Can I defeat Strahd von Zarovich by stuffing him in a bag of holding and tearing it?
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17
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My Adventurers League group is playing though Curse of Strahd and we will be fighting Strahd next session. I'm playing as a diviner with the Lucky feat, the spell Tasha's Hideous Laughter (which will be referred to as THL), and a bag of holding.
Now my plan is to give most of the party scrolls of THL so we can all cast that spell. Statistically, with several people casting that spell, and me basically giving him disadvantage, he will probably fail his save against the spell which will incapacitate him. Then one of the other PCs will stab him with a wooden stake. Next turn we put him in the bag of holding. Then all we need to do is infiltrate his castle and find his resting place, or stab the bag of holding (with mage hand or a ten foot pole) and banish him to the astral plane.
Could this work?
dnd-5e spells magic-items dnd-adventurers-league curse-of-strahd
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up vote
17
down vote
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My Adventurers League group is playing though Curse of Strahd and we will be fighting Strahd next session. I'm playing as a diviner with the Lucky feat, the spell Tasha's Hideous Laughter (which will be referred to as THL), and a bag of holding.
Now my plan is to give most of the party scrolls of THL so we can all cast that spell. Statistically, with several people casting that spell, and me basically giving him disadvantage, he will probably fail his save against the spell which will incapacitate him. Then one of the other PCs will stab him with a wooden stake. Next turn we put him in the bag of holding. Then all we need to do is infiltrate his castle and find his resting place, or stab the bag of holding (with mage hand or a ten foot pole) and banish him to the astral plane.
Could this work?
dnd-5e spells magic-items dnd-adventurers-league curse-of-strahd
4
♦ Reminder: comments are for helping improve the post, not for discussing the subject nor for posting small or incomplete answers. Please only use answer posts to submit answers on the site, and reserve comments for their intended administrative purpose. Prior comments containing discussion and answers have been removed.
– SevenSidedDie♦
22 hours ago
1
Comments are definitely not for correcting errors in the question's reasoning. That's the job for answers. Questions also shouldn't be edited to remove parts that have been answered. I've restored the parts of the question improperly removed based on answers improperly left as comments, to allow answers to continue their correct role.
– SevenSidedDie♦
22 hours ago
Why did you edit the "staking" part out of the question? It was a valid question, and worth asking. (I'm also asking because half of my answer was directed towards that part of the plan).
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
Because I misread the information on vampires, the question was partly intended to find a way to defeat strad outside his lair.
– Josiah Riggan
21 hours ago
2
As a general instruction, please don't update or remove parts of questions in response to getting answers about those parts, even if those parts are based on misreadings. Those are still part of the original problem, and questions should not be “moving targets”.
– SevenSidedDie♦
19 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
17
down vote
favorite
up vote
17
down vote
favorite
My Adventurers League group is playing though Curse of Strahd and we will be fighting Strahd next session. I'm playing as a diviner with the Lucky feat, the spell Tasha's Hideous Laughter (which will be referred to as THL), and a bag of holding.
Now my plan is to give most of the party scrolls of THL so we can all cast that spell. Statistically, with several people casting that spell, and me basically giving him disadvantage, he will probably fail his save against the spell which will incapacitate him. Then one of the other PCs will stab him with a wooden stake. Next turn we put him in the bag of holding. Then all we need to do is infiltrate his castle and find his resting place, or stab the bag of holding (with mage hand or a ten foot pole) and banish him to the astral plane.
Could this work?
dnd-5e spells magic-items dnd-adventurers-league curse-of-strahd
My Adventurers League group is playing though Curse of Strahd and we will be fighting Strahd next session. I'm playing as a diviner with the Lucky feat, the spell Tasha's Hideous Laughter (which will be referred to as THL), and a bag of holding.
Now my plan is to give most of the party scrolls of THL so we can all cast that spell. Statistically, with several people casting that spell, and me basically giving him disadvantage, he will probably fail his save against the spell which will incapacitate him. Then one of the other PCs will stab him with a wooden stake. Next turn we put him in the bag of holding. Then all we need to do is infiltrate his castle and find his resting place, or stab the bag of holding (with mage hand or a ten foot pole) and banish him to the astral plane.
Could this work?
dnd-5e spells magic-items dnd-adventurers-league curse-of-strahd
dnd-5e spells magic-items dnd-adventurers-league curse-of-strahd
edited 12 hours ago
SevenSidedDie♦
202k26641921
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asked yesterday
Josiah Riggan
316110
316110
4
♦ Reminder: comments are for helping improve the post, not for discussing the subject nor for posting small or incomplete answers. Please only use answer posts to submit answers on the site, and reserve comments for their intended administrative purpose. Prior comments containing discussion and answers have been removed.
