How would an Animated Armor knocked unconscious by Dispel Magic work in combat?

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP











up vote
4
down vote

favorite












Still new to the community, so my apologies if my formatting isn't perfect or my questions are unclear. I'm in the process of preparing my first One-Shot as a way of trying DM-ing in a few weeks.



For one of the battles, I was thinking of having the PCs face an Animated Armor and a Flying Sword. According to the Dungeon Master's Basic Rules (page 9 and 20 respectively) both of these enemies...




If targeted by dispel magic...must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against the caster's spell save DC or fall unconscious for 1 minute.




After reading this, I thought it might be cool to hide a Scroll of Dispel Magic earlier in the dungeon, which could help in this fight. But having thought about it I came upon some possible issues of confusion.



What is the effect of an enemy being temporarily unconscious during combat?



According to the PHB page 234, the target of Dispel Magic is...




One creature, object, or magical effect within range.




So at most the Scroll of Dispel Magic would affect one of the monsters. Say a PC used the scroll on the Animated Armor and it was knocked unconscious for 1 minute (approx. 10 rounds of combat). Does the Animated Armor now act like a dead enemy (i.e. does it become non-targetable) or does it essentially just freeze for 10 rounds of combat while the PCs can attack it mercilessly?



What if the other enemy is defeated?



Same scenario as above, say the Animated Armor is hit with Dispel Magic and becomes unconscious. The PCs now focus on the Flying Sword. Upon killing the Flying Sword, all enemies are either defeated or unconscious, so would the combat now be done and the Armor would re-animate after a minute or less of non-combat and combat starts again? Or would combat continue until the unconscious Animated Armor is defeated as well?



Would including a Scroll of Dispel Magic break this fight?



Essentially I ask all these questions to see if including the Scroll would make this fight too easy/useless. The plan was for this to be the boss battle or near to it, so I was thinking that it could be nice to add something that could make the battle a little bit easier, but I don't want something that is going to turn the fight into a total joke.



Hopefully that all makes sense! Please feel free to modify or ask for clarification if I have done something wrong or am unclear!










share|improve this question























  • in 5e, each round is 6 seconds, and thus 1 minute is 10 rounds of combat.
    – Neil
    2 hours ago










  • facepalm My bad. Long day. Math is hard haha. Editted.
    – Rouge_Luigi
    2 hours ago














up vote
4
down vote

favorite












Still new to the community, so my apologies if my formatting isn't perfect or my questions are unclear. I'm in the process of preparing my first One-Shot as a way of trying DM-ing in a few weeks.



For one of the battles, I was thinking of having the PCs face an Animated Armor and a Flying Sword. According to the Dungeon Master's Basic Rules (page 9 and 20 respectively) both of these enemies...




If targeted by dispel magic...must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against the caster's spell save DC or fall unconscious for 1 minute.




After reading this, I thought it might be cool to hide a Scroll of Dispel Magic earlier in the dungeon, which could help in this fight. But having thought about it I came upon some possible issues of confusion.



What is the effect of an enemy being temporarily unconscious during combat?



According to the PHB page 234, the target of Dispel Magic is...




One creature, object, or magical effect within range.




So at most the Scroll of Dispel Magic would affect one of the monsters. Say a PC used the scroll on the Animated Armor and it was knocked unconscious for 1 minute (approx. 10 rounds of combat). Does the Animated Armor now act like a dead enemy (i.e. does it become non-targetable) or does it essentially just freeze for 10 rounds of combat while the PCs can attack it mercilessly?



What if the other enemy is defeated?



Same scenario as above, say the Animated Armor is hit with Dispel Magic and becomes unconscious. The PCs now focus on the Flying Sword. Upon killing the Flying Sword, all enemies are either defeated or unconscious, so would the combat now be done and the Armor would re-animate after a minute or less of non-combat and combat starts again? Or would combat continue until the unconscious Animated Armor is defeated as well?



Would including a Scroll of Dispel Magic break this fight?



Essentially I ask all these questions to see if including the Scroll would make this fight too easy/useless. The plan was for this to be the boss battle or near to it, so I was thinking that it could be nice to add something that could make the battle a little bit easier, but I don't want something that is going to turn the fight into a total joke.



