[OOC] Return to the Rusty Rat

[Toot]

Yeah I understood that you referred to the elementals as summoned nongood creatures. When I wrote the issue with Toot and the unicorn I was more than exhausted last night and realised the word "summoned" skipped my logic while I was under the hot shower. That leaves but one thing about unicorns; their picky taste when it comes to accepting riders... not a rules-thing, more like a role-thing (I believe it was kind of a rule in AD&D 2Ed at least) and surely a summoned unicorn has no way to say no to the summoner...

For the records. Summoned creatures are real as well. And so, Toot as a jermlaine can be summoned accidentally by anyone who knows how to summon a jermlaine. Probably from another plane.

In second edition I think they said only virgin females of pure heart could ride a unicorn but I didn't see that requirement in the Unicorn information.  Even so, I've always considered summoned creatures to be under a special charm effect.  This effect overrides the will of the creature and forces it to do things contrary to it's nature.  It's why they will fight to the death, which really isn't death for them.  They just vanish back to where they came from (likely) without knowledge of what just happened.  So in my opinion, the Unicorn wouldn't resist anyone from riding them as long as the rider wasn't an evil summoned creature.  Even then, the Unicorn would be resisting them, it would be the protection from evil spell the Unicorn cannot suppress pushing the summoned creature away.

As for someone summoning a Jermlaine, would that be a cantrip?     

Now to your questions.

Q: Can you move by half speed while you are entangled by a spider web (as a move action)?
A: You can move at half "normal" speed i.e. half distance (10') in a full round or quarter distance (5') as a move action.

Q: Can you take a 5-foot step action?
A: No, you cannot take 5-foot step on difficult terrain and as I wrote consider entangle spell (unless you saved)  and spider web as more difficult.

Q: Can you crawling/rolling 5 feet as a move action?
A: Crawling, yes, provoking AOO. Rolling, is it specified somewhere? What's the difference from crawling?

Opinions everyone?

<shutters> More web talk.  My real life group have been having the same conversations about webs and nets.  I think Nets are very under powered.  Maybe I'm being influenced by the movies but when someone gets hit by a net, you don't see them running around (even at half speed) or continue fighting with a measly -2 on attack rolls.  Nets seem more like a minor inconvenience.  Throw a net on a warrior and meh, now you have to hold the net string while I can still beat on you for a -2 to hit and -4 to dex.  It doesn't really even impede spell casting because what spellcaster doesn't have Concentration maxed out?  The concentration check should be based upon the attack roll.

But the "prevents movement if the bonds are anchored to an immobile object or tethered by an opposing force" sounds interesting.  Wouldn't that mean you can't move through a web/net?  Because a web is either anchored to the walls or tethered to the spider (or the person throwing the net). 

As for moving 5' in difficult terrain and crawling while avoiding AoO: I read in a Sage advice (I read a lot of Sage Advice) that you can't move 5' because you move half speed.  So a 5' step would be a 2.5' step BUT if you have a high enough tumble skill and take the appropriate penalties for rough terrain (Light: +2DC; Heavy: +5DC) then take -10 on your skill check to move at full speed, you could make a 5' step.

I wish they would have made better rules for this stuff.  We shouldn't have to jump back and forth in rule books to figure out the rules.  They should be crystal clear.