Can I defeat Strahd von Zarovich by stuffing him in a bag of holding and tearing it?











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My Adventurers League group is playing though Curse of Strahd and we will be fighting Strahd next session. I'm playing as a diviner with the Lucky feat, the spell Tasha's Hideous Laughter (which will be referred to as THL), and a bag of holding.



Now my plan is to give most of the party scrolls of THL so we can all cast that spell. Statistically, with several people casting that spell, and me basically giving him disadvantage, he will probably fail his save against the spell which will incapacitate him. Then one of the other PCs will stab him with a wooden stake. Next turn we put him in the bag of holding. Then all we need to do is infiltrate his castle and find his resting place, or stab the bag of holding (with mage hand or a ten foot pole) and banish him to the astral plane.



Could this work?










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  • 4




    ♦ Reminder: comments are for helping improve the post, not for discussing the subject nor for posting small or incomplete answers. Please only use answer posts to submit answers on the site, and reserve comments for their intended administrative purpose. Prior comments containing discussion and answers have been removed.
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    Nov 15 at 18:48








  • 1




    Comments are definitely not for correcting errors in the question's reasoning. That's the job for answers. Questions also shouldn't be edited to remove parts that have been answered. I've restored the parts of the question improperly removed based on answers improperly left as comments, to allow answers to continue their correct role.
    – SevenSidedDie
    Nov 15 at 18:53








  • 2




    As a general instruction, please don't update or remove parts of questions in response to getting answers about those parts, even if those parts are based on misreadings. Those are still part of the original problem, and questions should not be “moving targets”.
    – SevenSidedDie
    Nov 15 at 21:33















up vote
21
down vote

favorite
2












My Adventurers League group is playing though Curse of Strahd and we will be fighting Strahd next session. I'm playing as a diviner with the Lucky feat, the spell Tasha's Hideous Laughter (which will be referred to as THL), and a bag of holding.



Now my plan is to give most of the party scrolls of THL so we can all cast that spell. Statistically, with several people casting that spell, and me basically giving him disadvantage, he will probably fail his save against the spell which will incapacitate him. Then one of the other PCs will stab him with a wooden stake. Next turn we put him in the bag of holding. Then all we need to do is infiltrate his castle and find his resting place, or stab the bag of holding (with mage hand or a ten foot pole) and banish him to the astral plane.



Could this work?










share|improve this question




















  • 4




    ♦ Reminder: comments are for helping improve the post, not for discussing the subject nor for posting small or incomplete answers. Please only use answer posts to submit answers on the site, and reserve comments for their intended administrative purpose. Prior comments containing discussion and answers have been removed.
    – SevenSidedDie
    Nov 15 at 18:48








  • 1




    Comments are definitely not for correcting errors in the question's reasoning. That's the job for answers. Questions also shouldn't be edited to remove parts that have been answered. I've restored the parts of the question improperly removed based on answers improperly left as comments, to allow answers to continue their correct role.
    – SevenSidedDie
    Nov 15 at 18:53








  • 2




    As a general instruction, please don't update or remove parts of questions in response to getting answers about those parts, even if those parts are based on misreadings. Those are still part of the original problem, and questions should not be “moving targets”.
    – SevenSidedDie
    Nov 15 at 21:33













up vote
21
down vote

favorite
2









up vote
21
down vote

favorite
2






2





My Adventurers League group is playing though Curse of Strahd and we will be fighting Strahd next session. I'm playing as a diviner with the Lucky feat, the spell Tasha's Hideous Laughter (which will be referred to as THL), and a bag of holding.



Now my plan is to give most of the party scrolls of THL so we can all cast that spell. Statistically, with several people casting that spell, and me basically giving him disadvantage, he will probably fail his save against the spell which will incapacitate him. Then one of the other PCs will stab him with a wooden stake. Next turn we put him in the bag of holding. Then all we need to do is infiltrate his castle and find his resting place, or stab the bag of holding (with mage hand or a ten foot pole) and banish him to the astral plane.



