Can someone explain Evard's Black Tentacles to me?

[RigaMortus]

Ashamed to say it, but I've always stayed away from this spell. Never used it once.

It is a little confusing as I read it. It says that the area is a 20 ft radius spread. It also says in the description that the tentacles are 10 feet long. Does this mean they have reach? Or is this just flavor text? Why would they mention they are 10 feet long if that doesn't really matter game-mechanic-wise?

Also... I guess you can cast this spell where a group of enemies already resides? Or can you not cast it on them, but just cast it in their path?

If an enemy is outside the 20 foot area, can they get grappled by them, or do they have to actually move into the area?

When do the grapple checks occur? I assume it is (1) when you cast the spell (2) on the enmeies turn and (3) on your turn. Is this right?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

It is a little confusing as I read it. It says that the area is a 20 ft radius spread. It also says in the description that the tentacles are 10 feet long. Does this mean they have reach? Or is this just flavor text? Why would they mention they are 10 feet long if that doesn't really matter game-mechanic-wise?

Because it's interesting? Don't know. The spell affects a 20' radius spread. The tentacles do not have reach outside that area.

Also... I guess you can cast this spell where a group of enemies already resides? Or can you not cast it on them, but just cast it in their path?

You can cast it on them. They are then automatically within the area of the spell.

If an enemy is outside the 20 foot area, can they get grappled by them, or do they have to actually move into the area?

Must be within the area, as the tentacles have no reach.

When do the grapple checks occur? I assume it is (1) when you cast the spell (2) on the enmeies turn and (3) on your turn. Is this right?

1) When you cast the spell.
2) On the enemies' turns, assuming they attempt grapple checks to get ungrappled, or when the enemy enters the area
3) On your turn to do damage, as well as to "reacquire" targets

Note that the tentacles have a BAB of your caster level. This may entitle them to multiple grapple checks per round (when attempting to do damage).

EDIT: Thanks, Jarrod!

 

[cmanos]

OKlets see here

It is a little confusing as I read it. It says that the area is a 20 ft radius spread. It also says in the description that the tentacles are 10 feet long. Does this mean they have reach? Or is this just flavor text?

The spell reads

Every creature within the area of the spell must make a grapple check, opposed by the grapple check of the tentacles. Treat the tentacles attacking a particular target as a Large creature with a base attack bonus equal to your caster level and a Strength score of 19. Thus, its grapple check modifier is equal to your caster level +8. The tentacles are immune to all types of damage.

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. The tentacles continue to crush the opponent until the spell ends or the opponent escapes.
Any creature that enters the area of the spell is immediately attacked by the tentacles. Even creatures who aren’t grappling with the tentacles may move through the area at only half normal speed.

Doesn't say anything about outside the area.

Also... I guess you can cast this spell where a group of enemies already resides?

Sure! Why not?

If an enemy is outside the 20 foot area, can they get grappled by them, or do they have to actually move into the area?

Text of the spell states 'those in the area', so by the letter of the rules, those outside the area cannot be grappled.

When do the grapple checks occur? I assume it is (1) when you cast the spell (2) on the enmeies turn and (3) on your turn. Is this right?

Wrong....read the test of the spell again.

"they may make a grapple check each round on your turn".

So I'd say, when you cast the spell...anyone in the area makes a grapple check with the tentacles. Then, as long as they are still around, anyone in the area needs to make a grapple check on your turn.

 

[mikebr99]

Because it's interesting? Don't know. The spell affects a 20' radius spread. The tentacles do not have reach outside that area.



You can cast it on them. They are then automatically within the area of the spell.



Must be within the area, as the tentacles have no reach.



1) When you cast the spell.
2) On the enemies' turns, assuming they attempt grapple checks to get ungrappled, or when the enemy enters the area
3) On your turn to do damage, as well as to "reacquire" targets

Note that the tentacles have a BAB of 1/2 your caster level. This may entitle them to multiple grapple checks per round (when attempting to do damage).

And to add... the 10ft. description of the tentacles applies to anything flying through the area.


Mike

 

[Victim]

The length determines the height dimension of the spell. They only "grasp and entwine around creatures that enter the area," so they don't reach 10 ft out and grab people outside the area.

Then tentacles make grapple checks when you cast the spell, and every round on your turn. Usually, they'll be making grapple checks on the enemies' turns as well for the opposed checks. However, it's not guarenteed that their action will provoke checks.

The spell used to be cooler, IMHO, but tons harder to implement. It used to drop a number of tentacles in the area randomly, and then each tentacle would grapple independently. The tentacles could be killed though. It was very wrong to catch a guy by himself, so he'd get attacked by 10 or so tentacles, each grappling at 8+CL. Ah, back in the day, a number of evil villains went down to this spell. Even the rogue with Whirlwind Attack! couldn't kill enough tentacles to escape.

 

[Jarrod]

One quick note: the tentacle BAB is equal to your caster level, not 1/2 caster level. Given size and STR, the grapple check is (caster level) + 8.

It's a very rude spell. My mage used it and managed to nail both a vile cleric and evil warlock. Good rolling on the cleric, and the warlock didn't stand a chance.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Wrong....read the test of the spell again.

"they may make a grapple check each round on your turn".

And:

Any creature that enters the area of the spell is immediately attacked by the tentacles.

Looks to me like anyone entering the area of the spell basically provokes an AoO.

EDIT: Thanks, Jarrod - don't know why I mistyped the BAB calc.

 

[kenobi65]

The spell used to be cooler, IMHO, but tons harder to implement. It used to drop a number of tentacles in the area randomly, and then each tentacle would grapple independently.

Yup...our group waltzed through the first round of the D&D Open at GenCon in '02 thanks to that spell. It was gruesome.

 

[Shuffle]

The 10ft. tentacles qualifies them for Large creature status so munchkin rules lawyers can't argue.....

Like people who try to take Charm person literally....... I hate that

 

[bolie]

Make sure you have a lot of d20s when you cast this spell, though. I had a wizard use it several times on groups of monsters. We spent the rest of the combat rolling and rolling opposed grapple checks.

Bolie IV