Hi i was just wondering if anyone could give me their insight into this problem. Say a character is holding a globe or some object in their hand and the players want to take it. I can understand if they aren't paying attention to do a slight of hand check, but if the person is fully aware of this happening, should it be some sort of strength contest to see who can muscle it out of the other? Any other ideas to approach this?
I'd say you're on the right track. I'd also give the option of using Dex if I thought the person holding the object had a chance to withdraw the item quickly.
if it's not in combat then, to keep things simple i'd make it an opposed athletics check, that then factors in the effort that a character has spent on honing their abilities on both sides of the equation.
if it's in combat then use the grapple rules, with a grapple success being that you've wrested the object from your opponent.
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All plans turn into, run into the room waving a sword and see what happens from there, once the first die gets rolled
And possibly consider giving some sort of bonus or advantage to the person who is already holding the object if they are aware of the attempt. It's generally easier to keep something than it is to take something.
And possibly consider giving some sort of bonus or advantage to the person who is already holding the object if they are aware of the attempt. It's generally easier to keep something than it is to take something.
I'd just use the optional Disarm rule in the DMG. Since the attacker can immediately pick up the item from the floor if they haven't used an object interaction yet, the result is no different from grabbing the item out of their hands directly.
I would be very careful with allowing what is essentially a “disarm” mechanic. The rules aren’t setup to allow it and it could greatly favour high dex and strength based creatures over utility and casters. If a high strength Fighter with proficiency in athletics or a high dex rogue with proficiency in acrobatics can use those skills to snatch the spell focus, component pouch or spell book from a caster that is a fight ending move.
Personally I would not allow any held object to be taken from an unwilling creature unless they were disabled first. It seems like opening a can of worms. “If he can snatch the key out of its hand why can’t I do the same for the McGuffin?”
And possibly consider giving some sort of bonus or advantage to the person who is already holding the object if they are aware of the attempt. It's generally easier to keep something than it is to take something.
This is actually already covered by the contest rules: if both creatures involved roll the same number, the situation doesn't change, meaning the original holder of the item keeps it. It's not a big advantage, but it's there.
I would be very careful with allowing what is essentially a “disarm” mechanic. The rules aren’t setup to allow it and it could greatly favour high dex and strength based creatures over utility and casters.
Yes but the disarm optional rule in the DMG (under “Combat Options” in the DMG) is using a weapon attack and is part of combat. The OP seemed to be talking about just snatching an object out of an NPC’s hand. I am very big on “anything the players can do to creature, creatures can also do to a player kind of DM so I am particularly careful about what I allow and don’t allow outside the rules.
However if I did allow it I would essentially use the grapple mechanic and have an opposed athletics vs athletics or acrobatics check.
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Hi i was just wondering if anyone could give me their insight into this problem. Say a character is holding a globe or some object in their hand and the players want to take it. I can understand if they aren't paying attention to do a slight of hand check, but if the person is fully aware of this happening, should it be some sort of strength contest to see who can muscle it out of the other? Any other ideas to approach this?
I'd say you're on the right track. I'd also give the option of using Dex if I thought the person holding the object had a chance to withdraw the item quickly.
if it's not in combat then, to keep things simple i'd make it an opposed athletics check, that then factors in the effort that a character has spent on honing their abilities on both sides of the equation.
if it's in combat then use the grapple rules, with a grapple success being that you've wrested the object from your opponent.
All plans turn into, run into the room waving a sword and see what happens from there, once the first die gets rolled
And possibly consider giving some sort of bonus or advantage to the person who is already holding the object if they are aware of the attempt. It's generally easier to keep something than it is to take something.
And possibly consider giving some sort of bonus or advantage to the person who is already holding the object if they are aware of the attempt. It's generally easier to keep something than it is to take something.
I'd just use the optional Disarm rule in the DMG. Since the attacker can immediately pick up the item from the floor if they haven't used an object interaction yet, the result is no different from grabbing the item out of their hands directly.
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I would be very careful with allowing what is essentially a “disarm” mechanic. The rules aren’t setup to allow it and it could greatly favour high dex and strength based creatures over utility and casters. If a high strength Fighter with proficiency in athletics or a high dex rogue with proficiency in acrobatics can use those skills to snatch the spell focus, component pouch or spell book from a caster that is a fight ending move.
Personally I would not allow any held object to be taken from an unwilling creature unless they were disabled first. It seems like opening a can of worms. “If he can snatch the key out of its hand why can’t I do the same for the McGuffin?”
This is actually already covered by the contest rules: if both creatures involved roll the same number, the situation doesn't change, meaning the original holder of the item keeps it. It's not a big advantage, but it's there.
There's already a Disarm mechanic in the DMG.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
Yes but the disarm optional rule in the DMG (under “Combat Options” in the DMG) is using a weapon attack and is part of combat. The OP seemed to be talking about just snatching an object out of an NPC’s hand. I am very big on “anything the players can do to creature, creatures can also do to a player kind of DM so I am particularly careful about what I allow and don’t allow outside the rules.
However if I did allow it I would essentially use the grapple mechanic and have an opposed athletics vs athletics or acrobatics check.