Class and Level Geekery XVIII - Everyone's an Expert

[Kornaki]

I mean it’s one of those skills that can make rolls while untrained.

It would be a bit strange if they had a go-to combat tactic that relied on her hitting a 17 on her die roll to not die.

[Peelee]

It would be a bit strange if they had a go-to combat tactic that relied on her hitting a 17 on her die roll to not die.

Halfling being so light in this setting works well; she could have a hefty circumstance bonus.

[b_jonas]

Sadly it turns out that the rules already specify a bonus for halflings: “A halfling has a +2 racial bonus on Climb checks because halflings are agile and surefooted.” I don't think we are allowed to give more bonuses for the same thing.

[Yanisa]

It would be a bit strange if they had a go-to combat tactic that relied on her hitting a 17 on her die roll to not die.

It's probably more than that. From the options listed we seem to be dealing with a scenario without footholds. Which leads to Climb DC 25: An overhang or ceiling with handholds but no footholds.

We also assume Serini has Str ~5 (no evidence, racial, age). Which is a -4 penalty. With a +2 for race.

So we need at least a +7 bonus on climb check to and rolled 20.

Problem is, climb ranks are not the only why to gain a climb bonus. It could be a magic spell or item, it could be that her strength score is higher or she got a way to gain climb speed.

For a strong alternative explanation; Spider Climb, which eliminated the need for climb checks all together.

Too many options to narrow this one down.

[Ortho]

For a strong alternative explanation; Spider Climb, which eliminated the need for climb checks all together.

Counterargument:

Material Component
A drop of bitumen and a live spider, both of which must be eaten by the subject.

Why on earth would anyone ever want to cast this spell?!?

[Jasdoif]

Why on earth would anyone ever want to cast this spell?!?

To see if it actually wriggles and jiggles and tickles inside, and/or to catch the fly. Or as part of the marketing campaign for Eschew Materials.

Besides, she wouldn't be casting it herself; she'd be using a scroll or wand or other magic item and not have to deal with the normal components.

[b_jonas]

We also assume Serini has Str ~5 (no evidence, racial, age).

No, she's hanging on her left arm, which is her troll arm, so it has a Str of 25 23 like a troll, minus perhaps an age penalty.

Update: ok, subtract -12 size penalty because trolls are large and halflings are small, so that's 11 minus an age penalty. Still stronger than her halfling arm.

Update: just to be clear, we're using a Climb check for hanging onto an animate creature because we're afraid of the grapple rules, right?

[Jasdoif]

Update: just to be clear, we're using a Climb check for hanging onto an animate creature because we're afraid of the grapple rules, right?

Serini used a weapon against Vaarsuvius, which couldn't be done while grappling unless Vaarsuivus was also involved in the grapple, which isn't the case. This does not exclude being afraid of the grapple rules, of course.

[Kornaki]

The climb rules only require a check for climbing, not clinging. It says right in the rules you can cling with one arm while taking another action, and I don't think it says there's a check associated with it

[Yanisa]

No, she's hanging on her left arm, which is her troll arm, so it has a Str of 25 23 like a troll, minus perhaps an age penalty.

Update: ok, subtract -12 size penalty because trolls are large and halflings are small, so that's 11 minus an age penalty. Still stronger than her halfling arm.

There is no proof her troll arm does anything. However it is good speculation. All we known is that troll blood allowed to heal (near) fatal wounds and she got troll skin for her troubles. Even the regeneration aspect has been speculation.

Besides, I did say: climb ranks are not the only why to gain a climb bonus; it could be that her strength score is higher. So I got you covered.

The climb rules only require a check for climbing, not clinging. It says right in the rules you can cling with one arm while taking another action, and I don't think it says there's a check associated with it

It says right in the climb rules. But, yeah, if you take the text very literally it doesn't say you need to climb first before you can cling. However climbing is the most sensible solution to end up in a situation where one can cling. Even in the comic we see Serini climb (or crawl) over Sunny. I do think this implies she has some method to climb, I agree with that assessment, but there are so many options we can't narrow anything down.

[b_jonas]

All we known is that troll blood allowed to heal (near) fatal wounds and she got troll skin for her troubles. Even the regeneration aspect has been speculation.

#1227 7th panel: “troll flesh always grows back, even when you mix it with a halfling”. It's not just troll skin, it's troll flesh, and it did grow back.

[Yanisa]

#1227 7th panel: “troll flesh always grows back, even when you mix it with a halfling”. It's not just troll skin, it's troll flesh, and it did grow back.

True, I forgot that exact line. Although we haven't seen it, it is most likely she has a form of regeneration based on the text. We don't know if troll flesh keeps other troll properties when mixed with a halfling. We need to see more of Serini before we can settle whether this is a full graft or just regeneration with extra fluff.

