The Fortress states it is made out of Adamantine so by the rules for "objects" that should confer an Armor Class of 23? I'm just trying to confirm this since it isn't listed in the description of the magic item it's self, though they specifically name the material it is made out of. See links below for clarification Thank you.
Sorry to necro an old thread on this, but the entry in the DMG for Objects specifically excludes buildings. The walls on Instant Fortress are 20'x30' -- large, stationary objects are easier to hit. I'd think most walls have an AC of about 15, regardless of type.
Sorry to necro an old thread on this, but the entry in the DMG for Objects specifically excludes buildings. The walls on Instant Fortress are 20'x30' -- large, stationary objects are easier to hit. I'd think most walls have an AC of about 15, regardless of type.
There is a bit of ambiguity in the definition that you'll have to work around. This should help:
Damage Threshold: Big objects such as castle walls often have extra resilience represented by a Damage Threshold. An object with a Damage Threshold has immunity to all damage unless it takes an amount of damage from a single Attack or Effect equal to or greater than its Damage Threshold, in which case it takes damage as normal. Any damage that fails to meet or exceed the object’s Damage Threshold is considered superficial and doesn’t reduce the object’s Hit Points.
The whole building is a collection of parts classified as objects, so while the building itself may not be explicitly defined as an object, it would still follow the rules for breaking an object.
The distinction matters for other mechanics, such as those which allow for conjuration of objects. Such abilities could conjure a window or a wall, but not a wall with a window in it.
Sorry to necro an old thread on this, but the entry in the DMG for Objects specifically excludes buildings. The walls on Instant Fortress are 20'x30' -- large, stationary objects are easier to hit. I'd think most walls have an AC of about 15, regardless of type.
There is a bit of ambiguity in the definition that you'll have to work around. This should help:
Damage Threshold: Big objects such as castle walls often have extra resilience represented by a Damage Threshold. An object with a Damage Threshold has immunity to all damage unless it takes an amount of damage from a single Attack or Effect equal to or greater than its Damage Threshold, in which case it takes damage as normal. Any damage that fails to meet or exceed the object’s Damage Threshold is considered superficial and doesn’t reduce the object’s Hit Points.
The whole building is a collection of parts classified as objects, so while the building itself may not be explicitly defined as an object, it would still follow the rules for breaking an object.
The distinction matters for other mechanics, such as those which allow for conjuration of objects. Such abilities could conjure a window or a wall, but not a wall with a window in it.
Okay, so you're asserting that a "wall" is a (big) discrete object, as it is part of a larger collection of a building?
For the purpose of these rules, an object is a discrete, inanimate item like a window, door, sword, book, table, chair, or stone, not a building or a vehicle that iscomposed of many other objects.
Edit: Though, it's generally a matter of complexity, and up to DM discretion.
If you poured steel into a castle sized and shaped mold, then you could argue that it was a single object, but if you built it from steel bricks, the DM may say that each brick is a separate object.
Sorry to necro an old thread on this, but the entry in the DMG for Objects specifically excludes buildings. The walls on Instant Fortress are 20'x30' -- large, stationary objects are easier to hit. I'd think most walls have an AC of about 15, regardless of type.
Yeah but it's adamantine....
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Join the Competition of the Finest 'Brews XIX!(Or just spectate and vote, that's cool too. Either way, go there. It's awesome, and it'll be even more awesome if you join.)
Sorry to necro an old thread on this, but the entry in the DMG for Objects specifically excludes buildings. The walls on Instant Fortress are 20'x30' -- large, stationary objects are easier to hit. I'd think most walls have an AC of about 15, regardless of type.
It may be easy to “hit,” but not easy to hit hard enough to do damage. That’s what AC represents, how easy something or someone is to hit with a damaging blow.
For the purpose of these rules, an object is a discrete, inanimate item like a window, door, sword, book, table, chair, or stone, not a building or a vehicle that iscomposed of many other objects.
Edit: Though, it's generally a matter of complexity, and up to DM discretion.
If you poured steel into a castle sized and shaped mold, then you could argue that it was a single object, but if you built it from steel bricks, the DM may say that each brick is a separate object.
As a DM I ruled that each 10 × 10 section of wall is a “large object.” So if they damage a section of wall it’s only that section that’s damaged. They could blow a 10-foot wide hole in a wall and leave the rest of the wall pretty much intact. I would apply the same ruling to an instant fortress.
"The tower is made of adamantine, and its magic prevents it from being tipped over. The roof, the door, and the walls each have 100 hit points, immunity to damage from nonmagical weapons excluding siege weapons, and resistance to all other damage. Only a wish spell can repair the fortress (this use of the spell counts as replicating a spell of 8th level or lower). Each casting of wish causes the roof, the door, or one wall to regain 50 hit points."
Adamantine:
"Armor Class. An object's Armor Class is a measure of how difficult it is to deal damage to the object when striking it (because the object has no chance of dodging out of the way). The Object Armor Class table provides suggested AC values for various substances."
"Adamantine 23"
The table in the DMG provides the AC for various substances. The definition of "object" doesn't come into it. The AC represents the difficulty of actually doing damage to the substance. However, the fortress, in addition to the AC, is also resistant to all damage and immune to damage from non-magical weapons except siege weapons. The description also says the roof, door and each of the walls have 100 hit points (though it could be read that all the walls together have 100 hit points but I wouldn't interpret it that way personally).