Hopefully that all makes sense! Please feel free to modify or ask for clarification if I have done something wrong or am unclear!










share|improve this question























  • in 5e, each round is 6 seconds, and thus 1 minute is 10 rounds of combat.
    – Neil
    2 hours ago










  • facepalm My bad. Long day. Math is hard haha. Editted.
    – Rouge_Luigi
    2 hours ago












up vote
4
down vote

favorite









up vote
4
down vote

favorite











Still new to the community, so my apologies if my formatting isn't perfect or my questions are unclear. I'm in the process of preparing my first One-Shot as a way of trying DM-ing in a few weeks.



For one of the battles, I was thinking of having the PCs face an Animated Armor and a Flying Sword. According to the Dungeon Master's Basic Rules (page 9 and 20 respectively) both of these enemies...




If targeted by dispel magic...must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against the caster's spell save DC or fall unconscious for 1 minute.




After reading this, I thought it might be cool to hide a Scroll of Dispel Magic earlier in the dungeon, which could help in this fight. But having thought about it I came upon some possible issues of confusion.



What is the effect of an enemy being temporarily unconscious during combat?



According to the PHB page 234, the target of Dispel Magic is...




One creature, object, or magical effect within range.




So at most the Scroll of Dispel Magic would affect one of the monsters. Say a PC used the scroll on the Animated Armor and it was knocked unconscious for 1 minute (approx. 10 rounds of combat). Does the Animated Armor now act like a dead enemy (i.e. does it become non-targetable) or does it essentially just freeze for 10 rounds of combat while the PCs can attack it mercilessly?



What if the other enemy is defeated?



Same scenario as above, say the Animated Armor is hit with Dispel Magic and becomes unconscious. The PCs now focus on the Flying Sword. Upon killing the Flying Sword, all enemies are either defeated or unconscious, so would the combat now be done and the Armor would re-animate after a minute or less of non-combat and combat starts again? Or would combat continue until the unconscious Animated Armor is defeated as well?



Would including a Scroll of Dispel Magic break this fight?



Essentially I ask all these questions to see if including the Scroll would make this fight too easy/useless. The plan was for this to be the boss battle or near to it, so I was thinking that it could be nice to add something that could make the battle a little bit easier, but I don't want something that is going to turn the fight into a total joke.



Hopefully that all makes sense! Please feel free to modify or ask for clarification if I have done something wrong or am unclear!










share|improve this question















Still new to the community, so my apologies if my formatting isn't perfect or my questions are unclear. I'm in the process of preparing my first One-Shot as a way of trying DM-ing in a few weeks.



For one of the battles, I was thinking of having the PCs face an Animated Armor and a Flying Sword. According to the Dungeon Master's Basic Rules (page 9 and 20 respectively) both of these enemies...




If targeted by dispel magic...must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against the caster's spell save DC or fall unconscious for 1 minute.




After reading this, I thought it might be cool to hide a Scroll of Dispel Magic earlier in the dungeon, which could help in this fight. But having thought about it I came upon some possible issues of confusion.



What is the effect of an enemy being temporarily unconscious during combat?



According to the PHB page 234, the target of Dispel Magic is...




One creature, object, or magical effect within range.




So at most the Scroll of Dispel Magic would affect one of the monsters. Say a PC used the scroll on the Animated Armor and it was knocked unconscious for 1 minute (approx. 10 rounds of combat). Does the Animated Armor now act like a dead enemy (i.e. does it become non-targetable) or does it essentially just freeze for 10 rounds of combat while the PCs can attack it mercilessly?



What if the other enemy is defeated?



Same scenario as above, say the Animated Armor is hit with Dispel Magic and becomes unconscious. The PCs now focus on the Flying Sword. Upon killing the Flying Sword, all enemies are either defeated or unconscious, so would the combat now be done and the Armor would re-animate after a minute or less of non-combat and combat starts again? Or would combat continue until the unconscious Animated Armor is defeated as well?



Would including a Scroll of Dispel Magic break this fight?



Essentially I ask all these questions to see if including the Scroll would make this fight too easy/useless. The plan was for this to be the boss battle or near to it, so I was thinking that it could be nice to add something that could make the battle a little bit easier, but I don't want something that is going to turn the fight into a total joke.