– SevenSidedDie♦
22 hours ago
1
Comments are definitely not for correcting errors in the question's reasoning. That's the job for answers. Questions also shouldn't be edited to remove parts that have been answered. I've restored the parts of the question improperly removed based on answers improperly left as comments, to allow answers to continue their correct role.
– SevenSidedDie♦
22 hours ago
Why did you edit the "staking" part out of the question? It was a valid question, and worth asking. (I'm also asking because half of my answer was directed towards that part of the plan).
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
Because I misread the information on vampires, the question was partly intended to find a way to defeat strad outside his lair.
– Josiah Riggan
21 hours ago
2
As a general instruction, please don't update or remove parts of questions in response to getting answers about those parts, even if those parts are based on misreadings. Those are still part of the original problem, and questions should not be “moving targets”.
– SevenSidedDie♦
19 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
4
♦ Reminder: comments are for helping improve the post, not for discussing the subject nor for posting small or incomplete answers. Please only use answer posts to submit answers on the site, and reserve comments for their intended administrative purpose. Prior comments containing discussion and answers have been removed.
– SevenSidedDie♦
22 hours ago
1
Comments are definitely not for correcting errors in the question's reasoning. That's the job for answers. Questions also shouldn't be edited to remove parts that have been answered. I've restored the parts of the question improperly removed based on answers improperly left as comments, to allow answers to continue their correct role.
– SevenSidedDie♦
22 hours ago
Why did you edit the "staking" part out of the question? It was a valid question, and worth asking. (I'm also asking because half of my answer was directed towards that part of the plan).
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
Because I misread the information on vampires, the question was partly intended to find a way to defeat strad outside his lair.
– Josiah Riggan
21 hours ago
2
As a general instruction, please don't update or remove parts of questions in response to getting answers about those parts, even if those parts are based on misreadings. Those are still part of the original problem, and questions should not be “moving targets”.
– SevenSidedDie♦
19 hours ago
4
4
♦ Reminder: comments are for helping improve the post, not for discussing the subject nor for posting small or incomplete answers. Please only use answer posts to submit answers on the site, and reserve comments for their intended administrative purpose. Prior comments containing discussion and answers have been removed.
– SevenSidedDie♦
22 hours ago
♦ Reminder: comments are for helping improve the post, not for discussing the subject nor for posting small or incomplete answers. Please only use answer posts to submit answers on the site, and reserve comments for their intended administrative purpose. Prior comments containing discussion and answers have been removed.
– SevenSidedDie♦
22 hours ago
1
1
Comments are definitely not for correcting errors in the question's reasoning. That's the job for answers. Questions also shouldn't be edited to remove parts that have been answered. I've restored the parts of the question improperly removed based on answers improperly left as comments, to allow answers to continue their correct role.
– SevenSidedDie♦
22 hours ago
Comments are definitely not for correcting errors in the question's reasoning. That's the job for answers. Questions also shouldn't be edited to remove parts that have been answered. I've restored the parts of the question improperly removed based on answers improperly left as comments, to allow answers to continue their correct role.
– SevenSidedDie♦
22 hours ago
Why did you edit the "staking" part out of the question? It was a valid question, and worth asking. (I'm also asking because half of my answer was directed towards that part of the plan).
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
Why did you edit the "staking" part out of the question? It was a valid question, and worth asking. (I'm also asking because half of my answer was directed towards that part of the plan).
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
Because I misread the information on vampires, the question was partly intended to find a way to defeat strad outside his lair.
– Josiah Riggan
21 hours ago
Because I misread the information on vampires, the question was partly intended to find a way to defeat strad outside his lair.
– Josiah Riggan
21 hours ago
2
2
As a general instruction, please don't update or remove parts of questions in response to getting answers about those parts, even if those parts are based on misreadings. Those are still part of the original problem, and questions should not be “moving targets”.
– SevenSidedDie♦
19 hours ago
As a general instruction, please don't update or remove parts of questions in response to getting answers about those parts, even if those parts are based on misreadings. Those are still part of the original problem, and questions should not be “moving targets”.
– SevenSidedDie♦
19 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
32
down vote
accepted
I see a couple of problems with this plan:
- The size of a bag of holding. While the bag has internal volume sufficient to hold Strahd, getting him inside may prove impossible.
This bag has an interior space considerably larger than its outside dimensions, roughly 2 feet in diameter at the mouth and 4 feet deep.
- Strahd, like most "boss monsters" has legendary resistances. 5 Castings of Tasha's Hideous Laughter is unlikely to be enough to incapacitate him, even with portent dice.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If Strahd fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
- The feat lucky isn't going to apply here, as it only affects attacks against you and your attacks, not saves against your spells.
Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20 ... You can also spend one luck point when an attack roll is made against you.
- I wouldn't count on Strahd not having a way back from the Astral Plane. He's a powerful spellcaster, a vampire and has made many deals with the dark powers.
12
One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
– V2Blast
22 hours ago
@V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
– Perkins
19 hours ago
4
For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
– Hobbamok
8 hours ago
Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
– Kevin
3 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
29
down vote
According to page 24 in Curse of Strahd (using this related answer):
No spell - not even wish -- allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral Projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail...
A Bag of Holding may not be a spell, but reading a bit further...
Magic that summons creatures or objects from other planes functions normally in Barovia, as does magic that involves an extradimensional space. Any spells cast within such an extradimensional space (such as that created by Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion) are subject to the same restrictions as magic cast in Barovia.
As such, banishing him to the astral plane doesn't seem like an option.
8
This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
– Perkins
19 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
26
down vote
There are several problems
1.) Nothing Leaves Ravenloft
A central problem in Ravenloft is that it is all but impossible to leave that plane. Relevant text can be found here (Curse of Strahd, p. 24, bold added):
No spell - not even wish - allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail, as do effects that banish a creature to another plane of existence. These restrictions apply to magic items and artifacts that have properties that transport or banish creatures to other planes.
As such, the bag of holding would not be able to transport a creature to another plane of existence.
2.) Heart Stabbing is not a given
If you could stab a creature in the heart whenever it was incapacitated automatically, then THL would be a save-or-die spell for most creatures. 5e doesn't have specific rules on "called shots", but there's some guidance given, with relevant text on hit points in the PHB p. 197:
When you drop below half your hit point maximum, you show signs of wear, such as cuts and bruises. An attack that reduces you to 0 hit points strikes you directly, leaving a bleeding injury or other trauma, or it simply knocks you unconscious.
In order to drive a wooden stake through Strahd's heart, you'd need to reduce him to zero hit points. Normally, this is done by attempting to stake the vampire when it is already at 0 hit points, which brings me to my next point.
3.) Timing Matters
Note the relevant text on staking a vampire (MM p. 297, bold added)
Stake to the Heart. If a piercing weapon made of wood
is driven into the vampire's heart while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place, the vampire is paralyzed until the stake is removed.
It's not enough to have the vampire in its resting place, incapacitated, with a stake through its heart that was driven there earlier: you must drive the stake through its heart "while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place." Unless Strahd was somehow in his coffin when you (successfully) cast tasha's hideous laughter on him, these terms would not be satisfied by your strategy.
4.) Spell Scrolls only work for certain people
Although any person can read a generic "magical scroll" to attempt to decypher its meaning, a spell scroll is a specific magic item with its own rules. Specifically (DMG, p.200):
If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can use an action to read the scroll and cast its spell without having to provide any of the spell's components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible.
Since tasha's hideous laughter is a first level spell, I'm assuming that any character in your party who has it on their class's spell list could cast it already without a scroll. But anyone who doesn't have that spell on their class list will be unable to use the spell scroll to cast it.
If someone is laughing so hard they can't move then or defend themselves you can stab them wherever you what the, because they cant stop you from trying to stab them, they think being stabbed is hilarious. At the very least you won't have disadvantage on the attack roll for making a called shot.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
1
I agree with the rest of you answer. But your target being incapacitated should allow you to make called shots. They can't take any action to stop you.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
7
Realistically a target rolling around on the floor in laughter is probably not as easy to hit as a target that is sleeping and prone.
– Tyler S. Loeper
22 hours ago
10
@JosiahRiggan I would not consider driving a stake through the heart of even a completely immobile target to be automatic. I've failed many times to drive a nail straight into a completely immobile piece of wood while under no stress. A rolling around jerking creature is harder than that. And that is without adding in that piercing the ribs is harder than it sounds (that is a significant part of what they are for....) a lot of people misunderstand the physical location of the heart.
– TimothyAWiseman
22 hours ago
2
@J.A.Streich But it was a point worth making, so I've added a small blurb about "called shots."
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
|
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up vote
-2
down vote
From my understanding you could not "shred" or "stab" a bag of holding as it was more of a portal to another dimension.
Provided you could fit a creature or object inside your bag of holding, your best bet would be to toss them in a Portable Hole.
New contributor
10
An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
32
down vote
accepted
I see a couple of problems with this plan:
- The size of a bag of holding. While the bag has internal volume sufficient to hold Strahd, getting him inside may prove impossible.
This bag has an interior space considerably larger than its outside dimensions, roughly 2 feet in diameter at the mouth and 4 feet deep.