The tower isn't given a damage threshold in the description of the magic item though a DM could decide to impose one if they wished (considering how difficult it is to repair, one would think it would be exceptionally difficult to damage as well).
Some good points. I think the fact that it's not defined in the Instant Fortress description is a bit of an oversight, and I hope they correct it in the future. All it really needs is to be called out as each damage point being a "large object".
Found this post because I had a new player join my ongoing campaign, and allowed them to choose a Rare item. They took instant fortress, which I ended up allowing because it fit with their Artificer abilities. I did warn them that DIF was abusable in combat, so to be conservative with it, except in dire circumstances. They used it in their first combat lol -- albeit to gain a height advantage and not to bludgeon a monster. In any case, I'm homebrewing up a new IF to give a few small limitations.
Specifically:
Can only be activated a number of times per day equal to Proficiency
Dealing bludgeoning damage also deals half back to the wall that collided
Defines the AC Specifies that walls/roof are large objects
Specifies that the roof trapdoor is not locked, and is included in the Roof damage (so, 6 damage areas)
Specifies that the front door can only be opened by command from both inside and outside (could create some interesting drama when besieged?)
It might also want to have some text about what happens when the activator dies while the tower is active (and no one else knows the command word). Any other thoughts on homebrew potential?
The Fortress states it is made out of Adamantine so by the rules for "objects" that should confer an Armor Class of 23? I'm just trying to confirm this since it isn't listed in the description of the magic item it's self, though they specifically name the material it is made out of. See links below for clarification Thank you.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/instant-fortress
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/running-the-game#Objects
Since the item doesn't specify AC, but does specify material, it stands to reason that it wants you to use the material's properties.
"The tower is made of adamantine", and adamantine as per DM screen has an AC of 23 :)
More Interesting Lock Picking Rules
Sorry to necro an old thread on this, but the entry in the DMG for Objects specifically excludes buildings. The walls on Instant Fortress are 20'x30' -- large, stationary objects are easier to hit. I'd think most walls have an AC of about 15, regardless of type.
There is a bit of ambiguity in the definition that you'll have to work around. This should help:
The whole building is a collection of parts classified as objects, so while the building itself may not be explicitly defined as an object, it would still follow the rules for breaking an object.
The distinction matters for other mechanics, such as those which allow for conjuration of objects. Such abilities could conjure a window or a wall, but not a wall with a window in it.
Okay, so you're asserting that a "wall" is a (big) discrete object, as it is part of a larger collection of a building?
More or less, yes.
Edit: Though, it's generally a matter of complexity, and up to DM discretion.
If you poured steel into a castle sized and shaped mold, then you could argue that it was a single object, but if you built it from steel bricks, the DM may say that each brick is a separate object.
Yeah but it's adamantine....
Join the Competition of the Finest 'Brews XIX! (Or just spectate and vote, that's cool too. Either way, go there. It's awesome, and it'll be even more awesome if you join.)
It may be easy to “hit,” but not easy to hit hard enough to do damage. That’s what AC represents, how easy something or someone is to hit with a damaging blow.
As a DM I ruled that each 10 × 10 section of wall is a “large object.” So if they damage a section of wall it’s only that section that’s damaged. They could blow a 10-foot wide hole in a wall and leave the rest of the wall pretty much intact. I would apply the same ruling to an instant fortress.
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB, & You
DDB CONTENT TROUBLESHOOTING
That's on par with the text for breaking Wall of Ice, so that's a reasonable call.
Instant Fortress:
"The tower is made of adamantine, and its magic prevents it from being tipped over. The roof, the door, and the walls each have 100 hit points, immunity to damage from nonmagical weapons excluding siege weapons, and resistance to all other damage. Only a wish spell can repair the fortress (this use of the spell counts as replicating a spell of 8th level or lower). Each casting of wish causes the roof, the door, or one wall to regain 50 hit points."
Adamantine:
"Armor Class. An object's Armor Class is a measure of how difficult it is to deal damage to the object when striking it (because the object has no chance of dodging out of the way). The Object Armor Class table provides suggested AC values for various substances."
"Adamantine 23"
The table in the DMG provides the AC for various substances. The definition of "object" doesn't come into it. The AC represents the difficulty of actually doing damage to the substance. However, the fortress, in addition to the AC, is also resistant to all damage and immune to damage from non-magical weapons except siege weapons. The description also says the roof, door and each of the walls have 100 hit points (though it could be read that all the walls together have 100 hit points but I wouldn't interpret it that way personally).
The tower isn't given a damage threshold in the description of the magic item though a DM could decide to impose one if they wished (considering how difficult it is to repair, one would think it would be exceptionally difficult to damage as well).
Some good points. I think the fact that it's not defined in the Instant Fortress description is a bit of an oversight, and I hope they correct it in the future. All it really needs is to be called out as each damage point being a "large object".
Found this post because I had a new player join my ongoing campaign, and allowed them to choose a Rare item. They took instant fortress, which I ended up allowing because it fit with their Artificer abilities. I did warn them that DIF was abusable in combat, so to be conservative with it, except in dire circumstances. They used it in their first combat lol -- albeit to gain a height advantage and not to bludgeon a monster. In any case, I'm homebrewing up a new IF to give a few small limitations.
Specifically:
Defines the ACSpecifies that walls/roof are large objectsIt might also want to have some text about what happens when the activator dies while the tower is active (and no one else knows the command word). Any other thoughts on homebrew potential?