Hopefully that all makes sense! Please feel free to modify or ask for clarification if I have done something wrong or am unclear!







dnd-5e gm-techniques combat new-gm animated-objects






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 2 hours ago

























asked 2 hours ago









Rouge_Luigi

1407




1407











  • in 5e, each round is 6 seconds, and thus 1 minute is 10 rounds of combat.
    – Neil
    2 hours ago










  • facepalm My bad. Long day. Math is hard haha. Editted.
    – Rouge_Luigi
    2 hours ago
















  • in 5e, each round is 6 seconds, and thus 1 minute is 10 rounds of combat.
    – Neil
    2 hours ago










  • facepalm My bad. Long day. Math is hard haha. Editted.
    – Rouge_Luigi
    2 hours ago















in 5e, each round is 6 seconds, and thus 1 minute is 10 rounds of combat.
– Neil
2 hours ago




in 5e, each round is 6 seconds, and thus 1 minute is 10 rounds of combat.
– Neil
2 hours ago












facepalm My bad. Long day. Math is hard haha. Editted.
– Rouge_Luigi
2 hours ago




facepalm My bad. Long day. Math is hard haha. Editted.
– Rouge_Luigi
2 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
6
down vote













Unconsciousness is a status condition in 5e, and has mechanical effects



From the Player's Handbook, Appendix A "Conditions", Unconsciousness is described like this:




Unconscious



  • An unconscious creature is incapacitated, can't move or speak, and is unaware of its surroundings.

  • The creature drops whatever it's holding and falls prone.

  • The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws.

  • Attack rolls against the creature have advantage.

  • Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.



Given these effects, we can evaluate your assumptions and questions:




Does the Animated Armor now act like a dead enemy (i.e. does it become non-targetable) or does it essentially just freeze for 10 rounds of combat while the PCs can attack it mercilessly?




Players can indeed attack attack the armor mercilessly for the duration. Advantage + nearly-guaranteed critical hit damage will render the armor or sword dead very quickly.




What if the other enemy is defeated?




If the players don't actively kill off the armor when it goes unconscious from the Dispel Magic effect, then it will "wake up" in 1 minute, and begin attacking again.



You may choose to maintain combat initiative order during that time, or you can dismiss combat and call for initiative again after that minute passes. This may psych your players into a sense of false safety, since you're only obligated to tell them that "the Armor stops floating and falls to the ground, motionless", and you don't have to expressly tell them it has been defeated or killed. There's a non-zero chance your PCs might leave the room before it wakes up, and leave it behind, still "alive"! You'll need to make a call as DM to determine what the right call is here, which you'll learn and get better at as you spend more time DMing or playing with good DMs.




Would including a Scroll of Dispel Magic break this fight?




Probably.



That might be okay, though. You don't need to tell the players that Dispel Magic has these effects (they might be entitled to that information on a good Arcana check, if they suggest it), and if the players manage to acquire that scroll, it might be a cool bonus to use it to skip a fight... or save it for a future encounter, depending on how they choose.



Bear in mind that a Scroll of Dispel Magic may only be used by a spellcaster that has Dispel Magic in their class list (i.e. no Rangers), and if they're not high enough level to cast the spell (5 for Sorcerers/Wizards/Warlocks/Druids/Bards/Clerics, 9 for Paladins, 13 for Eldritch Knights/Arcane Tricksters/Artificers), they'll have to pass a successful spellcasting check just to use the scroll. And since the armor also has a chance to resist the effect with a successful Constitution Saving Throw, having this scroll accessible to them is absolutely not a guarantee that the players will be able to instantly cheese past this fight.






share|improve this answer


















  • 1




    It might be worth mentioning that there may not be any observable distinction between unconscious and dead for a suit of animated armor or a flying sword. If the DM simply says that the armor/sword "falls to the ground and stops moving", then the players will have to draw their own conclusions. Having the players assume the battle is over only to have it start up again 30 seconds later will certainly make for a memorable encounter, even if it doesn't end up being very threatening.
    – Ryan Thompson
    56 mins ago











  • @RyanThompson I've added a reference to explain that.
    – Xirema
    3 mins ago

















up vote
3
down vote













The armor is treated as unconscious which means




  • An unconscious creature is incapacitated (see the condition), can't move or speak, and is unaware of its surroundings.