[Metastachydium]

#1227 7th panel: “troll flesh always grows back, even when you mix it with a halfling”. It's not just troll skin, it's troll flesh, and it did grow back.

(New theory: Stickverse trolls reproduce asexually through cutting off body parts that grow into MORE trolls.)

[Jasdoif]

(New theory: Stickverse trolls reproduce asexually through cutting off body parts that grow into MORE trolls.)

So...was this a graft in the conventionally-horticultural sense as well?

[DaOldeWolf]

(New theory: Stickverse trolls reproduce asexually through cutting off body parts that grow into MORE trolls.)

Would that make Serini technically a child of the donator troll?

[Metastachydium]

So...was this a graft in the conventionally-horticultural sense as well?

Absolutely! Especially given that quite evidently, trolls are basically planties (just think about it: they are green, they can regrow lost parts of their body and fire does nasty things with them) that are able to ennoble clearly inferior non-plant organisms by making them part plant.

Would that make Serini technically a child of the donator troll?

"Parasitic twin of the donor's actual offspring" might be more accurate, but yes, you could say that.

[Peelee]

Absolutely! Especially given that quite evidently, trolls are basically planties (just think about it: they are green, they can regrow lost parts of their body and fire does nasty things with them) that are able to ennoble clearly inferior non-plant organisms by making them part plant.

I'm seeing a lot of words that don't mean "cell walls".

[Jasdoif]

Absolutely! Especially given that quite evidently, trolls are basically planties (just think about it: they are green, they can regrow lost parts of their body and fire does nasty things with them) that are able to ennoble clearly inferior non-plant organisms by making them part plant.

The fire thing's a bit of a stereotype.

[Metastachydium]

The fire thing's a bit of a stereotype.

Eh, all planties (barring maybe the shambling mound) are vulnerable to fire in one way or another. Why should they all do it the same way?

[Peelee]

Eh, all planties (barring maybe the shambling mound) are vulnerable to fire in one way or another. Why should they all do it the same way?

Imean, animals alsontemd to be vulnerable to fire. I don't think that's a particularly planty trait.

[Metastachydium]

Imean, animals alsontemd to be vulnerable to fire. I don't think that's a particularly planty trait.

Stop. Fighting. The FACTS!

[DaOldeWolf]

I was re-reading again and it seems like either Serini has a magic item paralyzes the subject or Sunny has something like a Hold Person spell like ability.

[Squire Doodad]

I was re-reading again and it seems like either Serini has a magic item paralyzes the subject or Sunny has something like a Hold Person spell like ability.

How so?
Also I think applying the levitation beam DOWN would work, if that is doable? I'm not familiar with Octocular Beast abilities.

Absolutely! Especially given that quite evidently, trolls are basically planties (just think about it: they are green, they can regrow lost parts of their body and fire does nasty things with them) that are able to ennoble clearly inferior non-plant organisms by making them part plant.

Clearly, trolls are the result of an ancient orc-offshoot that developed a symbiotic relationship with moss and progressively delegated more and more of their biology to their smybionts.

[DaOldeWolf]

How so?
Also I think applying the levitation beam DOWN would work, if that is doable? I'm not familiar with Octocular Beast abilities.

Based on this strip, it seems like some spell or spell like ability was cast on Elan (my best guess is Hold Person) to prevent him from moving so my best guess is that either Serini or Sunny did the deal.

[danielxcutter]

Beholders(because we joke that Sunny's not a beholder because of copyright, but it's obvious that's at least an inspiration)... don't have Hold Person, weird.

Probably just Telekinesis' grapple option then.

[Squire Doodad]

Beholders(because we joke that Sunny's not a beholder because of copyright, but it's obvious that's at least an inspiration)... don't have Hold Person, weird.

Probably just Telekinesis' grapple option then.

Octocular Beast!

Sounds about right. Telekinesis is pretty to the point here, and Elan wouldn't know he had to make a grapple check or anything to begin with.

[Peelee]

So Beholders are just magic alien octopuses. I like it.

[Metastachydium]

Clearly, trolls are the result of an ancient orc-offshoot that developed a symbiotic relationship with moss and progressively delegated more and more of their biology to their smybionts.

This. So this.

So Beholders are just magic alien octopuses. I like it.

Nah, Sunny (who's totally not a <redacted for my own safety>) is a magic alien octopus (with atrophied tentacles (that have eyes on them (for some reason))). Actual <redacted for my own safety>s are magic alien squids.

[KorvinStarmast]

Octocular Beast!

Octocular Aberration (technically))

[Metastachydium]

Octocular Aberration (technically))

(Beast is not a creature type in 3.5e.)