Magma Keep:

20' force ceiling on the arena itself; the keep's structure (the area bordered by the lava) has a 10' ceiling made of the same stone as the walls.
Lava rules available here: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/environment.htm#heatDangers
The lava (bright orange) emits heatwaves and light smoke up to 10' above-ground, not injurious to those flying over it but enough to obscure vision and grant 20% concealment to anyone more than 5' away.
The heated rock (dark orange) will support a character's weight; treat it as non-sinking lava (i.e. walking on it counts as lava "exposure", not lava "immersion" because the character will not fall in); it, too, emits heatwaves and light smoke.
Tossing a waterskin's worth of water onto either lava or heated rock will generate steam, equivalent to Obscuring Mist, with a duration of 1d4+3 rounds.
Squares marked with the white upright triangle (e.g. O15-P16) are obstructed, double movement cost.

Lyssander and Garath start in A-B/1-2, their opponent hovers in T-U/29-30

OOC:  Initiative - Garath 22, Lyssander 3.  (Natural 20 and natural 1 respectively.  Interesting omen.)

OOC: Rolled 8, so you go first.

The wizard looks toward the far corner of the arena, but the stone structure obstructs his view and he is unable to see his opponent.  Shrugging, he casts a spell to give himself additional mobility.

Prep Round 1:
  [Move]
  [Free] Activate vest (2 charges)
  [Standard] Cast spell (Alter Self - Air Mephit)


Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 20 (13)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   0

Effects:
Alter Self - ends round 598
Mage Armor - ends round 4798

Final Position: B1

The blue-skinned giant removes a small flask from a potions belt and pours the oily content over his large club, magically enhancing the crude weapon.

Prep Round 1:
  [Move]
  [Free] Draw potion (MW Potions belt)
  [Standard] Apply oil of Shillelagh on club

Status:
  Initiative: 8
  AC (Touch AC): 19 (9)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   0

Effects:
Oil of Shillelagh 3 mins

Final Position: TU/29-30

[OOC:  Sorry for the delay in getting started, a project at work that I anticipated would be wrapped up last Friday has carried over to this week.  Shouldn't be more than a couple more days though.  I hope!]

Lyssander cannot see the foe either, but turns, imperturbable, to his combat preparations.

Prep Round 1:
  [Free] Assign dodge to Ogre Mage
  [Standard] Cast Bull's Strength from scroll (3 Min)
  [Move] Restore scroll to belt


Status:
  Initiative: 3
  AC (Touch AC): 18 (12) (+1 vs. ogre mage)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 0


Effects:
Bull's Strength: +4 Strength (30 rounds)
Magic Tattoo: +2 saves (resistance)
Magic Tattoo: +2 attack (competence)

Final Position: A2

Garath mutters a quick chant to ensure that he and his fighting-companion remain in constant communication-range of each other.

Prep Round 2:
  [Move]
  [Free]
  [Standard] Cast spell (Message)


Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 20 (13)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   0

Effects:
Alter Self - ends round 698
Mage Armor - ends round 5998
Message - ends round 699

Final Position: B1

Continuing his preparations the ogre pulls out another flask, this time drinking its content.

The blue-skinned giant removes a small flask from a potions belt and pours the oily content over his large club, magically enhancing the crude weapon.

Prep Round 2:
  [Move]
  [Free] Draw potion (MW Potions belt)
  [Standard] Drink potion of Cat's Grace

Status:
  Initiative: 8
  AC (Touch AC): 21 (11)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   0

Effects:
Oil of Shillelagh 3 mins
Cat's Grace: +4 DEX

Final Position: TU/29-30

Lyssander also continues his pre-battle routine, touching a small silver cloak-clasp next to his throat and drawing on its protective powers.

Prep Round 2:
  [Free]
  [Standard] Activate cloak-clasp (Shield; 2 Min)
  [Move]


Status:
  Initiative: 3
  AC (Touch AC): 22 (12) (+1 vs. ogre mage)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 0


Effects:
Bull's Strength: +4 Strength (30 rounds)
Magic Tattoo: +2 saves (resistance)
Magic Tattoo: +2 attack (competence)
Shield: +4 shield bonus (20 rounds)

Final Position: A2

"So...  where to begin... ahh, yes."  The mephit flies up, to hover near a corner of the part-crumbled structure, and casts a quick spell to hinder and annoy the ogre mage.