  • The creature drops whatever it's holding and falls prone.

  • The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws.


  • Attack rolls against the creature have advantage.

  • Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.



One minute is ten rounds of combat in 5e, not six. If the armor or sword is dispelled, it's as good as toast.



Since whichever enemy that wasn't dispelled would still be fighting, you'd maintain initiative until the second one was destroyed. Then, the party could circle up around the first one and bash it into oblivion to wrap up the fight.






share|improve this answer




















    Your Answer




    StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function ()
    return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function ()
    StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix)
    StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["\$", "\$"]]);
    );
    );
    , "mathjax-editing");

    StackExchange.ready(function()
    var channelOptions =
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "122"
    ;
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
    createEditor();
    );

    else
    createEditor();

    );

    function createEditor()
    StackExchange.prepareEditor(
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    convertImagesToLinks: false,
    noModals: false,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: null,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    );



    );













     

    draft saved


    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function ()
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f133537%2fhow-would-an-animated-armor-knocked-unconscious-by-dispel-magic-work-in-combat%23new-answer', 'question_page');

    );

    Post as a guest






























    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    6
    down vote













    Unconsciousness is a status condition in 5e, and has mechanical effects



    From the Player's Handbook, Appendix A "Conditions", Unconsciousness is described like this:




    Unconscious



    • An unconscious creature is incapacitated, can't move or speak, and is unaware of its surroundings.

    • The creature drops whatever it's holding and falls prone.

    • The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws.

    • Attack rolls against the creature have advantage.

    • Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.



    Given these effects, we can evaluate your assumptions and questions:




    Does the Animated Armor now act like a dead enemy (i.e. does it become non-targetable) or does it essentially just freeze for 10 rounds of combat while the PCs can attack it mercilessly?




    Players can indeed attack attack the armor mercilessly for the duration. Advantage + nearly-guaranteed critical hit damage will render the armor or sword dead very quickly.




    What if the other enemy is defeated?




    If the players don't actively kill off the armor when it goes unconscious from the Dispel Magic effect, then it will "wake up" in 1 minute, and begin attacking again.



    You may choose to maintain combat initiative order during that time, or you can dismiss combat and call for initiative again after that minute passes. This may psych your players into a sense of false safety, since you're only obligated to tell them that "the Armor stops floating and falls to the ground, motionless", and you don't have to expressly tell them it has been defeated or killed. There's a non-zero chance your PCs might leave the room before it wakes up, and leave it behind, still "alive"! You'll need to make a call as DM to determine what the right call is here, which you'll learn and get better at as you spend more time DMing or playing with good DMs.




    Would including a Scroll of Dispel Magic break this fight?




    Probably.



    That might be okay, though. You don't need to tell the players that Dispel Magic has these effects (they might be entitled to that information on a good Arcana check, if they suggest it), and if the players manage to acquire that scroll, it might be a cool bonus to use it to skip a fight... or save it for a future encounter, depending on how they choose.



    Bear in mind that a Scroll of Dispel Magic may only be used by a spellcaster that has Dispel Magic in their class list (i.e. no Rangers), and if they're not high enough level to cast the spell (5 for Sorcerers/Wizards/Warlocks/Druids/Bards/Clerics, 9 for Paladins, 13 for Eldritch Knights/Arcane Tricksters/Artificers), they'll have to pass a successful spellcasting check just to use the scroll. And since the armor also has a chance to resist the effect with a successful Constitution Saving Throw, having this scroll accessible to them is absolutely not a guarantee that the players will be able to instantly cheese past this fight.






    share|improve this answer


















    • 1




      It might be worth mentioning that there may not be any observable distinction between unconscious and dead for a suit of animated armor or a flying sword. If the DM simply says that the armor/sword "falls to the ground and stops moving", then the players will have to draw their own conclusions. Having the players assume the battle is over only to have it start up again 30 seconds later will certainly make for a memorable encounter, even if it doesn't end up being very threatening.
      – Ryan Thompson
      56 mins ago











    • @RyanThompson I've added a reference to explain that.
      – Xirema
      3 mins ago














    up vote
    6
    down vote













    Unconsciousness is a status condition in 5e, and has mechanical effects



    From the Player's Handbook, Appendix A "Conditions", Unconsciousness is described like this:




    Unconscious



    • An unconscious creature is incapacitated, can't move or speak, and is unaware of its surroundings.