Could this work?










share|improve this question















My Adventurers League group is playing though Curse of Strahd and we will be fighting Strahd next session. I'm playing as a diviner with the Lucky feat, the spell Tasha's Hideous Laughter (which will be referred to as THL), and a bag of holding.



Now my plan is to give most of the party scrolls of THL so we can all cast that spell. Statistically, with several people casting that spell, and me basically giving him disadvantage, he will probably fail his save against the spell which will incapacitate him. Then one of the other PCs will stab him with a wooden stake. Next turn we put him in the bag of holding. Then all we need to do is infiltrate his castle and find his resting place, or stab the bag of holding (with mage hand or a ten foot pole) and banish him to the astral plane.



Could this work?







dnd-5e spells magic-items dnd-adventurers-league curse-of-strahd






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edited Nov 16 at 4:26









SevenSidedDie

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202k26643922










asked Nov 15 at 15:54









Josiah Riggan

334111




334111








  • 4




    ♦ Reminder: comments are for helping improve the post, not for discussing the subject nor for posting small or incomplete answers. Please only use answer posts to submit answers on the site, and reserve comments for their intended administrative purpose. Prior comments containing discussion and answers have been removed.
    – SevenSidedDie
    Nov 15 at 18:48








  • 1




    Comments are definitely not for correcting errors in the question's reasoning. That's the job for answers. Questions also shouldn't be edited to remove parts that have been answered. I've restored the parts of the question improperly removed based on answers improperly left as comments, to allow answers to continue their correct role.
    – SevenSidedDie
    Nov 15 at 18:53








  • 2




    As a general instruction, please don't update or remove parts of questions in response to getting answers about those parts, even if those parts are based on misreadings. Those are still part of the original problem, and questions should not be “moving targets”.
    – SevenSidedDie
    Nov 15 at 21:33














  • 4




    ♦ Reminder: comments are for helping improve the post, not for discussing the subject nor for posting small or incomplete answers. Please only use answer posts to submit answers on the site, and reserve comments for their intended administrative purpose. Prior comments containing discussion and answers have been removed.
    – SevenSidedDie
    Nov 15 at 18:48








  • 1




    Comments are definitely not for correcting errors in the question's reasoning. That's the job for answers. Questions also shouldn't be edited to remove parts that have been answered. I've restored the parts of the question improperly removed based on answers improperly left as comments, to allow answers to continue their correct role.
    – SevenSidedDie
    Nov 15 at 18:53








  • 2




    As a general instruction, please don't update or remove parts of questions in response to getting answers about those parts, even if those parts are based on misreadings. Those are still part of the original problem, and questions should not be “moving targets”.
    – SevenSidedDie
    Nov 15 at 21:33








4




4




♦ Reminder: comments are for helping improve the post, not for discussing the subject nor for posting small or incomplete answers. Please only use answer posts to submit answers on the site, and reserve comments for their intended administrative purpose. Prior comments containing discussion and answers have been removed.
– SevenSidedDie
Nov 15 at 18:48






♦ Reminder: comments are for helping improve the post, not for discussing the subject nor for posting small or incomplete answers. Please only use answer posts to submit answers on the site, and reserve comments for their intended administrative purpose. Prior comments containing discussion and answers have been removed.
– SevenSidedDie
Nov 15 at 18:48






1




1




Comments are definitely not for correcting errors in the question's reasoning. That's the job for answers. Questions also shouldn't be edited to remove parts that have been answered. I've restored the parts of the question improperly removed based on answers improperly left as comments, to allow answers to continue their correct role.
– SevenSidedDie
Nov 15 at 18:53






Comments are definitely not for correcting errors in the question's reasoning. That's the job for answers. Questions also shouldn't be edited to remove parts that have been answered. I've restored the parts of the question improperly removed based on answers improperly left as comments, to allow answers to continue their correct role.
– SevenSidedDie
Nov 15 at 18:53






2




2




As a general instruction, please don't update or remove parts of questions in response to getting answers about those parts, even if those parts are based on misreadings. Those are still part of the original problem, and questions should not be “moving targets”.
– SevenSidedDie
Nov 15 at 21:33




As a general instruction, please don't update or remove parts of questions in response to getting answers about those parts, even if those parts are based on misreadings. Those are still part of the original problem, and questions should not be “moving targets”.
– SevenSidedDie
Nov 15 at 21:33










4 Answers
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up vote
38
down vote



accepted










I see a couple of problems with this plan:




  1. The size of a bag of holding. While the bag has internal volume sufficient to hold Strahd, getting him inside may prove impossible.


