So I just finished a game where we ended at a pretty big cliff hanger (note I am in the GM). The second the game ended, the party was already discussing what they were going to do next. For some context, they are currently being stealthy and they are on a quest to get an item from a vampire and currently the vampire has no idea they are in the room - this vampire has the item ( a sword ) attached to his back in a weapon sheath - but its handle is visible. The warlock said he is thinking of "Walking up to the vampire, grabbing the sword and then casting dimension door." - the spell states you can teleport objects via "You can bring along objects as long as their weight doesn't exceed what you can carry".
I am honestly not sure how to rule this one. Normally a spell has really specific limitation on objects like "not on body" or "items not being held", etc. This does not state that at all. So two questions for yeah:
How would you rule this given action, say they have a surprise round?
Would it require the warlocks full action just to "grab" the weapon in the first place, thus making this a non-issue? Considering he would not be "removing the item from the weapon sheath" but simply touching an item I would not imagine that would be a full action.
I am really hoping you guys and gals can help me with this because I am stumped! I just feel there has to be rules around this one I am not thinking of that would resolve this one. When I googled this, I did not see anyone asking this question and that is why I feel I am missing something.
I’d use the pick pocket rules, which is a full action. It makes sense and it’s what they’re doing.
A better course of action is for a rogue to grab it and for the warlock to use dimension door on both the rogue and himself. But you don’t need to help the party.
There's a free object interaction on a player's turn. Because of that I'd allow them to do it in one turn BUT, it would be difficult. A Stealth check to sneak up there, a Sleight of Hand to grab the sword, and then cast Dimension Door
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I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
I'm seconding the recommendation that you have the warlock make a Stealth check and then a Sleight of Hand check. The plan is clever, so I'd want to let them try it - however, that doesn't mean you should just hand them success on a silver platter! They still have to work for it.
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"We're the perfect combination of expendable and unkillable!"
Make it entertaining and have the vampire dim door with the warlock since he has the blade strapped to his back in a scabbard. Would make for an entertaining twist to what could be a creative work around by the party.
I've seen a player attempt to do this before. As a DM I set the DC for the actual pickpocketing very high, in terms of the door itself...it is possible but It requires a full action to cast the spell and I do believe that pickpocketing is a full action. Hope your character doesn't want a movement action that turn because they would have to trade their movement down for another action.
This is a 'cut purse' move, not a pick pocket. Thief needs a very sharp knife to slash the straps holding the sword. Just touching or grabbing the handled would not let you pull it through dimension door. It has to be separated. And pulling that much weight off of somebody when they're still would be noticeable. They may be better off sneaking up in one round, grabbing and drawing the dang thing with an action not even bothering to 'pick pocket' just use the surprise round to escape and, assuming you are using a thief, having him bonus action dash to the warlock who has held dimension door for when the thief gets back.
I would TOTALLY let them get away with this. Not only is it a smart as heck plan, they have now created a friggin' arch enemy willing to hunt them to the ends of the earth. That vamp will be back, with help, and suuuuuper mad. Heck, he may kidnap PC relatives to ransom for the blade. And turn them to have them betray the PCs at the 'exchange'. This then necessitates subduing a baby vampire and getting the curse removed (another quest) and then chasing the vampire down AGAIN before he comes back for the PCs yet again. And maybe to get the blade back if they made the exchange.
Consider this: your worried about the "You can bring along objects as long as their weight doesn't exceed what you can carry" part of the spell. You PCs can carry the sword, but can they carry a sword attached to a vampire? I don't think so. They would have to free the sword from the Vampire firstb and that would take a full action.
Definitely do the stealth and sleight of hand checks.
Consider this: your worried about the "You can bring along objects as long as their weight doesn't exceed what you can carry" part of the spell. You PCs can carry the sword, but can they carry a sword attached to a vampire? I don't think so. They would have to free the sword from the Vampire firstb and that would take a full action.
Definitely do the stealth and sleight of hand checks.
That is actually a very good point - I did not think about this.
I have read all your replies and I am going to allow them to do it if they can get the sword separated from the vampire by what ever means they would like (most likely a slight of hand with a stealth check). You have all given me some really good ideas like a villain who will haunt them for the sword if they get away without killing him.