- Strahd, like most "boss monsters" has legendary resistances. 5 Castings of Tasha's Hideous Laughter is unlikely to be enough to incapacitate him, even with portent dice.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If Strahd fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
- The feat lucky isn't going to apply here, as it only affects attacks against you and your attacks, not saves against your spells.
Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20 ... You can also spend one luck point when an attack roll is made against you.
- I wouldn't count on Strahd not having a way back from the Astral Plane. He's a powerful spellcaster, a vampire and has made many deals with the dark powers.
12
One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
– V2Blast
22 hours ago
@V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
– Perkins
19 hours ago
4
For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
– Hobbamok
8 hours ago
Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
– Kevin
3 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
32
down vote
accepted
I see a couple of problems with this plan:
- The size of a bag of holding. While the bag has internal volume sufficient to hold Strahd, getting him inside may prove impossible.
This bag has an interior space considerably larger than its outside dimensions, roughly 2 feet in diameter at the mouth and 4 feet deep.
- Strahd, like most "boss monsters" has legendary resistances. 5 Castings of Tasha's Hideous Laughter is unlikely to be enough to incapacitate him, even with portent dice.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If Strahd fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
- The feat lucky isn't going to apply here, as it only affects attacks against you and your attacks, not saves against your spells.
Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20 ... You can also spend one luck point when an attack roll is made against you.
- I wouldn't count on Strahd not having a way back from the Astral Plane. He's a powerful spellcaster, a vampire and has made many deals with the dark powers.
12
One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
– V2Blast
22 hours ago
@V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
– Perkins
19 hours ago
4
For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
– Hobbamok
8 hours ago
Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
– Kevin
3 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
32
down vote
accepted
up vote
32
down vote
accepted
I see a couple of problems with this plan:
- The size of a bag of holding. While the bag has internal volume sufficient to hold Strahd, getting him inside may prove impossible.
This bag has an interior space considerably larger than its outside dimensions, roughly 2 feet in diameter at the mouth and 4 feet deep.
- Strahd, like most "boss monsters" has legendary resistances. 5 Castings of Tasha's Hideous Laughter is unlikely to be enough to incapacitate him, even with portent dice.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If Strahd fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
- The feat lucky isn't going to apply here, as it only affects attacks against you and your attacks, not saves against your spells.
Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20 ... You can also spend one luck point when an attack roll is made against you.
- I wouldn't count on Strahd not having a way back from the Astral Plane. He's a powerful spellcaster, a vampire and has made many deals with the dark powers.
I see a couple of problems with this plan:
- The size of a bag of holding. While the bag has internal volume sufficient to hold Strahd, getting him inside may prove impossible.
This bag has an interior space considerably larger than its outside dimensions, roughly 2 feet in diameter at the mouth and 4 feet deep.
- Strahd, like most "boss monsters" has legendary resistances. 5 Castings of Tasha's Hideous Laughter is unlikely to be enough to incapacitate him, even with portent dice.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If Strahd fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
- The feat lucky isn't going to apply here, as it only affects attacks against you and your attacks, not saves against your spells.
Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20 ... You can also spend one luck point when an attack roll is made against you.
- I wouldn't count on Strahd not having a way back from the Astral Plane. He's a powerful spellcaster, a vampire and has made many deals with the dark powers.
answered yesterday
Matt Rick
792513
792513
12
One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
– V2Blast
22 hours ago
@V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
– Perkins
19 hours ago
4
For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
– Hobbamok
8 hours ago
Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
– Kevin
3 hours ago
add a comment |
12
One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
– V2Blast
22 hours ago
@V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
– Perkins
19 hours ago
4
For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
– Hobbamok
8 hours ago
Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
– Kevin
3 hours ago
12
12
One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
– V2Blast
22 hours ago
One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
– V2Blast
22 hours ago
@V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
– Perkins
19 hours ago
@V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
– Perkins
19 hours ago
4
4
For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
– Hobbamok
8 hours ago
For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
– Hobbamok
8 hours ago
Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
– Kevin
3 hours ago
Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
– Kevin
3 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
29
down vote
According to page 24 in Curse of Strahd (using this related answer):
No spell - not even wish -- allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral Projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail...
A Bag of Holding may not be a spell, but reading a bit further...
Magic that summons creatures or objects from other planes functions normally in Barovia, as does magic that involves an extradimensional space. Any spells cast within such an extradimensional space (such as that created by Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion) are subject to the same restrictions as magic cast in Barovia.
As such, banishing him to the astral plane doesn't seem like an option.
8
This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
– Perkins
19 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
29
down vote
According to page 24 in Curse of Strahd (using this related answer):
No spell - not even wish -- allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral Projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail...