Round 1:
  [Move] Fly to F-07, 10' up (hovering above the roof of the stone structure)
  [Free]
  [Standard] Cast spell (Buzzing Bee)

Buzzing Bee (Spell Compendium) - 7 minutes (no save, no SR).  Distraction/noise: -10 to move silently checks, Concentration check DC = 19 + level of spell being cast, in order to cast spells (including spell-like abilities, which can be disrupted in the same way as spells).  The bee stays with the target despite invisibility, hiding, etc.

Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 20 (13)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   0

Effects:
Alter Self - ends round 698
Mage Armor - ends round 5998
Message - ends round 699

Final Position: F-07, 10' up

OOC: Buzzing bee; another "what were they thinking?" spell, sigh. Since the Ogre Mage has invisibility at will, I had thought about having him enter the arena invisible, but forgot to add it... huge mistake...
In any case, Garath is not likely to see the opponent, due to the structures in the way (the building, and the pillar that as far as I can see stretches all the way to the cieling of the arena) and the smoke. However, being large and all, he doesn't really successfully manage to hide.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:26, Wed 15 Feb 2012.

The monster is terribly annoyed by the appearance of the distraction, yet is unable to shake it off. Closing its eyes for a moment, it still is able to shut out the noise and disappears from view immediately after.

Round 1:
  [Move] Yes
  [Free] Contentration DC 21 (23) success
  [Standard] SLA: Invisibility (CL 9)

Status:
  Initiative: 8
  AC (Touch AC): 21 (11)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   0

Effects:
Oil of Shillelagh 3 mins
Cat's Grace: +4 DEX
Invisible: 9 minutes

Final Position:

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
PQ 23/24, flying 10' up (above the roof of the structure)

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 12:00, Fri 17 Feb 2012.

Finding it pointless to set out into the arena's depth without any intelligence on his foe's location, Lyssander waits patiently for the young wizard to suggest a course of action.

Round 1:
  [Free]
  [Standard]
  [Move]

[Delay action until initiative count 21 of the following round, after Garath's turn]


Status:
  Initiative: 3
  AC (Touch AC): 22 (12) (+1 vs. ogre mage)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 0


Effects:
Bull's Strength: +4 Strength (30 rounds)
Magic Tattoo: +2 saves (resistance)
Magic Tattoo: +2 attack (competence)
Shield: +4 shield bonus (20 rounds)

Final Position: A2

Garath is not altogether surprised by the ogre mage's success in drawing a cloak of invisibility around itself.  The buzzing bee is a hampering distraction, but hardly a sovereign remedy against enemy magick-use.

Fortunately, the wizard has a more particular remedy against enemy invisibility.  With a few carefully-spoken phrases, and some equally precise gestures, the unseen becomes seen...

Round 2:
  [Free]
  [Standard] Cast spell (See Invisibility)
  [Move] [undetermined; see question]

OOC:  Is the ogre mage now hovering on top of the building, at elevation 10'?  (Not sure he has enough movement to have circled into the building at PQ/23-24...)


Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 20 (13)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   0

Effects:
Alter Self - ends round 698
Mage Armor - ends round 5998
Message - ends round 699
See Invisibility - ends round 701

Final Position: [undetermined]

Hovering, at same elevation as Gareth.

"Ahhh, there you are," Garath mutters as the ogre mage comes into view.  And then he is off, winging down and to the north, below the level of the structure's roof and out of the enemy's sight.

Moves to D08, ducks below roof-level.

If ogre mage's Spot check beats DC 20 it sees:

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Garath is peeping above the roof-level at H5, elevation 5', Improved Cover vs ogre mage

---

Lyssander's actions forthcoming...

With Garath keeping him updated on the enemy's location, Lyssander makes his move.

Round 2:
  [Free]
  [Standard]  Activate armband (Alter self - Protectar)
  [Move]  Move toward the structure and out of sight of the ogre mage.