    • The creature drops whatever it's holding and falls prone.

    • The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws.

    • Attack rolls against the creature have advantage.

    • Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.



    Given these effects, we can evaluate your assumptions and questions:




    Does the Animated Armor now act like a dead enemy (i.e. does it become non-targetable) or does it essentially just freeze for 10 rounds of combat while the PCs can attack it mercilessly?




    Players can indeed attack attack the armor mercilessly for the duration. Advantage + nearly-guaranteed critical hit damage will render the armor or sword dead very quickly.




    What if the other enemy is defeated?




    If the players don't actively kill off the armor when it goes unconscious from the Dispel Magic effect, then it will "wake up" in 1 minute, and begin attacking again.



    You may choose to maintain combat initiative order during that time, or you can dismiss combat and call for initiative again after that minute passes. This may psych your players into a sense of false safety, since you're only obligated to tell them that "the Armor stops floating and falls to the ground, motionless", and you don't have to expressly tell them it has been defeated or killed. There's a non-zero chance your PCs might leave the room before it wakes up, and leave it behind, still "alive"! You'll need to make a call as DM to determine what the right call is here, which you'll learn and get better at as you spend more time DMing or playing with good DMs.




    Would including a Scroll of Dispel Magic break this fight?




    Probably.



    That might be okay, though. You don't need to tell the players that Dispel Magic has these effects (they might be entitled to that information on a good Arcana check, if they suggest it), and if the players manage to acquire that scroll, it might be a cool bonus to use it to skip a fight... or save it for a future encounter, depending on how they choose.



    Bear in mind that a Scroll of Dispel Magic may only be used by a spellcaster that has Dispel Magic in their class list (i.e. no Rangers), and if they're not high enough level to cast the spell (5 for Sorcerers/Wizards/Warlocks/Druids/Bards/Clerics, 9 for Paladins, 13 for Eldritch Knights/Arcane Tricksters/Artificers), they'll have to pass a successful spellcasting check just to use the scroll. And since the armor also has a chance to resist the effect with a successful Constitution Saving Throw, having this scroll accessible to them is absolutely not a guarantee that the players will be able to instantly cheese past this fight.






    share|improve this answer


















    • 1




      It might be worth mentioning that there may not be any observable distinction between unconscious and dead for a suit of animated armor or a flying sword. If the DM simply says that the armor/sword "falls to the ground and stops moving", then the players will have to draw their own conclusions. Having the players assume the battle is over only to have it start up again 30 seconds later will certainly make for a memorable encounter, even if it doesn't end up being very threatening.
      – Ryan Thompson
      56 mins ago











    • @RyanThompson I've added a reference to explain that.
      – Xirema
      3 mins ago












    up vote
    6
    down vote










    up vote
    6
    down vote









    Unconsciousness is a status condition in 5e, and has mechanical effects



    From the Player's Handbook, Appendix A "Conditions", Unconsciousness is described like this:




    Unconscious



    • An unconscious creature is incapacitated, can't move or speak, and is unaware of its surroundings.

    • The creature drops whatever it's holding and falls prone.

    • The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws.

    • Attack rolls against the creature have advantage.

    • Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.



    Given these effects, we can evaluate your assumptions and questions:




    Does the Animated Armor now act like a dead enemy (i.e. does it become non-targetable) or does it essentially just freeze for 10 rounds of combat while the PCs can attack it mercilessly?




    Players can indeed attack attack the armor mercilessly for the duration. Advantage + nearly-guaranteed critical hit damage will render the armor or sword dead very quickly.




    What if the other enemy is defeated?




    If the players don't actively kill off the armor when it goes unconscious from the Dispel Magic effect, then it will "wake up" in 1 minute, and begin attacking again.



    You may choose to maintain combat initiative order during that time, or you can dismiss combat and call for initiative again after that minute passes. This may psych your players into a sense of false safety, since you're only obligated to tell them that "the Armor stops floating and falls to the ground, motionless", and you don't have to expressly tell them it has been defeated or killed. There's a non-zero chance your PCs might leave the room before it wakes up, and leave it behind, still "alive"! You'll need to make a call as DM to determine what the right call is here, which you'll learn and get better at as you spend more time DMing or playing with good DMs.