    This bag has an interior space considerably larger than its outside dimensions, roughly 2 feet in diameter at the mouth and 4 feet deep.




  2. Strahd, like most "boss monsters" has legendary resistances. 5 Castings of Tasha's Hideous Laughter is unlikely to be enough to incapacitate him, even with portent dice.


    Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If Strahd fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.




  3. The feat lucky isn't going to apply here, as it only affects attacks against you and your attacks, not saves against your spells.


    Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20 ... You can also spend one luck point when an attack roll is made against you.




  4. I wouldn't count on Strahd not having a way back from the Astral Plane. He's a powerful spellcaster, a vampire and has made many deals with the dark powers.






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  • 17




    One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
    – V2Blast
    Nov 15 at 18:55










  • @V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
    – Perkins
    Nov 15 at 21:41






  • 6




    For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
    – Hobbamok
    Nov 16 at 8:37








  • 5




    Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
    – Kevin
    Nov 16 at 13:58


















up vote
38
down vote













According to page 24 in Curse of Strahd (using this related answer):




No spell - not even wish -- allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral Projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail...




A Bag of Holding may not be a spell, but reading a bit further...




Magic that summons creatures or objects from other planes functions normally in Barovia, as does magic that involves an extradimensional space. Any spells cast within such an extradimensional space (such as that created by Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion) are subject to the same restrictions as magic cast in Barovia.




As such, banishing him to the astral plane doesn't seem like an option.






share|improve this answer



















  • 21




    This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
    – Perkins
    Nov 15 at 21:49






  • 2




    @Perkins I was about to post this link sageadvice.eu/2016/07/22/… and then I saw your username, and I don't know if you just coincedentally share a name with Christopher Perkins or you're actually him but... lol, I'll just leave the link.
    – tox123
    Nov 17 at 5:02










  • @tox123 It's a coincidence. And that link is a subtly different question I think.
    – Perkins
    Nov 17 at 9:27


















up vote
30
down vote













There are several problems



1.) Nothing Leaves Ravenloft



A central problem in Ravenloft is that it is all but impossible to leave that plane. Relevant text can be found here (Curse of Strahd, p. 24, bold added):




No spell - not even wish - allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail, as do effects that banish a creature to another plane of existence. These restrictions apply to magic items and artifacts that have properties that transport or banish creatures to other planes.




As such, the bag of holding would not be able to transport a creature to another plane of existence.



2.) Heart Stabbing is not a given



If you could stab a creature in the heart whenever it was incapacitated automatically, then THL would be a save-or-die spell for most creatures. 5e doesn't have specific rules on "called shots", but there's some guidance given, with relevant text on hit points in the PHB p. 197:




When you drop below half your hit point maximum, you show signs of wear, such as cuts and bruises. An attack that reduces you to 0 hit points strikes you directly, leaving a bleeding injury or other trauma, or it simply knocks you unconscious.




In order to drive a wooden stake through Strahd's heart, you'd need to reduce him to zero hit points. Normally, this is done by attempting to stake the vampire when it is already at 0 hit points, which brings me to my next point.



3.) Timing Matters



Note the relevant text on staking a vampire (MM p. 297, bold added)




Stake to the Heart. If a piercing weapon made of wood
is driven into the vampire's heart while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place, the vampire is paralyzed until the stake is removed.




It's not enough to have the vampire in its resting place, incapacitated, with a stake through its heart that was driven there earlier: you must drive the stake through its heart "while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place." Unless Strahd was somehow in his coffin when you (successfully) cast tasha's hideous laughter on him, these terms would not be satisfied by your strategy.