Status:
  Initiative: 21
  AC (Touch AC): 22 (12) (+1 vs. ogre mage)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 0


Effects:
Bull's Strength: +4 Strength (30 rounds)
Magic Tattoo: +2 saves (resistance)
Magic Tattoo: +2 attack (competence)
Shield: +4 shield bonus (20 rounds)
Alter Self (Protectar): flight 60' (30 minutes)

Final Position: (not visible from ogre mage's current location)

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
E7 - 5' up; spiked chain drawn as part of movement

---

The blue-skinned giant grins as his opponents flies down below the height of the structure in order to gain cover. Now it was time to do something about the buzzing in the ear... A loud bang is hear from the other side of the building.
Round 2:
  [Move] Move to KL 24/25
  [Free] Draw Thunderstone from belt
  [Standard] Throw thunderstone on ground 25, voluntary fail save vs Deafness
Status:
  Initiative: 8
  AC (Touch AC): 21 (11)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   0

Effects:
Oil of Shillelagh 3 mins
Cat's Grace: +4 DEX
Invisible: 9 minutes
Deaf: 1 hour (negates effect of Buzzing Bee spell)

Final Position: KL 24/25 floating above the ground

"Most interesting..."  It does not take long for the wizard to realize what the ogre mage has done, and why.  "Well played!"

Time for the next gambit...

A chanted spell, and a field of rubbery tentacles springs up around the ogre mage.

Round 3:
  [Free]
  [Move] (move)
  [Standard] Cast spell (Black Tentacles, centered J,K/24,25)

Grapple check 16

Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 20 (13)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   0

Effects:
Alter Self - ends round 698
Mage Armor - ends round 5998
Message - ends round 699
See Invisibility - ends round 701

Final Position:
Beat Spot check 28 to see:

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Garath is peeping around the wall at J11, elevation 5', Improved Cover vs ogre mage

---

OOC: the grapple check failed, what next?

OOC:  Wow!  That was unexpected.  I thought the ogre mage would surely beat my pathetic grapple check.

How do you read the spell's description with respect to damage?
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/blackTentacles.htm

Every creature within the area of the spell must make a grapple check, opposed by the grapple check of the tentacles. ...

Once the tentacles grapple an opponent, they may make a grapple check each round on your turn to deal 1d6+4 points of bludgeoning damage.

So does this mean the damage starts this round, or next round?  Basically, everyone in the area of the spell (here, the ogre mage) made a grapple check, opposed by the tentacles; in this case the tentacles won.  Then, "Once the tentacles grapple an opponent, they may make a grapple check each round on your turn" - does that mean starting in the turn in which the tentacles first win the grapple check?

A new grapple check to determine if they do damage. Essentially the same as for starting a normal grapple only the initial touch attack is replaced with a grapple check.

OOC:  Oh.  Okay, rolled 34 grapple check for the damaging check, and 9 bludgeoning damage if that succeeds.  Will plan to post Lyssander's actions later today.  (Shouldn't be affected by the result of this damage-grapple-check.)

Out of sight, and most definitely out of earshot of the deafened ogre mage, the Sealer does whatever it is he does...

Round 2:
  [Free]
  [Standard]  ?
  [Move]  ?

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Casts Protection from Evil on self; moves to I12

---

Status:
  Initiative: 21
  AC (Touch AC): 22 (12) (+1 vs. ogre mage)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 0


Effects:
Bull's Strength: +4 Strength (30 rounds)
Magic Tattoo: +2 saves (resistance)
Magic Tattoo: +2 attack (competence)
Shield: +4 shield bonus (20 rounds)
Alter Self (Protectar): flight 60' (30 minutes)

Final Position: (not visible from ogre mage's current location)

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
I-12, 5' up

---

One thing though: at H5 you were below the 10' altitude and thus subjected to smoke and heat: two fort saves to avoid taking non-lethal damage.

"Not injurious" - no damage.  (If it had been injurious, I'd have had Garath hover at F5 instead.)

Non-lethal means it does not cause injury. Heatwaves does suggest incurring a fort save.

Non-injurious means non-harmful.  If Garath had been subject to any sort of ill effect from being in H5, I would have positioned him in F5 instead.

Also, note that the SRD entry on heat hazards provides for lethal damage from air at over 140 degree, and then, for air below 140 but above 110 degrees, provides for a Fort save every 10 minutes.  Since you agree - at the least - that these heatwaves do not inflict lethal damage, the next-most-damaging effect would impose a Fort save only after 10 minutes with the possibility of inflicting nonlethal damage on a failed save.