    Would including a Scroll of Dispel Magic break this fight?




    Probably.



    That might be okay, though. You don't need to tell the players that Dispel Magic has these effects (they might be entitled to that information on a good Arcana check, if they suggest it), and if the players manage to acquire that scroll, it might be a cool bonus to use it to skip a fight... or save it for a future encounter, depending on how they choose.



    Bear in mind that a Scroll of Dispel Magic may only be used by a spellcaster that has Dispel Magic in their class list (i.e. no Rangers), and if they're not high enough level to cast the spell (5 for Sorcerers/Wizards/Warlocks/Druids/Bards/Clerics, 9 for Paladins, 13 for Eldritch Knights/Arcane Tricksters/Artificers), they'll have to pass a successful spellcasting check just to use the scroll. And since the armor also has a chance to resist the effect with a successful Constitution Saving Throw, having this scroll accessible to them is absolutely not a guarantee that the players will be able to instantly cheese past this fight.






    share|improve this answer














    Unconsciousness is a status condition in 5e, and has mechanical effects



    From the Player's Handbook, Appendix A "Conditions", Unconsciousness is described like this:




    Unconscious



    • An unconscious creature is incapacitated, can't move or speak, and is unaware of its surroundings.

    • The creature drops whatever it's holding and falls prone.

    • The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws.

    • Attack rolls against the creature have advantage.

    • Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.



    Given these effects, we can evaluate your assumptions and questions:




    Does the Animated Armor now act like a dead enemy (i.e. does it become non-targetable) or does it essentially just freeze for 10 rounds of combat while the PCs can attack it mercilessly?




    Players can indeed attack attack the armor mercilessly for the duration. Advantage + nearly-guaranteed critical hit damage will render the armor or sword dead very quickly.




    What if the other enemy is defeated?




    If the players don't actively kill off the armor when it goes unconscious from the Dispel Magic effect, then it will "wake up" in 1 minute, and begin attacking again.



    You may choose to maintain combat initiative order during that time, or you can dismiss combat and call for initiative again after that minute passes. This may psych your players into a sense of false safety, since you're only obligated to tell them that "the Armor stops floating and falls to the ground, motionless", and you don't have to expressly tell them it has been defeated or killed. There's a non-zero chance your PCs might leave the room before it wakes up, and leave it behind, still "alive"! You'll need to make a call as DM to determine what the right call is here, which you'll learn and get better at as you spend more time DMing or playing with good DMs.




    Would including a Scroll of Dispel Magic break this fight?




    Probably.



    That might be okay, though. You don't need to tell the players that Dispel Magic has these effects (they might be entitled to that information on a good Arcana check, if they suggest it), and if the players manage to acquire that scroll, it might be a cool bonus to use it to skip a fight... or save it for a future encounter, depending on how they choose.



    Bear in mind that a Scroll of Dispel Magic may only be used by a spellcaster that has Dispel Magic in their class list (i.e. no Rangers), and if they're not high enough level to cast the spell (5 for Sorcerers/Wizards/Warlocks/Druids/Bards/Clerics, 9 for Paladins, 13 for Eldritch Knights/Arcane Tricksters/Artificers), they'll have to pass a successful spellcasting check just to use the scroll. And since the armor also has a chance to resist the effect with a successful Constitution Saving Throw, having this scroll accessible to them is absolutely not a guarantee that the players will be able to instantly cheese past this fight.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 4 mins ago

























    answered 2 hours ago









    Xirema

    7,9952158




    7,9952158







    • 1




      It might be worth mentioning that there may not be any observable distinction between unconscious and dead for a suit of animated armor or a flying sword. If the DM simply says that the armor/sword "falls to the ground and stops moving", then the players will have to draw their own conclusions. Having the players assume the battle is over only to have it start up again 30 seconds later will certainly make for a memorable encounter, even if it doesn't end up being very threatening.
      – Ryan Thompson
      56 mins ago











    • @RyanThompson I've added a reference to explain that.
      – Xirema
      3 mins ago