So I just finished a game where we ended at a pretty big cliff hanger (note I am in the GM). The second the game ended, the party was already discussing what they were going to do next. For some context, they are currently being stealthy and they are on a quest to get an item from a vampire and currently the vampire has no idea they are in the room - this vampire has the item ( a sword ) attached to his back in a weapon sheath - but its handle is visible. The warlock said he is thinking of "Walking up to the vampire, grabbing the sword and then casting dimension door." - the spell states you can teleport objects via "You can bring along objects as long as their weight doesn't exceed what you can carry".
I am honestly not sure how to rule this one. Normally a spell has really specific limitation on objects like "not on body" or "items not being held", etc. This does not state that at all. So two questions for yeah:
How would you rule this given action, say they have a surprise round?
Would it require the warlocks full action just to "grab" the weapon in the first place, thus making this a non-issue? Considering he would not be "removing the item from the weapon sheath" but simply touching an item I would not imagine that would be a full action.
I am really hoping you guys and gals can help me with this because I am stumped! I just feel there has to be rules around this one I am not thinking of that would resolve this one. When I googled this, I did not see anyone asking this question and that is why I feel I am missing something.
Thanks!
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I’d use the pick pocket rules, which is a full action. It makes sense and it’s what they’re doing.
A better course of action is for a rogue to grab it and for the warlock to use dimension door on both the rogue and himself. But you don’t need to help the party.
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There's a free object interaction on a player's turn. Because of that I'd allow them to do it in one turn BUT, it would be difficult. A Stealth check to sneak up there, a Sleight of Hand to grab the sword, and then cast Dimension Door
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
I'm seconding the recommendation that you have the warlock make a Stealth check and then a Sleight of Hand check. The plan is clever, so I'd want to let them try it - however, that doesn't mean you should just hand them success on a silver platter! They still have to work for it.
"We're the perfect combination of expendable and unkillable!"
Make it entertaining and have the vampire dim door with the warlock since he has the blade strapped to his back in a scabbard. Would make for an entertaining twist to what could be a creative work around by the party.
I've seen a player attempt to do this before. As a DM I set the DC for the actual pickpocketing very high, in terms of the door itself...it is possible but It requires a full action to cast the spell and I do believe that pickpocketing is a full action. Hope your character doesn't want a movement action that turn because they would have to trade their movement down for another action.
It would certainly take a sleight of hand roll to pull the sword from the scabbard on his back for sure.
This is a 'cut purse' move, not a pick pocket. Thief needs a very sharp knife to slash the straps holding the sword. Just touching or grabbing the handled would not let you pull it through dimension door. It has to be separated. And pulling that much weight off of somebody when they're still would be noticeable. They may be better off sneaking up in one round, grabbing and drawing the dang thing with an action not even bothering to 'pick pocket' just use the surprise round to escape and, assuming you are using a thief, having him bonus action dash to the warlock who has held dimension door for when the thief gets back.
I would TOTALLY let them get away with this. Not only is it a smart as heck plan, they have now created a friggin' arch enemy willing to hunt them to the ends of the earth. That vamp will be back, with help, and suuuuuper mad. Heck, he may kidnap PC relatives to ransom for the blade. And turn them to have them betray the PCs at the 'exchange'. This then necessitates subduing a baby vampire and getting the curse removed (another quest) and then chasing the vampire down AGAIN before he comes back for the PCs yet again. And maybe to get the blade back if they made the exchange.
Your players sound awesome.
Consider this: your worried about the "You can bring along objects as long as their weight doesn't exceed what you can carry" part of the spell. You PCs can carry the sword, but can they carry a sword attached to a vampire? I don't think so. They would have to free the sword from the Vampire firstb and that would take a full action.
Definitely do the stealth and sleight of hand checks.
That is actually a very good point - I did not think about this.
I have read all your replies and I am going to allow them to do it if they can get the sword separated from the vampire by what ever means they would like (most likely a slight of hand with a stealth check). You have all given me some really good ideas like a villain who will haunt them for the sword if they get away without killing him.
Thanks everyone, this was all very useful!
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