4.) Spell Scrolls only work for certain people



Although any person can read a generic "magical scroll" to attempt to decypher its meaning, a spell scroll is a specific magic item with its own rules. Specifically (DMG, p.200):




If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can use an action to read the scroll and cast its spell without having to provide any of the spell's components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible.




Since tasha's hideous laughter is a first level spell, I'm assuming that any character in your party who has it on their class's spell list could cast it already without a scroll. But anyone who doesn't have that spell on their class list will be unable to use the spell scroll to cast it.






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  • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – mxyzplk
    Nov 17 at 23:10


















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From my understanding you could not "shred" or "stab" a bag of holding as it was more of a portal to another dimension.



Provided you could fit a creature or object inside your bag of holding, your best bet would be to toss them in a Portable Hole.






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  • 11




    An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
    – Gandalfmeansme
    Nov 15 at 19:39













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4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes








4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
38
down vote



accepted










I see a couple of problems with this plan:




  1. The size of a bag of holding. While the bag has internal volume sufficient to hold Strahd, getting him inside may prove impossible.


    This bag has an interior space considerably larger than its outside dimensions, roughly 2 feet in diameter at the mouth and 4 feet deep.




  2. Strahd, like most "boss monsters" has legendary resistances. 5 Castings of Tasha's Hideous Laughter is unlikely to be enough to incapacitate him, even with portent dice.


    Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If Strahd fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.




  3. The feat lucky isn't going to apply here, as it only affects attacks against you and your attacks, not saves against your spells.


    Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20 ... You can also spend one luck point when an attack roll is made against you.




  4. I wouldn't count on Strahd not having a way back from the Astral Plane. He's a powerful spellcaster, a vampire and has made many deals with the dark powers.






share|improve this answer

















  • 17




    One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
    – V2Blast
    Nov 15 at 18:55










  • @V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
    – Perkins
    Nov 15 at 21:41






  • 6




    For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
    – Hobbamok
    Nov 16 at 8:37








  • 5




    Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
    – Kevin
    Nov 16 at 13:58















up vote
38
down vote



accepted










I see a couple of problems with this plan:




  1. The size of a bag of holding. While the bag has internal volume sufficient to hold Strahd, getting him inside may prove impossible.


    This bag has an interior space considerably larger than its outside dimensions, roughly 2 feet in diameter at the mouth and 4 feet deep.




  2. Strahd, like most "boss monsters" has legendary resistances. 5 Castings of Tasha's Hideous Laughter is unlikely to be enough to incapacitate him, even with portent dice.


    Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If Strahd fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.




  3. The feat lucky isn't going to apply here, as it only affects attacks against you and your attacks, not saves against your spells.


    Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20 ... You can also spend one luck point when an attack roll is made against you.




  4. I wouldn't count on Strahd not having a way back from the Astral Plane. He's a powerful spellcaster, a vampire and has made many deals with the dark powers.






share|improve this answer

















  • 17




    One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
    – V2Blast
    Nov 15 at 18:55










  • @V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
    – Perkins
    Nov 15 at 21:41






  • 6




    For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
    – Hobbamok
    Nov 16 at 8:37








  • 5




    Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
    – Kevin
    Nov 16 at 13:58













up vote
38
down vote



accepted







up vote
38
down vote



accepted






I see a couple of problems with this plan:




  1. The size of a bag of holding. While the bag has internal volume sufficient to hold Strahd, getting him inside may prove impossible.


    This bag has an interior space considerably larger than its outside dimensions, roughly 2 feet in diameter at the mouth and 4 feet deep.




  2. Strahd, like most "boss monsters" has legendary resistances. 5 Castings of Tasha's Hideous Laughter is unlikely to be enough to incapacitate him, even with portent dice.


    Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If Strahd fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.




  3. The feat lucky isn't going to apply here, as it only affects attacks against you and your attacks, not saves against your spells.


    Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20 ... You can also spend one luck point when an attack roll is made against you.