That was the entry I was looking at. As I readd it you would need to save vs fort every 10 minutes, but I guess I was wrong. I know you had plenty of options but I have avoided the space above the lava so far because of this.

I wasn't contemplating any sort of damage (lethal or not) from hovering above the lava for any length of time.  However, if you'd like to build in a Fort save for non-lethal damage after 10 minutes of hovering above the lava and below 10', for this arena map going forward, I'd be okay with that.  Any other deleterious consequences?  Let's lay them out explicitly now, for avoidance of confusion later on...

(To be clear: these would be applied prospectively only - if we decide that hovering above lava causes any sort of harm, then Garath will be deemed to have hovered at F5 and not H5.)

Nope, that seems to cover it. Although the rules for this lava seems "special", I would assume holding 5' above the lava would count as causing lethal damage due to extreme heat, but that does not seem to be the case here. The smoke is light, thus not causing any irritation worth mentioning.

Carry on!

The ogre struggles heavily against the magically conjured tentacles, trying to escape from their crushing hold.

Round 3:
  [Move] GC to move at half speed (13) auto failure
  [Free]
  [Standard] GC to escape (23)
Status:
  Initiative: 8
  AC (Touch AC): 21 (11)

  Damage Taken:   4 (5 regen)
  Damage Dealt:   0

Effects:
Oil of Shillelagh 3 mins
Cat's Grace: +4 DEX
Invisible: 9 minutes
Deaf: 1 hour (negates effect of Buzzing Bee spell)
Grappled

Final Position: KL 24/25 floating above the ground
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:32, Wed 22 Feb 2012.

OOC:  OGC 26, Ogre Mage fails to escape.  You have a move action left, though.

That didn't go too well. You're up!

OOC:  Moving at half-speed while in a grapple requires a standard action, not a move action, for future reference.

IC:


Garath considers his options.  The Ogre Mage seems intent on moving out of the grappling field, so presumably it would be helpful to keep the creature in place.  Well, there were ways...

A well-practiced spell, and strands of off-white webbing spring into being around the Ogre Mage.

Round 4:
  [Free]
  [Move] ?
  [Standard] Cast spell (Web, centered K,L/26,27, Reflex save DC 20 to avoid being caught in place)

The tentacles, meanwhile, continue their writhing onslaught.

Grapple check 25 to do damage, if they succeed then 9 bludgeoning damage.

Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 20 (13)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   9 (18?) (5 regenerated)

Effects:
Alter Self - ends round 698
Mage Armor - ends round 5998
Message - ends round 699
See Invisibility - ends round 701

Final Position:
Beat Spot check 28 to see:

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Garath is peeping around the wall at J11, elevation 5', Improved Cover vs ogre mage

---

Ah, that is strange, but so are many things when grappling is involved...

Anyways, the Ogre Mage is solidly stuck by the web (ref fail), probably because he's focusing on avoiding getting crushed by the tentacles (OGC pass).

I presume Lyssander is making his move now? Our order seems slightly messed up, although it doesn't matter much.

OOC:  Yep, Lyssander's up next.  Action order is Garath (and ogre mage's immediate reactions to events on Garath's turn), Lyssander, Ogre Mage.

For purposes of web-burning, I assume the web cubes at ground level right above the lava are burning, and that each round the fire spreads from any affected cube to all cubes that share a border (not just a corner) with it - up, down, four cardinal directions. I'll list the relevant burning cubes on Garath's turn each time, please feel free to check my calculations.

Yes, that is how I would view it as well. We'll help each other on tracking burning web. It is useful to simply track it radially (along the ground) and stagger the vertical burning by one square for each 5' height increment along the radius.

Lyssander continues to do... something.  Maybe.

Round 4:
  [Free]
  [Standard]  ?
  [Move]  ?

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Casts Magic Weapon on spiked chain; stays in place

---

Status:
  Initiative: 21
  AC (Touch AC): 22 (12) (+1 vs. ogre mage)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 0


Effects:
Bull's Strength: +4 Strength (30 rounds)
Magic Tattoo: +2 saves (resistance)
Magic Tattoo: +2 attack (competence)
Shield: +4 shield bonus (20 rounds)
Alter Self (Protectar): flight 60' (30 minutes)

Final Position: (not visible from ogre mage's current location)

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
I-12, 5' up

---

OOC: Technically Lyssander is doing his round three actions now though?