A Bag of Holding may not be a spell, but reading a bit further...
Magic that summons creatures or objects from other planes functions normally in Barovia, as does magic that involves an extradimensional space. Any spells cast within such an extradimensional space (such as that created by Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion) are subject to the same restrictions as magic cast in Barovia.
As such, banishing him to the astral plane doesn't seem like an option.
8
This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
– Perkins
19 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
29
down vote
up vote
29
down vote
According to page 24 in Curse of Strahd (using this related answer):
No spell - not even wish -- allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral Projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail...
A Bag of Holding may not be a spell, but reading a bit further...
Magic that summons creatures or objects from other planes functions normally in Barovia, as does magic that involves an extradimensional space. Any spells cast within such an extradimensional space (such as that created by Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion) are subject to the same restrictions as magic cast in Barovia.
As such, banishing him to the astral plane doesn't seem like an option.
According to page 24 in Curse of Strahd (using this related answer):
No spell - not even wish -- allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral Projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail...
A Bag of Holding may not be a spell, but reading a bit further...
Magic that summons creatures or objects from other planes functions normally in Barovia, as does magic that involves an extradimensional space. Any spells cast within such an extradimensional space (such as that created by Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion) are subject to the same restrictions as magic cast in Barovia.
As such, banishing him to the astral plane doesn't seem like an option.
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
Mwr247
95559
95559
8
This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
– Perkins
19 hours ago
add a comment |
8
This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
– Perkins
19 hours ago
8
8
This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
– Perkins
19 hours ago
This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
– Perkins
19 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
26
down vote
There are several problems
1.) Nothing Leaves Ravenloft
A central problem in Ravenloft is that it is all but impossible to leave that plane. Relevant text can be found here (Curse of Strahd, p. 24, bold added):
No spell - not even wish - allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail, as do effects that banish a creature to another plane of existence. These restrictions apply to magic items and artifacts that have properties that transport or banish creatures to other planes.
As such, the bag of holding would not be able to transport a creature to another plane of existence.
2.) Heart Stabbing is not a given
If you could stab a creature in the heart whenever it was incapacitated automatically, then THL would be a save-or-die spell for most creatures. 5e doesn't have specific rules on "called shots", but there's some guidance given, with relevant text on hit points in the PHB p. 197:
When you drop below half your hit point maximum, you show signs of wear, such as cuts and bruises. An attack that reduces you to 0 hit points strikes you directly, leaving a bleeding injury or other trauma, or it simply knocks you unconscious.
In order to drive a wooden stake through Strahd's heart, you'd need to reduce him to zero hit points. Normally, this is done by attempting to stake the vampire when it is already at 0 hit points, which brings me to my next point.
3.) Timing Matters
Note the relevant text on staking a vampire (MM p. 297, bold added)
Stake to the Heart. If a piercing weapon made of wood
is driven into the vampire's heart while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place, the vampire is paralyzed until the stake is removed.
It's not enough to have the vampire in its resting place, incapacitated, with a stake through its heart that was driven there earlier: you must drive the stake through its heart "while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place." Unless Strahd was somehow in his coffin when you (successfully) cast tasha's hideous laughter on him, these terms would not be satisfied by your strategy.
4.) Spell Scrolls only work for certain people
Although any person can read a generic "magical scroll" to attempt to decypher its meaning, a spell scroll is a specific magic item with its own rules. Specifically (DMG, p.200):
If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can use an action to read the scroll and cast its spell without having to provide any of the spell's components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible.
Since tasha's hideous laughter is a first level spell, I'm assuming that any character in your party who has it on their class's spell list could cast it already without a scroll. But anyone who doesn't have that spell on their class list will be unable to use the spell scroll to cast it.
If someone is laughing so hard they can't move then or defend themselves you can stab them wherever you what the, because they cant stop you from trying to stab them, they think being stabbed is hilarious. At the very least you won't have disadvantage on the attack roll for making a called shot.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
1
I agree with the rest of you answer. But your target being incapacitated should allow you to make called shots. They can't take any action to stop you.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
7
Realistically a target rolling around on the floor in laughter is probably not as easy to hit as a target that is sleeping and prone.
– Tyler S. Loeper
22 hours ago
10
@JosiahRiggan I would not consider driving a stake through the heart of even a completely immobile target to be automatic. I've failed many times to drive a nail straight into a completely immobile piece of wood while under no stress. A rolling around jerking creature is harder than that. And that is without adding in that piercing the ribs is harder than it sounds (that is a significant part of what they are for....) a lot of people misunderstand the physical location of the heart.
– TimothyAWiseman
22 hours ago
2
@J.A.Streich But it was a point worth making, so I've added a small blurb about "called shots."
