HYPERBOREA / Caltrops

**Posted by Thrasaric** 6/30/2022 6:23 am

I may be missing it but I don't see anything about caltrops. does anyone know where these may be? or does anyone have rules they use on caltrops they would be willing to share?

**Posted by BlackKnight** 6/30/2022 10:30 am

I'd go with the D&D SRD rules for it. It's in 3.5, but I translate it over...
CaltropsA caltrop is a four-pronged iron spike crafted so that one prong faces up no matter how the caltrop comes to rest. You scatter caltrops on the ground in the hope that your enemies step on them or are at least forced to slow down to avoid them. One 2- pound bag of caltrops covers an area 5 feet square.Each time a creature moves into an area covered by caltrops (or spends a round fighting while standing in such an area), it might step on one. The caltrops make an attack roll (base attack bonus +0) against the creature. For this attack, the creature’s shield, armor, and deflection bonuses do not count. If the creature is wearing shoes or other footwear, it gets a +2 armor bonus to AC. If the caltrops succeed on the attack, the creature has stepped on one. The caltrop deals 1 point of damage, and the creature’s speed is reduced by one-half because its foot is wounded. This movement penalty lasts for 24 hours, or until the creature is successfully treated with a DC 15 Heal check, or until it receives at least 1 point of magical curing. A charging or running creature must immediately stop if it steps on a caltrop. Any creature moving at half speed or slower can pick its way through a bed of caltrops with no trouble.Caltrops may not be effective against unusual opponents.

**Posted by Jimm.Iblis** 7/03/2022 1:03 pm

Paraphrasing from "Old School Armory" for BX games:

Caltrops
... a bag of caltrops covers an area of five square feet. Characters who walk into the area must save versus Paralysis (in Hyperborea this ought to be an Avoidance save) or step on caltrops for 1d4 damage, movement is halved as long as the caltrops remain in their feet. Removing the caltrops takes a round; a second save is then required. Failing this, the character moves at one-third speed for the next 1d4 days.

Which works, but I think the damage should be lower, and I'd probably avoid the second save and say the ⅓ MV penalty remains until the damage is healed. I'd allow a save bonus of 1 or 2 if the creature is wearing souled shoes.