="color: olive"><span style="text-decoration: underline">[Fullness]</span><br/>Rihyan:     -5<br/>Heshaar:   -4</span><br/><br/><span style="color: blue"><span style="text-decoration: underline">[Nutrions]</span><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Chrrou:</span> +4 spot, +4 hide, +4 confirm melee critical, Cleave<br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Geno:</span> <a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/rage.htm">rage (duration: 5 rounds)</a> , +2 climb, +2 hide, breath weapon (6d8 electricity, 60 ft line, DC 21; 1/day), +1 bite damage<br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Heshaar:</span> convert up to 15 points of non-fire non-acid damage to non-lethal damage (1 attack/day)<br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Sashi:</span> +4 survival, +4 intimidate, +1 melee damage, +2 confirm critical, convert up to 15 points of non-fire non-acid damage to non-lethal damage (1 attack/day)</span><br/><br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline">[Enemy Status]</span><br/>Kalsh:                          (Rihyan's food)<br/>Inse:                           [AC:21 (+6 studded leather, +4 dex, +1 size)] (100%)<br/>Worg B:                       [AC:18 (+4 chain barding, +2 dex, +4 natural, -1 size)] (63%)*<span style="font-style: italic">(in Heshaar's stomach)</span><br/>Worg C:                       (down)<br/>Worg D:                       (Rihyan's food)<br/>Worg E:                       (down)<br/>Goblin A (shortbow) [AC: 21( +7 breastplate, +3 dex, +1 size)] (100%)<br/>Hobgoblin A(scimitar):    (down)<br/>Hobgoblin B(morningstar):    [AC:16 (+5 chainmail, +2 dex, -2 rage, +1 haste)] (100%)    (<span style="font-style: italic"><a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/haste.htm">Haste</a>: 4 rounds </span>)<br/>Hobgoblin C(dagger):       [AC:15 (+5 chainmail, +1 dex, +1 haste, -2 rage)] (91%)      (<span style="font-style: italic"><a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/haste.htm">Haste</a>: 4 rounds </span>)<br/>Hobgoblin D(spear):       (down)<br/>Hobgoblin E(spear):       (down)<br/>Hobgoblin F(greataxe):   (down)<br/>Hobgoblin G(scimitar):    [AC:17 (+5 chainmail, +2 dex)] (100%)<span style="font-style: italic"><a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/conditionSummary.htm#shaken">(shaken:  3 rounds)</a></span><br/>Hobgoblin H(morningstar):[AC:15 (+5 chainmail, +1 dex, +1 haste, -2 rage)] (28%)** (<span style="font-style: italic"><a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/haste.htm">Haste</a>: 4 rounds </span>)<br/>Hobgoblin I(spear):        [AC:15 (+5 chainmail, +1 dex, -2 rage, +1 haste)] (54%)*    (<span style="font-style: italic"><a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/haste.htm">Haste</a>: 4 rounds </span>)<br/>Hobgoblin J(scimitar):    [AC:15 (+5 chainmail, +2 dex, -2 rage)] (100%)<br/>Hobgoblin K(staff):        [AC:17 (+6 chain shirt, +1 dex)] (97%) (<a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/divinePower.htm">Divine Power</a>: 6 rounds) (<a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/divineFavor.htm">Divine Favor</a>: 9 rounds)<br/>Goblin B (unarmed):       [AC:20 (+4 force armor, +1 dex, +1 size, +4 force shield)] (88%) (<a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/shield.htm">Shield</a>: 8 rounds)<br/><br/>Other Effects:<br/>[All:<a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/prayer.htm">Prayer to Erythnul</a>: 3 rounds]<br/>[Party: Mass Conviction(+3 to saves): 5 rounds]d20s