[underlined words are linked to other websites]
Okay, the “breaking down the door” conundrum during our last game got me thinkin'. So, I wanted
to research it a bit more and this is what I came up with. According to the rules, breaking down a door is a standard action
(page 64 of the DMG). Now there are two ways to break down a door. Either you bust it open (using a Strength check) or you
hack it open (with a weapon). Opening it with a weapon doesn't always guarantee that its going to open within the first round
(think Jack Nicholson in The Shining here). A door has an AC/Reflex of 5 and a 10 Fort (DMG p 65). So, potentially, you could
also use other powers to blast it open. A wooden door has 20 hps while a stone door has 40 and a steel door has 60. Provided
that the door was wooden (nobody asked) Red would probably have no problem opening it in the first round.
Now, this is how we should approach this situation next time. I'll have everybody roll initiative
first before the door is going to be broke down. We'll do this even if ya'll know or don't know if there are other people
in the next room (if there are people in the next room, I'll secretly determine their initiative) . Than, going through the
initiative order, I'll have whoever is going to break the door down go – using a standard action. If the door comes down in
one round, that person can still move into the room. If there is anybody left in the initiative order, they can act in the
remainder of the Surprise Round (page 267).
However, this is where it can get tricky. If the opponents have a guard on the other side of
the room who's duty is to monitor the door, they are allowed a Perception check to see if they hear you guys on the other
side. Here, it might actually be beneficial for you guys to make Stealth checks. Also, I recommend that one of you make a
Perception (listen) check before breaking the door down – to actually determine if somebody else is in the other room. I'd
hate for you guys to burst into the room with guns blazing and slaughter a group of granny's crocheting. In fact, a better
way to approach the situation might be to have somebody make a Perception check, check the door to see if its actually locked
(stuck), and if not, just open the door (this only requires a minor action). That way, you'll still gain the element of surprise
without all the racket and you can make sure nobody's elderly auntie gets hacked to death. Come to think of it, nobody asked
the githyanki anything before ya'll attacked. The party just assumed they were bad guys... that's too bad... there might have
been some insightful discussion...
On the book front, the Arcane Power comes out tomorrow! This book should be exciting for Justin and Mike's characters. Remember, if you guys find a paragon path
that you like better, I'll let you change your character. The Monster Manual 2 comes out in May. With 3rd Party Publishers, Mongoose should be putting out its Quintessential Rogue sometime next month, and Goodman Games' Hero’s Handbook: Eladrin should also be out next month.