Eying the smoldering strands of webbing closest to the lava, and judging how fast the web is consumed by the fire, the ogre attempts to evade the grappling tentacles, although still held in place by burning web.
Round 4:
  [Move] Nope
  [Free]
  [Standard] Escape from grapple GC: 20
Status:
  Initiative: 8
  AC (Touch AC): 21 (11)

  Damage Taken:   0 (5 regen)
  Damage Dealt:   0

Effects:
Oil of Shillelagh 3 mins
Cat's Grace: +4 DEX
Invisible: 9 minutes
Deaf: 1 hour (negates effect of Buzzing Bee spell)
Entangled
Grappled?
Cover (from Web)

Final Position: Same as before, KL 25/26
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:47, Thu 23 Feb 2012.

OOC:

From the Player's Request archives:

"KNOWLEDGE DEVOTION [DOMAIN] Not allowed"

link to a message in another game

Ah. Wasn't aware of that, but no matter. Will adjust the position slightly.

Edit: post edited. Note that you need to roll a spot check to detect the enemy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:36, Thu 23 Feb 2012.

OOC:

Just checking - did you make the Concentration checks?  (DC 18 for the entanglement, DC 23 for the grappling, i.e. 15 + spell level and 20 + spell level respectively).  I didn't see them in the dice roller, if you passed the checks please post them.

OOC: Argh! Didn't see that. Figured what with the mental activation I was home safe... Will need to reconsider my moves then. Sorry about that.

OOC:

No worries, take your time.

OOC: So, how exactly does the web and the tentacles interact? Both are physical objects, and so presumably the tentacles are also entangled in the web? I would therefore rule that both ogre and tentacles reduce their attack bonuses by 2.

OOC:  Maybe.  Not sure if that affects their grappling though.  (I.e. it may be a reduction in attack bonus that isn't counted against the grappling bonus.)  But yes, I would agree that if the tentacles had an actual attack mode (e.g. "slam"), it would be affected by the web's entanglement.

A grapple check "is like an attack roll". Either both the ogre and the tentacles are affected by the entanglement or they are not. What I'm saying is that it affects them both equally.

Ok, revised round 4 actions posted above.

OOC:  OGC vs GC 20: 18, Ogre Mage succeeded in escaping grapple in round 4.

In round 5, Grapple Check to initiate grapple:  25, Ogre Mage needs to overcome that to avoid being grappled.

Just post you actions as usual. The ogre is entangled and stuck in place and grappling doesn't change that.

OOC:  Yes, but whether I should post a grappling check for damage will depend on whether the tentacles manage to get him wrapped up again.

Yes, but that will have to wait until the ogre is grappled. You roll the GC to grapple together with your other standard actions this round, rolling for damage will have to wait until the next.

The wizard sees his foe struggling against the tentacles, and decides to layer another magick onto the mix.  A swirling cloud of nauseating smoke arises around the Ogre Mage.

Round 5:
  [Free]
  [Move] ?
  [Standard] Cast spell (Cloud of Bewilderment, centered on the Ogre Mage, Fort save DC 20)

Grappling check for damage to come, if the tentacles succeeded in grappling the Ogre Mage (beat GC 25).

Flaming web (at ground level to 5' high) in squares: I24, K25 (occupied by Ogre Mage - fire damage 2), J26, M25, M26
Flaming web (at 5' to 10' high) above lava squares

Concentration checks required for casting:
DC 11+spell level (continuous fire damage)
DC 20+spell level (vs. save DC of non-damaging distracting spell - cloud of bewilderment)
DC 15+spell level (entangled)
(possibly) DC 20+spell level (grappling)

Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 20 (13)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   9 (+?) regenerable (9 regenerated); 2 non-regenerable

Effects:
Alter Self - ends round 698
Mage Armor - ends round 5998
Message - ends round 699
See Invisibility - ends round 701

Final Position:
Beat Spot check 28 to see:

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Garath is peeping around the wall at J11, elevation 5', Improved Cover vs ogre mage

---

This message was last edited by the player at 15:41, Sun 26 Feb 2012.