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
up vote
26
down vote
There are several problems
1.) Nothing Leaves Ravenloft
A central problem in Ravenloft is that it is all but impossible to leave that plane. Relevant text can be found here (Curse of Strahd, p. 24, bold added):
No spell - not even wish - allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail, as do effects that banish a creature to another plane of existence. These restrictions apply to magic items and artifacts that have properties that transport or banish creatures to other planes.
As such, the bag of holding would not be able to transport a creature to another plane of existence.
2.) Heart Stabbing is not a given
If you could stab a creature in the heart whenever it was incapacitated automatically, then THL would be a save-or-die spell for most creatures. 5e doesn't have specific rules on "called shots", but there's some guidance given, with relevant text on hit points in the PHB p. 197:
When you drop below half your hit point maximum, you show signs of wear, such as cuts and bruises. An attack that reduces you to 0 hit points strikes you directly, leaving a bleeding injury or other trauma, or it simply knocks you unconscious.
In order to drive a wooden stake through Strahd's heart, you'd need to reduce him to zero hit points. Normally, this is done by attempting to stake the vampire when it is already at 0 hit points, which brings me to my next point.
3.) Timing Matters
Note the relevant text on staking a vampire (MM p. 297, bold added)
Stake to the Heart. If a piercing weapon made of wood
is driven into the vampire's heart while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place, the vampire is paralyzed until the stake is removed.
It's not enough to have the vampire in its resting place, incapacitated, with a stake through its heart that was driven there earlier: you must drive the stake through its heart "while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place." Unless Strahd was somehow in his coffin when you (successfully) cast tasha's hideous laughter on him, these terms would not be satisfied by your strategy.
4.) Spell Scrolls only work for certain people
Although any person can read a generic "magical scroll" to attempt to decypher its meaning, a spell scroll is a specific magic item with its own rules. Specifically (DMG, p.200):
If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can use an action to read the scroll and cast its spell without having to provide any of the spell's components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible.
Since tasha's hideous laughter is a first level spell, I'm assuming that any character in your party who has it on their class's spell list could cast it already without a scroll. But anyone who doesn't have that spell on their class list will be unable to use the spell scroll to cast it.
If someone is laughing so hard they can't move then or defend themselves you can stab them wherever you what the, because they cant stop you from trying to stab them, they think being stabbed is hilarious. At the very least you won't have disadvantage on the attack roll for making a called shot.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
1
I agree with the rest of you answer. But your target being incapacitated should allow you to make called shots. They can't take any action to stop you.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
7
Realistically a target rolling around on the floor in laughter is probably not as easy to hit as a target that is sleeping and prone.
– Tyler S. Loeper
22 hours ago
10
@JosiahRiggan I would not consider driving a stake through the heart of even a completely immobile target to be automatic. I've failed many times to drive a nail straight into a completely immobile piece of wood while under no stress. A rolling around jerking creature is harder than that. And that is without adding in that piercing the ribs is harder than it sounds (that is a significant part of what they are for....) a lot of people misunderstand the physical location of the heart.
– TimothyAWiseman
22 hours ago
2
@J.A.Streich But it was a point worth making, so I've added a small blurb about "called shots."
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
up vote
26
down vote
up vote
26
down vote
There are several problems
1.) Nothing Leaves Ravenloft
A central problem in Ravenloft is that it is all but impossible to leave that plane. Relevant text can be found here (Curse of Strahd, p. 24, bold added):
No spell - not even wish - allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail, as do effects that banish a creature to another plane of existence. These restrictions apply to magic items and artifacts that have properties that transport or banish creatures to other planes.
As such, the bag of holding would not be able to transport a creature to another plane of existence.
2.) Heart Stabbing is not a given
If you could stab a creature in the heart whenever it was incapacitated automatically, then THL would be a save-or-die spell for most creatures. 5e doesn't have specific rules on "called shots", but there's some guidance given, with relevant text on hit points in the PHB p. 197:
When you drop below half your hit point maximum, you show signs of wear, such as cuts and bruises. An attack that reduces you to 0 hit points strikes you directly, leaving a bleeding injury or other trauma, or it simply knocks you unconscious.
In order to drive a wooden stake through Strahd's heart, you'd need to reduce him to zero hit points. Normally, this is done by attempting to stake the vampire when it is already at 0 hit points, which brings me to my next point.
3.) Timing Matters
Note the relevant text on staking a vampire (MM p. 297, bold added)
Stake to the Heart. If a piercing weapon made of wood
is driven into the vampire's heart while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place, the vampire is paralyzed until the stake is removed.
