Art by Marc Radle

Mass is a wonderful thing. Sometimes, even a glancing blow from something massive like a boulder, tree trunk, or swinging block of stone is enough to send a victim flying through the air. Armor offers little resistance against these massive impacts.

Swinging Block Trap (CR 1)

Type mechanical; Search DC 20; Disable Device DC 20
Trigger touch; Reset manual
Effect Atk +5 melee (4d6)
Market Price 500 gp

The swinging block trap deals massive damage to the unfortunate target it hits. This is both its appeal and drawback: massive damage, single target. A block that massive does not stop once it hits a halfling, it should crash into the rest of the party. What if…

Improved Swinging Block Trap (CR 1)

Type mechanical; Search DC 22; Disable Device DC 15
Trigger touch; Reset manual
Effect Atk +0 melee (6d6); multiple targets (all targets in a 10 ft. square)
Market Price 100 gp

The improved swinging block traps crashes through the party, its only drawback is that it attacks with a +0 bonus.

Design Notes

Reducing the attack bonus to +0 gives us a -2 CR modifier which is used to enlarge the average damage to 21. Having multiple targets increases the CR by 1, but the low Disable Device DC compensates for that.

Superior Swinging Block Trap (CR 1)

Type mechanical; Search DC 21; Disable Device DC 15
Trigger touch; Reset manual
Effect DC 15 Reflex save avoids (4d6); multiple targets (all targets in a 10 ft. square)
Market Price 200 gp

The superior swinging block trap is the best of both worlds: it forces every target in a 10 ft. square to scramble for safety (save to avoid) or be hit for, on average, 14 points of damage.

Design Notes

A DC 15 Reflex save gives us a -1 CR modifier, used to increase damage, and the multiple targets modifier is compensated by the low DC of the Disable Device check.

GM Tip

If the improved and superior swinging block traps connect, they will obliterate a 1st level adventurer.

(This post is Product Identity.)