Ogre failed both rolls. So, remind me: he is now nauseated right? Also grappled. You don't get to roll for damage until next round though.

OOC:  Correct, nauseated and grappled.

I am fine with your interpretation that the tentacles don't get to inflict damage until one round later - the SRD language says "Once the tentacles grapple an opponent, they may make a grapple check each round on your turn to deal 1d6+4 points of bludgeoning damage.", which seems ambiguous on this point.  (Note, this is inconsistent with how we played Round 3, in which the tentacles spell was cast and on the same round you applied the tentacle damage (of which 5 points were regenerated on the Ogre Mage's turn that round).  But that's fine, I am okay with your second interpretation, just flagging this point for the viewers.)

I'll roll for tentacle damage next round (round 6).  Lyssander's actions for this round (round 5) forthcoming.

Yeah, I know. Just noticed giving the tentacles opportunities to roll several GC's per round goes against the idea of victims escaping them. Reading the spell description again this is how I read it. Anyway, Lyssander is up next.
Also, nauseated is a severe condition: only one move action/turn, so no spell casting.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:55, Sun 26 Feb 2012.

Lyssander proceeds to act.

Round 5:
  [Free]
  [Standard]  ?
  [Move]  ?

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Double move

---

Status:
  Initiative: 21
  AC (Touch AC): 22 (12) (+1 vs. ogre mage)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 0


Effects:
Bull's Strength: +4 Strength (30 rounds)
Magic Tattoo: +2 saves (resistance)
Magic Tattoo: +2 attack (competence)
Shield: +4 shield bonus (20 rounds)
Alter Self (Protectar): flight 60' (30 minutes)

Final Position: (not visible from ogre mage's current location)

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
D-21, 5' up, no part of the flight path is visible to the Ogre Mage

---

The escape from the grappling tentacles was but a fleeting victory as the web held the ogre firmly in place. Now that the noxious cloud suddenly envelopes him the giant-kin can do little else than endure the stinging flames of the web and try and hold off the crushing strength of the tentacles. At least he could try and avoid breathing in the poisonous gases.

Round 5:
  [Move] Still held in place
  [Free] Fort save against nausea: 21 success
  [Standard] None
Status:
  Initiative: 8
  AC (Touch AC): 21 (11)

  Damage Taken:   2 (5 regen)
  Damage Dealt:   0

Effects:
Oil of Shillelagh 3 mins
Cat's Grace: +4 DEX
Invisible: 9 minutes
Deaf: 1 hour (negates effect of Buzzing Bee spell)
Entangled
Grappled
Cover (from Web)
Concealement (from gas)
Nauseated (only 1 move action/round)

Final Position: Same as before, KL 25/26

OOC: Fort save to be rolled on Garath's action (done), also next round the ogre is free from the webs (subjected to 2d4 damage) but not free from the tentacles, and still nauseated.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:56, Mon 27 Feb 2012.

OOC:

1.  Why the Fort save?  Once you fail a Fort save, you are nauseated for as long as you are in the cloud, plus some randomly determined number of rounds thereafter...  Additional Fort saves don't do anything, or are you reading the spell differently?

2.  I assume you are ruling that if a creature occupies several cubes that are filled with burning webs, the creature still only takes one 2d4's worth of fire damage, is that correct?  I'm not disputing this ruling, just making sure that it is in fact your intention to rule this way, because I've seen a ruling on this same issue go the other way in a campaign that Garath is in with DM BCM.

3.  I think the column at L24, floor-to-ceiling, is still solidly enwebbed after the burning on Garath's turn on round 6, so the Ogre Mage is still entangled next round.  After Garath's turn on round 7, the webbing at L24 from floor to 5' will be burned away, but 5'-10' will still be there - will the Ogre Mage be entangled and attached to the ceiling at that point?  Or do those webs just vanish?
[I think I see the source of some of the confusion.  Ogre Mage is in K,L/24,25, but you have him listed as K,L/25,26.  Msg #33 lists the correct position, but in msg #41 you say "same as above" but you also write "KL 25/26".  I assume the Ogre Mage is still in K,L/24,25 since, with the grapple, he couldn't really have gone anywhere.  Accordingly, he is still enwebbed next round.]