It's not enough to have the vampire in its resting place, incapacitated, with a stake through its heart that was driven there earlier: you must drive the stake through its heart "while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place." Unless Strahd was somehow in his coffin when you (successfully) cast tasha's hideous laughter on him, these terms would not be satisfied by your strategy.
4.) Spell Scrolls only work for certain people
Although any person can read a generic "magical scroll" to attempt to decypher its meaning, a spell scroll is a specific magic item with its own rules. Specifically (DMG, p.200):
If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can use an action to read the scroll and cast its spell without having to provide any of the spell's components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible.
Since tasha's hideous laughter is a first level spell, I'm assuming that any character in your party who has it on their class's spell list could cast it already without a scroll. But anyone who doesn't have that spell on their class list will be unable to use the spell scroll to cast it.
There are several problems
1.) Nothing Leaves Ravenloft
A central problem in Ravenloft is that it is all but impossible to leave that plane. Relevant text can be found here (Curse of Strahd, p. 24, bold added):
No spell - not even wish - allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail, as do effects that banish a creature to another plane of existence. These restrictions apply to magic items and artifacts that have properties that transport or banish creatures to other planes.
As such, the bag of holding would not be able to transport a creature to another plane of existence.
2.) Heart Stabbing is not a given
If you could stab a creature in the heart whenever it was incapacitated automatically, then THL would be a save-or-die spell for most creatures. 5e doesn't have specific rules on "called shots", but there's some guidance given, with relevant text on hit points in the PHB p. 197:
When you drop below half your hit point maximum, you show signs of wear, such as cuts and bruises. An attack that reduces you to 0 hit points strikes you directly, leaving a bleeding injury or other trauma, or it simply knocks you unconscious.
In order to drive a wooden stake through Strahd's heart, you'd need to reduce him to zero hit points. Normally, this is done by attempting to stake the vampire when it is already at 0 hit points, which brings me to my next point.
3.) Timing Matters
Note the relevant text on staking a vampire (MM p. 297, bold added)
Stake to the Heart. If a piercing weapon made of wood
is driven into the vampire's heart while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place, the vampire is paralyzed until the stake is removed.
It's not enough to have the vampire in its resting place, incapacitated, with a stake through its heart that was driven there earlier: you must drive the stake through its heart "while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place." Unless Strahd was somehow in his coffin when you (successfully) cast tasha's hideous laughter on him, these terms would not be satisfied by your strategy.
4.) Spell Scrolls only work for certain people
Although any person can read a generic "magical scroll" to attempt to decypher its meaning, a spell scroll is a specific magic item with its own rules. Specifically (DMG, p.200):
If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can use an action to read the scroll and cast its spell without having to provide any of the spell's components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible.
Since tasha's hideous laughter is a first level spell, I'm assuming that any character in your party who has it on their class's spell list could cast it already without a scroll. But anyone who doesn't have that spell on their class list will be unable to use the spell scroll to cast it.
edited 13 hours ago
answered yesterday
Gandalfmeansme
16.7k361107
16.7k361107
If someone is laughing so hard they can't move then or defend themselves you can stab them wherever you what the, because they cant stop you from trying to stab them, they think being stabbed is hilarious. At the very least you won't have disadvantage on the attack roll for making a called shot.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
1
I agree with the rest of you answer. But your target being incapacitated should allow you to make called shots. They can't take any action to stop you.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
7
Realistically a target rolling around on the floor in laughter is probably not as easy to hit as a target that is sleeping and prone.
– Tyler S. Loeper
22 hours ago
10
@JosiahRiggan I would not consider driving a stake through the heart of even a completely immobile target to be automatic. I've failed many times to drive a nail straight into a completely immobile piece of wood while under no stress. A rolling around jerking creature is harder than that. And that is without adding in that piercing the ribs is harder than it sounds (that is a significant part of what they are for....) a lot of people misunderstand the physical location of the heart.
– TimothyAWiseman
22 hours ago
2
@J.A.Streich But it was a point worth making, so I've added a small blurb about "called shots."
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
If someone is laughing so hard they can't move then or defend themselves you can stab them wherever you what the, because they cant stop you from trying to stab them, they think being stabbed is hilarious. At the very least you won't have disadvantage on the attack roll for making a called shot.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
1
I agree with the rest of you answer. But your target being incapacitated should allow you to make called shots. They can't take any action to stop you.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
7
Realistically a target rolling around on the floor in laughter is probably not as easy to hit as a target that is sleeping and prone.
– Tyler S. Loeper
22 hours ago
10
@JosiahRiggan I would not consider driving a stake through the heart of even a completely immobile target to be automatic. I've failed many times to drive a nail straight into a completely immobile piece of wood while under no stress. A rolling around jerking creature is harder than that. And that is without adding in that piercing the ribs is harder than it sounds (that is a significant part of what they are for....) a lot of people misunderstand the physical location of the heart.
