Basic Turning to Stone Question

[theophage]

When characters get turned to stone by spell, medusae, etc. do you play that their equipment also turns to stone? Or only their flesh?

My default expectation is that their equipment does indeed also turn to stone, so that they look like perfectly sculpted statues, but in thinking a little more about it (dangerous, I know) it seems that only their flesh should turn, and their equipment would be available to steal/scavenge.

[tec97]

I've always assumed character AND equipment all turn to stone. I can certainly see the other option as well, and wouldn't disparage your for doing it, but that variant just doesn't work in my head...

[geoffrey]

All the statues would of course be naked. This could be a "tip off" to the PCs: "Hey, check-out all these naked statues... Wait a minute. Watch out for a medusa."

[Deleted]

Oct 1, 2013 15:28:05 GMT -6 theophage said:

When characters get turned to stone by spell, medusae, etc. do you play that their equipment also turns to stone? Or only their flesh?

I treat it like invisibility. "Stoning" affects anything worn or carried by the target at casting time. HtH.

[Lord Cias]

Oct 1, 2013 19:05:18 GMT -6 geoffrey said:

All the statues would of course be naked. This could be a "tip off" to the PCs: "Hey, check-out all these naked statues... Wait a minute. Watch out for a medusa."

Of course this could explain why so many statues of the ancient world are nude . . .

[strangebrew]

What about magical items? If a fighting man is holding an intelligent sword +3, but sees a medusa, then the magical item is also turned to stone? And can be broken as if it were stone? Or is the fighter now a statue holding a +3 sword, and his hand can be shattered and the sword claimed by less than admirable allies?

What about artifacts? Alternative Lord of the Rings plot: turn Bilbo to stone and grind him into dust!

[Red Baron]

The Spell
The spell is the reverse of stone to flesh. If its not flesh it can't be turned to stone.

Medusa's gaze
A victim must look upon the medusa's visage to be turned. If it doesn't have eye's it can't be turned to stone. A robe of eyes would be the only exception to this I can think of.

[Red Baron]

Oct 1, 2013 21:45:00 GMT -6 strangebrew said:

What about magical items? If a fighting man is holding an intelligent sword +3, but sees a medusa, then the magical item is also turned to stone? And can be broken as if it were stone? Or is the fighter now a statue holding a +3 sword, and his hand can be shattered and the sword claimed by less than admirable allies?

What about artifacts? Alternative Lord of the Rings plot: turn Bilbo to stone and grind him into dust!

Slip it into a trolls pocket, then shine a giant flashlight at him.

[Deleted]

Oct 1, 2013 21:49:27 GMT -6 Red Baron said:

The Spell
The spell is the reverse of stone to flesh. If its not flesh it can't be turned to stone.

Medusa's gaze
A victim must look upon the medusa's visage to be turned. If it doesn't have eye's it can't be turned to stone. A robe of eyes would be the only exception to this I can think of.

That's a reasonable interpretation. I still like the way I run it, it fits my refereeing style better, but yours is also a very good ruling.

[Red Baron]

I agree, yours feels a lot more old school, and is probably how the spell was originally used. I think it also fits the classic interpretation of petrification in literature. The Snow Witch from Narnia turned people to stone in such a way I think, as did medusa. Everything going to stone certainly feels right, I just can't argue with the logic of the other interpretation.

[Porphyre]

I would consider that all basic equipment & clothes turn to stone. Even if they don't have eyes, they are "contamined" by contact with affected flesh (I always like the movies/cartoons visual effect of the petrification "spreading" from tip to toe).

Magical object are granted a ST as per M&T (p38) :
"Magical items will, during the course of play, be struck by various forms of weapons. For the sake of simplicity it is generally easier to assume they survive unharmed if their wearer/user is not killed (exception, Helms). If the wearer is killed, or the items are alone, throw for them on the following table".

Artifacts are unafected

[llenlleawg]

Oct 1, 2013 22:15:26 GMT -6 Red Baron said:

I agree, yours feels a lot more old school, and is probably how the spell was originally used. I think it also fits the classic interpretation of petrification in literature. The Snow Witch from Narnia turned people to stone in such a way I think, as did medusa. Everything going to stone certainly feels right, I just can't argue with the logic of the other interpretation.

In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the White Witch's wand does indeed turn not only the creature's flesh, but everything he is holding, in fact even sometimes what he's merely touching or in the general vicinity, to stone:

"Edmund saw the Witch bite her lips so that a drop of blood appeared on her white cheek. Then she raised her wand. 'Oh, don't, don't, please don't,' shouted Edmund, but even while he was shouting she had waved her wand and instantly where the merry party had been there were only statues of creatures (one with its stone fork fixed forever half-way to its stone mouth) seated round a stone table on which there were stone plates and a stone plum pudding." (c. 11, "Aslan is Nearer")

Would she be able to turn, e.g. the special sword and shield Peter receives from Father Christmas to stone? Susan's bow or horn? Lucy's dagger or the phial with the healing cordial? We never really get to know, and it's not important for the story.

For D&D, I would suggest that turning to stone cannot be used as a convenient way to eliminate or destroy magic items in general, but it all depends. I would suggest here making a case by case ruling. After all, how often are things turned to stone in your campaign?

[talysman]

I've toyed with the idea that petrifaction doesn't transform the victim, but instead encases the victim in a stone shell. Perhaps, though, I could take this halfway, and combine it with redbaron's idea: the flesh of the victim is turned to stone, and everything the victim is carrying is surrounded by a stone shell. Thus, it's possible to retrieve magic items from petrified victims.

Helps avoid the obvious conclusion that every naked statue means "medusa is present".

[theophage]

Oct 2, 2013 9:43:44 GMT -6 llenlleawg said:

Would she be able to turn, e.g. the special sword and shield Peter receives from Father Christmas to stone? Susan's bow or horn? Lucy's dagger or the phial with the healing cordial? We never really get to know, and it's not important for the story.

For D&D, I would suggest that turning to stone cannot be used as a convenient way to eliminate or destroy magic items in general, but it all depends. I would suggest here making a case by case ruling. After all, how often are things turned to stone in your campaign?

Yeah, those were a big part of my concerns. A good compromise would be perhaps normal items turn to stone, but magic items get saving throws at the very least, or are simply unaffected at best.

[machpants]

Sorta relevant and pretty amazing in my local e-rag!

www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/africa/9239188/Lethal-lake-turns-anything-to-stone

[Deleted]

Oct 2, 2013 12:22:06 GMT -6 talysman said:

I've toyed with the idea that petrifaction doesn't transform the victim, but instead encases the victim in a stone shell.

This reminds me of an old Avengers comic in which Iron Man was petrified and all his teammates were standing around, lamenting they couldn't ask him what to do. He answered them ... being very much alive inside his "stoned" Iron Man suit!

[mgtremaine]

Oct 2, 2013 12:22:06 GMT -6 talysman said:

I've toyed with the idea that petrifaction doesn't transform the victim, but instead encases the victim in a stone shell. Perhaps, though, I could take this halfway, and combine it with redbaron's idea: the flesh of the victim is turned to stone, and everything the victim is carrying is surrounded by a stone shell. Thus, it's possible to retrieve magic items from petrified victims.

Helps avoid the obvious conclusion that every naked statue means "medusa is present".

I think this the best way... Then added to it if a magic item is chipped away then it can be retrieved. Un encasing as it comes free....HOWEVER you have now maimed the victim, have part of an arm break off, or a chunk of torso, or whatever. If the reverse is every applied then the additional injury will have to be dealt with. Hafgar halfhand who was turned to stone and revive years later with but half his hand He now tends bar and grumbles a lot.

-Mike