    • 1




      It might be worth mentioning that there may not be any observable distinction between unconscious and dead for a suit of animated armor or a flying sword. If the DM simply says that the armor/sword "falls to the ground and stops moving", then the players will have to draw their own conclusions. Having the players assume the battle is over only to have it start up again 30 seconds later will certainly make for a memorable encounter, even if it doesn't end up being very threatening.
      – Ryan Thompson
      56 mins ago











    • @RyanThompson I've added a reference to explain that.
      – Xirema
      3 mins ago







    1




    1




    It might be worth mentioning that there may not be any observable distinction between unconscious and dead for a suit of animated armor or a flying sword. If the DM simply says that the armor/sword "falls to the ground and stops moving", then the players will have to draw their own conclusions. Having the players assume the battle is over only to have it start up again 30 seconds later will certainly make for a memorable encounter, even if it doesn't end up being very threatening.
    – Ryan Thompson
    56 mins ago





    It might be worth mentioning that there may not be any observable distinction between unconscious and dead for a suit of animated armor or a flying sword. If the DM simply says that the armor/sword "falls to the ground and stops moving", then the players will have to draw their own conclusions. Having the players assume the battle is over only to have it start up again 30 seconds later will certainly make for a memorable encounter, even if it doesn't end up being very threatening.
    – Ryan Thompson
    56 mins ago













    @RyanThompson I've added a reference to explain that.
    – Xirema
    3 mins ago




    @RyanThompson I've added a reference to explain that.
    – Xirema
    3 mins ago












    up vote
    3
    down vote













    The armor is treated as unconscious which means




    • An unconscious creature is incapacitated (see the condition), can't move or speak, and is unaware of its surroundings.

    • The creature drops whatever it's holding and falls prone.

    • The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws.


    • Attack rolls against the creature have advantage.

    • Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.



    One minute is ten rounds of combat in 5e, not six. If the armor or sword is dispelled, it's as good as toast.



    Since whichever enemy that wasn't dispelled would still be fighting, you'd maintain initiative until the second one was destroyed. Then, the party could circle up around the first one and bash it into oblivion to wrap up the fight.






    share|improve this answer
























      up vote
      3
      down vote













      The armor is treated as unconscious which means




      • An unconscious creature is incapacitated (see the condition), can't move or speak, and is unaware of its surroundings.

      • The creature drops whatever it's holding and falls prone.

      • The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws.


      • Attack rolls against the creature have advantage.

      • Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.



      One minute is ten rounds of combat in 5e, not six. If the armor or sword is dispelled, it's as good as toast.



      Since whichever enemy that wasn't dispelled would still be fighting, you'd maintain initiative until the second one was destroyed. Then, the party could circle up around the first one and bash it into oblivion to wrap up the fight.






      share|improve this answer






















        up vote
        3
        down vote










        up vote
        3
        down vote









        The armor is treated as unconscious which means




        • An unconscious creature is incapacitated (see the condition), can't move or speak, and is unaware of its surroundings.

        • The creature drops whatever it's holding and falls prone.

        • The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws.


        • Attack rolls against the creature have advantage.

        • Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.



        One minute is ten rounds of combat in 5e, not six. If the armor or sword is dispelled, it's as good as toast.



        Since whichever enemy that wasn't dispelled would still be fighting, you'd maintain initiative until the second one was destroyed. Then, the party could circle up around the first one and bash it into oblivion to wrap up the fight.






        share|improve this answer












        The armor is treated as unconscious which means




        • An unconscious creature is incapacitated (see the condition), can't move or speak, and is unaware of its surroundings.

        • The creature drops whatever it's holding and falls prone.

        • The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws.


        • Attack rolls against the creature have advantage.

        • Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.



        One minute is ten rounds of combat in 5e, not six. If the armor or sword is dispelled, it's as good as toast.



        Since whichever enemy that wasn't dispelled would still be fighting, you'd maintain initiative until the second one was destroyed. Then, the party could circle up around the first one and bash it into oblivion to wrap up the fight.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 2 hours ago









        rpeinhardt

        4145




        4145



























             

            draft saved


            draft discarded















































             


            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function ()
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f133537%2fhow-would-an-animated-armor-knocked-unconscious-by-dispel-magic-work-in-combat%23new-answer', 'question_page');

            );

            Post as a guest













































































            Comments

            Popular posts from this blog

            What does second last employer means? [closed]

            Installing NextGIS Connect into QGIS 3?

            One-line joke