Green Slime: What Happened?

[geneweigel]

Aug 27, 2013 15:20:14 GMT -5 Scott said:

Green slime is another "monster" that is tough to adjudicate as a monster. They're more like a trap.

When you mentioned this I recalled how green slime is definitely an older memory shared by people who were into Gary TSR and not the Williams TSR.

Remember how I had a chart that showed monsters can't hit as well in 2E? The green slime's T.H.A.C.0 went from "16" (page 203 of DMG 1979) to "19" (Ooze/Slimes/Jellies insert Monstrous Compendium Vol 1 1989). I distinctly remember many DMs didn't even use a "to hit" roll and just rolled a dice based on party number. I think the placing of "THAC0" on the monster stats in 2E reinforced the "to hit" roll and ultimately made them forgettable (one because it was 15% less a chance and two because the DM was reminded to roll "to hit").

[Scott]

Oh yeah, a lot of the monsters had their THAC0s twinked a bit.
Green slime also has that 'scraping it off' rule that is kind of vague, too. I run it like Alien blood. I have it do damage equal to a flask of acid each round it is in contact until it turns the victim to slime, or it is scraped off or killed.

[geneweigel]

I forgot that the Tsojcanth slimes attacked as 4HD monsters because of the confined space of the elfish corpse jammed in the alcove. So their T.H.A.C.0 score was "15".

Now thats a Gygax adjudication rule right there.

What is that? The unwritten "+2 HD Fish in a Barrel" rule?

Its like the Gygax unwritten "Dungeon Syntax" rule (usually for wishes, etc.) where you cannot just scrape off a green slime...

But you can quickly scrape off a green slime and discard the scraper.

[davegibsongreyhawkdm]

Since green slime eats through plate mail in three melee rounds, how to you adjudicate the destruction of other metal armor types, weapons, and items?

Full and field plate armor destroyed in four melee rounds?

Splint and banded mail destroyed in two melee rounds?

Chain mail, scale mail, ring mail, and the metal studs on studded leather armor destroyed in a single melee round?

Great helm destroyed in three melee rounds?

Small helm destroyed in two melee rounds?

Is the PC not subject to being turned into green slime until their helm and/or armor is destroyed first? If the PC does not have a helm, a shield held protectively overhead, or non-metallic or no armor, do they become green slime in a single melee round, or is it always 1-4 random melee rounds from green slime attack?

All metal shields, metal weapons, and other metal items/supplies destroyed in a single melee round?

Do you instead roll save versus acid each melee round for some or all of these items?

Do you have green slime hit only if a successful to hit roll is made, with AC10 modified only by the character's dexterity if they are not surprised?

[geneweigel]

Yes, thats decent enough for me although I might roll dice to get a more specifically custom slime armor damage.

Except also add rounds for magic defense.

The "to hit" and "acid". Yes, and yes, and consider magic defense again.

[geneweigel]

Players always giving away those el cheapo plant control potions... "Hmmm... I wonder what this is for? Put that in the group sale bag!"

[davegibsongreyhawkdm]

If a green slime has attacked and hit an armored victim, and rescuers try to burn it off the victim with a torch, is it an automatic torch hit on green slime with 1-6 damage per round until slain?

Until the green slime eats through the victim's armor, treat victim as under heat metal spell until the fire is extinguished, then full flame damage burning victim as well as green slime after the victim's armor is destroyed by the green slime?

[geneweigel]

I was just talking about torch damage in 2016:

doomsdaygames.proboards.com/thread/1266/burns-ad

[geneweigel]

I don't know if that link to Dragonsfoot would make much sense but here is the relevant quote by Frank Mentzer in the link that I mentioned there regarding torch damage:

Correct (iirc) that there is nothing btb regarding torch damage per se, though there is for a flask of oil.

Torches are made for burning; they are not made for striking.

The 'proper' method of torching is to touch it (reasonably gently) to a flammable something. IMC, if you whack with it, I give it a damage of 1 only (and no Str bonuses), with the side effect that the torch is ruined thereby.

I apply no NPP in any case, lest I become enmired in applying same to all the zero-level types using torches. otoh, most peasants know well enough to not strike something with a torch ;> and would rather use pitchforks or deadwood.

IMC, if you touch a torch to something, I check for item save v Fire, Normal (DMG 80). That's the principal effect & attack mode.

[davegibsongreyhawkdm]

Jan 24, 2018 10:21:38 GMT -5 geneweigel said:

I don't know if that link to Dragonsfoot would make much sense but here is the relevant quote by Frank Mentzer in the link that I mentioned there regarding torch damage:

Correct (iirc) that there is nothing btb regarding torch damage per se, though there is for a flask of oil.

Torches are made for burning; they are not made for striking.

The 'proper' method of torching is to touch it (reasonably gently) to a flammable something. IMC, if you whack with it, I give it a damage of 1 only (and no Str bonuses), with the side effect that the torch is ruined thereby.

I apply no NPP in any case, lest I become enmired in applying same to all the zero-level types using torches. otoh, most peasants know well enough to not strike something with a torch ;> and would rather use pitchforks or deadwood.

IMC, if you touch a torch to something, I check for item save v Fire, Normal (DMG 80). That's the principal effect & attack mode.

I'm not sure if a green slime is considered flammable, like oil, or if it needs to be oiled first and then lit aflame? Maybe make the green slime save versus normal fire, and if save is failed, then treat as alighted oil starting the next round?

[geneweigel]

Here is an official AD&D answer from POLYHEDRON #19 (SEP 1984):

ADQ: How much damage does scraping off
green slime do to the victim ? What about
cutting it out or burning it off?
ADA: Scraping off green slime does no damage
to the victim. Cutting it out does damage as per
the weapon used; and burning it off does normal
fire damage.

Kind of vague on the fire damage but I handle it as its off with fire or frost regardless of damage.

[geneweigel]

Another thing that I forgot about green slime riddance from MMII (1983) on another similar creature "Olive Slime":

Olive slime can be harmed only by acid, freezing cold, fire, or by a cure
disease spell. Magical powers which affect plants also work upon it.
Other attacks, including spells, do not harm it. Green slime and olive
slime will attack and neutralize each other.

Start bottling that olive slime to take on adventures...!

"I'm feeling kinda hungry... Boy, Ragnar, I've never noticed it before but you really have an olive complexion. Are you Azure-anean...? Hey, did those iron rations taste kind of swampy? By the way, where'd Phandantus go? Ugh, looks like one of you placed a massive green dragon turd in his robes. Oh shit looks like something leaked in my backpack..."