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gallagher
2010-06-25, 10:50 PM
so i know that swarms have vulnerabilities to elemental power, and they cant be targeted by spells, nor can they be hit by weapons (though i would argue that a tennis racket would do alarmingly well in the hands of a barbarian.)

but what happens if i summon a swarm (as a first level warlock) to combat them? would that work (by the rules, not necessarily by a stretch of interpretation) and what would you use to back it up?

dextercorvia
2010-06-25, 10:54 PM
I believe it would deal damage to whatever creature was occupying the same space at the end of its move, even if that was another swarm. But, are you able to direct the swarm you summon as a Warlock? I know the Wizard spell doesn't allow that.

Lycanthromancer
2010-06-25, 11:02 PM
Swarms are dealt 1.5x damage by area of effect attacks. (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#swarmSubtype)

Which swarms have.

sofawall
2010-06-25, 11:03 PM
A warlock has the advantage of ending concentration as a free action. Once the enemy swarm is dead (likely the closest enemy, if they are sharing a space), the warlock can simply stop concentrating before the swarm hits other party members (namely, me).

Froogleyboy
2010-06-25, 11:12 PM
How do you kill a swarm anyway?

Marriclay
2010-06-25, 11:13 PM
Area effects. It's why alchemist fire and the like is good at low levels

Glimbur
2010-06-25, 11:15 PM
I'd stab it with a sword. At least, if it's made of Tiny creatures. Any smaller than that and you have to actually use area of effect attacks. I suggest alchemist's fire and/or acid. Or fireball, that's good too.

sofawall
2010-06-25, 11:18 PM
For the record, it's a Bat Swarm at level 1.

Defiant
2010-06-25, 11:22 PM
I hate how swarms are immune to weapon damage. Whenever we face off against one, I always tell my party that we're screwed. They're immune to damage so we just lose.

arguskos
2010-06-25, 11:23 PM
Uh, don't torches have a unique damage exemption? If so, that means you can power attack with one. :smallamused:

sofawall
2010-06-25, 11:26 PM
I hate how swarms are immune to weapon damage.


They're immune to damage...


Very different things. Also, not all swarms are immune to weapon damage. Rat Swarms, for an SRD example, are not immune to weapon damage.

Mystic Muse
2010-06-26, 12:00 AM
How do you kill a swarm anyway?

If they're rats, use weapons. If they're bugs, use a giant flyswatter.