1. Ah. I misread the description of the spell: Failed to spot the "succeeds on its save" part. Not that it matters much but...

Here's a question for you: how can you cast the spell at that distance? That's 70' away, which means you need to achieve CL 18 unless I'm mistaken? Please review your actions for round 5.





2. There is nothing in the description of the spell that would suggest such a ruling.
3. 25/26 is the correct position. I misread the map when first posted the position. Please count for yourself starting from position PQ  23/24: only with generous ruling regarding squeezing and cutting corners could I have reached 24/25.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:41, Tue 28 Feb 2012.

OOC:  Good catch!  I had forgotten that that was a spell with a range of short rather than medium.  I'll need to have Garath use his move action to get closer in order to cast that spell.  I'll let you know what position he ends up in.

Meanwhile, could you please have the Ogre Mage roll Reflex save DC 15 to avoid catching on fire?  (Hair, clothes, equipment.)

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/envi...t.htm#catchingOnFire

Characters exposed to burning oil, bonfires, and noninstantaneous magic fires might find their clothes, hair, or equipment on fire. Spells with an instantaneous duration don’t normally set a character on fire, since the heat and flame from these come and go in a flash.

Characters at risk of catching fire are allowed a DC 15 Reflex save to avoid this fate. If a character’s clothes or hair catch fire, he takes 1d6 points of damage immediately. In each subsequent round, the burning character must make another Reflex saving throw. Failure means he takes another 1d6 points of damage that round. Success means that the fire has gone out. (That is, once he succeeds on his saving throw, he’s no longer on fire.)

A character on fire may automatically extinguish the flames by jumping into enough water to douse himself. If no body of water is at hand, rolling on the ground or smothering the fire with cloaks or the like permits the character another save with a +4 bonus.

Those unlucky enough to have their clothes or equipment catch fire must make DC 15 Reflex saves for each item. Flammable items that fail take the same amount of damage as the character.

I firmly believe the burning web is of the instantaneous variety, as per the spell description.

OOC:  Okay - in that case, there appears to be an inconsistency among the DMs on this point.  In a campaign I am in, with DM BCM, a burning web caused a tunnel to catch on fire, which is inconsistent with the view that burning webs are "instantaneous" and "the heat and flame from these come and go in a flash" without setting stuff on fire.

I am fine with either interpretation, but could you please discuss with DM BCM so the ruling on this is consistent across RoA?

(Or maybe there is some reason why dried twigs in a tunnel are more flammable than hair and clothing, but that reasoning seems kind of strained.)

Will do. It's useful to look at alchemists fire for comparison.

Actually, there isn't even support for our current interpretation that the web deals 2d4 damage per burning square. The description simply states 2d4 damage.

True.  It also doesn't state that it is 2d4 per instantiation of the spell, so the language could be read to mean that if you once got burned by a web, you never take additional damage from walking through burning webs again, ever, because you have already taken the 2d4 damage and there is nothing stating that you take the 2d4 damage again.  Obviously, that isn't an interpretation that makes any sort of sense, but there you have it.  Feel free to add this question to the DM discussion of the rulings on treating flaming webs - let me know where the authorities come out on the matter...

That is drawing the consequences of the wording to the extreme, but yes. Please carry on though.

OOC:

For Round 5, Garath uses his move action to relocate.

If Ogre Mage's Spot check beats a Hide check of 18:

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Garath flits south across the building, disappearing from the Ogre Mage's line of sight around N14

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And if the Spot check beats a Hide check of 22:

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Garath is peeping around the wall at N18, elevation 5', Improved Cover vs ogre mage

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(Apply a -4 penalty on the Spot check for distance, and an additional -5 if you consider the Ogre Mage distracted - which, to be fair, is quite likely, between grappling tentacles, burning webs and whatnot...)

From the new position, Garath can cast Cloud of Bewilderment at the Ogre Mage.

No rush on the fire damage / burning web discussions, by the way - RL workload has picked up again, so if it takes a while to resolve the question, that's quite okay by me...

We have an agreement on the burning web question: it's a DM call regarding catching fire. And in this case (and any arena fight I preside over) burning webs will not cause characters to catch fire (nor will fireballs, firebolts, scorching rays etc, even when fired multiple times).