– TimothyAWiseman
22 hours ago
2
@J.A.Streich But it was a point worth making, so I've added a small blurb about "called shots."
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
If someone is laughing so hard they can't move then or defend themselves you can stab them wherever you what the, because they cant stop you from trying to stab them, they think being stabbed is hilarious. At the very least you won't have disadvantage on the attack roll for making a called shot.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
If someone is laughing so hard they can't move then or defend themselves you can stab them wherever you what the, because they cant stop you from trying to stab them, they think being stabbed is hilarious. At the very least you won't have disadvantage on the attack roll for making a called shot.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
1
1
I agree with the rest of you answer. But your target being incapacitated should allow you to make called shots. They can't take any action to stop you.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
I agree with the rest of you answer. But your target being incapacitated should allow you to make called shots. They can't take any action to stop you.
– Josiah Riggan
23 hours ago
7
7
Realistically a target rolling around on the floor in laughter is probably not as easy to hit as a target that is sleeping and prone.
– Tyler S. Loeper
22 hours ago
Realistically a target rolling around on the floor in laughter is probably not as easy to hit as a target that is sleeping and prone.
– Tyler S. Loeper
22 hours ago
10
10
@JosiahRiggan I would not consider driving a stake through the heart of even a completely immobile target to be automatic. I've failed many times to drive a nail straight into a completely immobile piece of wood while under no stress. A rolling around jerking creature is harder than that. And that is without adding in that piercing the ribs is harder than it sounds (that is a significant part of what they are for....) a lot of people misunderstand the physical location of the heart.
– TimothyAWiseman
22 hours ago
@JosiahRiggan I would not consider driving a stake through the heart of even a completely immobile target to be automatic. I've failed many times to drive a nail straight into a completely immobile piece of wood while under no stress. A rolling around jerking creature is harder than that. And that is without adding in that piercing the ribs is harder than it sounds (that is a significant part of what they are for....) a lot of people misunderstand the physical location of the heart.
– TimothyAWiseman
22 hours ago
2
2
@J.A.Streich But it was a point worth making, so I've added a small blurb about "called shots."
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
@J.A.Streich But it was a point worth making, so I've added a small blurb about "called shots."
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
up vote
-2
down vote
From my understanding you could not "shred" or "stab" a bag of holding as it was more of a portal to another dimension.
Provided you could fit a creature or object inside your bag of holding, your best bet would be to toss them in a Portable Hole.
New contributor
10
An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
-2
down vote
From my understanding you could not "shred" or "stab" a bag of holding as it was more of a portal to another dimension.
Provided you could fit a creature or object inside your bag of holding, your best bet would be to toss them in a Portable Hole.
New contributor
10
An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
-2
down vote
up vote
-2
down vote
From my understanding you could not "shred" or "stab" a bag of holding as it was more of a portal to another dimension.
Provided you could fit a creature or object inside your bag of holding, your best bet would be to toss them in a Portable Hole.
New contributor
From my understanding you could not "shred" or "stab" a bag of holding as it was more of a portal to another dimension.
Provided you could fit a creature or object inside your bag of holding, your best bet would be to toss them in a Portable Hole.
New contributor
edited 18 hours ago
V2Blast
17.9k248113
17.9k248113
New contributor
answered 21 hours ago
rstephen
1
1
New contributor
New contributor
10
An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
add a comment |
10
An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
10
10
An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
add a comment |
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♦ Reminder: comments are for helping improve the post, not for discussing the subject nor for posting small or incomplete answers. Please only use answer posts to submit answers on the site, and reserve comments for their intended administrative purpose. Prior comments containing discussion and answers have been removed.
– SevenSidedDie♦
22 hours ago
1
Comments are definitely not for correcting errors in the question's reasoning. That's the job for answers. Questions also shouldn't be edited to remove parts that have been answered. I've restored the parts of the question improperly removed based on answers improperly left as comments, to allow answers to continue their correct role.
– SevenSidedDie♦
22 hours ago
Why did you edit the "staking" part out of the question? It was a valid question, and worth asking. (I'm also asking because half of my answer was directed towards that part of the plan).
– Gandalfmeansme
21 hours ago
Because I misread the information on vampires, the question was partly intended to find a way to defeat strad outside his lair.
– Josiah Riggan
21 hours ago
2
As a general instruction, please don't update or remove parts of questions in response to getting answers about those parts, even if those parts are based on misreadings. Those are still part of the original problem, and questions should not be “moving targets”.
– SevenSidedDie♦
19 hours ago