Proceed once you are ready!

OOC:  If Lyssander hovers just above the ceiling of the building, at J23, my read is that he would be able to attack the Ogre Mage (subject to partial cover from the webs) - right?  And if he hovers, 10' up, at I25, he would be unaffected by the smoke, and would be able to attack the Ogre Mage without being hampered by partial cover from the webs?

(Just making sure I have the various effects mapped out right in my head.)

Yes, and yes.

OOC:  Sorry for the long absence; RL pressures have abated, and I am back.


Garath advances covertly to a nearer location, circling behind a portion of a wall to take a position closer to his foe.  Once in place, he undertakes a quick arcane preparation, causing his eyes to glow with blue radiance as he determines how to bypass the monster's innate resistance to magicks.  Deftly popping a few small (and disturbingly insect-shaped) reddish-black specks into his mouth, he proceeds to unleash a conical burst of acid droplets at the Ogre Mage.

Round 6:
  [Free]
  [Move] Move to N22, 5' up
  [Swift] Cast spell (Assay Spell Resistance)
  [Standard] Cast spell (Acid Breath)

Grappling check for damage: GC 21.  If fail to beat the GC, damage is 7.

Flaming web (at ground level to 5' high) in squares: [Unclear - I think many sections of the web have collapsed by now due to untethering - thoughts?]
Flaming web (at 5' to 10' high) in squares: I24, K25, J26, M25, M26
Flaming web (at 10' to 15' high) above lava squares
Fire damage from burning web:  5

Acid breath:  Caster level check to overcome SR: 33, success.
Damage:  20, Reflex save DC 21 for half.

Status:
  Initiative: 22
  AC (Touch AC): 20 (13)

  Damage Taken:   0
  Damage Dealt:   7 (if fail OGC) regenerable but not yet regenerated; 17 (or 27 if fail save) non-regenerable

Effects:
Alter Self - ends round 698
Mage Armor - ends round 5998
Message - ends round 699
See Invisibility - ends round 701
Assay Spell Resistance - ends round 13


Final Position: N22, 5' up

The pale-faced priest comes into view of the Ogre Mage as he flies up over the top of the building.  His vicious chain swinging as he approaches, he halts a few paces away from the enemy, the reddish glow from the flames underneath giving almost a devilish cast to his appearance.  Vigorously, he brings down one end of his chain in a powerful curve, slashing across the monster's shoulders.

Round 6:
  [Free]
  [Move]  Fly to I25, 10' up
  [Standard]  Attack (25, hit; damage 11)


Status:
  Initiative: 21
  AC (Touch AC): 22 (12) (+1 vs. ogre mage)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 11 regenerable but not yet regenerated; 0 non-regenerable


Effects:
Bull's Strength: +4 Strength (30 rounds)
Magic Tattoo: +2 saves (resistance)
Magic Tattoo: +2 attack (competence)
Shield: +4 shield bonus (20 rounds)
Alter Self (Protectar): flight 60' (30 minutes)


Final Position:  I25, 10' up

Struggle as he may, the ogre mage is able to avoid the crushing hold of the tentacles, yet is unable to avoid the cloud of acid and the vicious blow dealt by the pale priest shortly after. Bleeding heavily, and suffering from multiple burns from both flaming webs and acid spray, the ogre falls unconcious.

Battle over!

OOC: The ogre is at -1, and will regain conciousness on his turn due to the regeneration. Forgot that. If you want to continue the fight, we can, or we can consider it over.

OOC:  Given what Garath had planned for the next few rounds, I think we may as well consider it over...

Would you be interested in a rematch? Same arena and same opponent, though I am thinking about giving him a few sorcerer class levels. His gear and feats would be kept (only added to according to HD gained).

Maybe at some point.  I'm going to take a bit of a hiatus from the arena - a couple of months, I think.

If it's okay with you, I'll PM you when I'm ready for another bout, and you can let me know what you have in mind, assuming you have the availability/inclination at the time to set up a match?

Sure, no problem.

"So..." the wizard flies over and lands on the building's roof, not far from Lyssander.  "While we wait for the Arena masters to tidy up here and record our victory in the annals...  might I interest you in a game of lanceboard?"