  4. I wouldn't count on Strahd not having a way back from the Astral Plane. He's a powerful spellcaster, a vampire and has made many deals with the dark powers.






share|improve this answer












I see a couple of problems with this plan:




  1. The size of a bag of holding. While the bag has internal volume sufficient to hold Strahd, getting him inside may prove impossible.


    This bag has an interior space considerably larger than its outside dimensions, roughly 2 feet in diameter at the mouth and 4 feet deep.




  2. Strahd, like most "boss monsters" has legendary resistances. 5 Castings of Tasha's Hideous Laughter is unlikely to be enough to incapacitate him, even with portent dice.


    Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If Strahd fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.




  3. The feat lucky isn't going to apply here, as it only affects attacks against you and your attacks, not saves against your spells.


    Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20 ... You can also spend one luck point when an attack roll is made against you.




  4. I wouldn't count on Strahd not having a way back from the Astral Plane. He's a powerful spellcaster, a vampire and has made many deals with the dark powers.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Nov 15 at 16:09









Matt Rick

952515




952515








  • 17




    One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
    – V2Blast
    Nov 15 at 18:55










  • @V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
    – Perkins
    Nov 15 at 21:41






  • 6




    For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
    – Hobbamok
    Nov 16 at 8:37








  • 5




    Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
    – Kevin
    Nov 16 at 13:58














  • 17




    One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
    – V2Blast
    Nov 15 at 18:55










  • @V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
    – Perkins
    Nov 15 at 21:41






  • 6




    For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
    – Hobbamok
    Nov 16 at 8:37








  • 5




    Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
    – Kevin
    Nov 16 at 13:58








17




17




One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
– V2Blast
Nov 15 at 18:55




One more problem: you can only use a spell scroll if the spell is already on your spell list. It doesn't let non-casters cast spells.
– V2Blast
Nov 15 at 18:55












@V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
– Perkins
Nov 15 at 21:41




@V2Blast You can potentially get around that via skulduggery with glyph of warding if necessary.
– Perkins
Nov 15 at 21:41




6




6




For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
– Hobbamok
Nov 16 at 8:37






For Point 4.: That could lead to a good story though. They think they banished him, are looting the castle, and all of a sudden all lights go out ...
– Hobbamok
Nov 16 at 8:37






5




5




Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
– Kevin
Nov 16 at 13:58




Your other points are excellent, but point 1 questionable. You would not have much trouble getting a 2 foot diameter hoop over most people. Maybe some difficulty with a large person who was resisting, but certainly not "impossible". Or am I wrong and is Strahd particularly large?
– Kevin
Nov 16 at 13:58












up vote
38
down vote













According to page 24 in Curse of Strahd (using this related answer):




No spell - not even wish -- allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral Projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail...




A Bag of Holding may not be a spell, but reading a bit further...




Magic that summons creatures or objects from other planes functions normally in Barovia, as does magic that involves an extradimensional space. Any spells cast within such an extradimensional space (such as that created by Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion) are subject to the same restrictions as magic cast in Barovia.




As such, banishing him to the astral plane doesn't seem like an option.






share|improve this answer



















  • 21




    This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
    – Perkins
    Nov 15 at 21:49






  • 2




    @Perkins I was about to post this link sageadvice.eu/2016/07/22/… and then I saw your username, and I don't know if you just coincedentally share a name with Christopher Perkins or you're actually him but... lol, I'll just leave the link.
    – tox123
    Nov 17 at 5:02










  • @tox123 It's a coincidence. And that link is a subtly different question I think.
    – Perkins
    Nov 17 at 9:27















up vote
38
down vote













According to page 24 in Curse of Strahd (using this related answer):




No spell - not even wish -- allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral Projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail...




A Bag of Holding may not be a spell, but reading a bit further...




Magic that summons creatures or objects from other planes functions normally in Barovia, as does magic that involves an extradimensional space. Any spells cast within such an extradimensional space (such as that created by Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion) are subject to the same restrictions as magic cast in Barovia.




As such, banishing him to the astral plane doesn't seem like an option.






share|improve this answer



















  • 21




    This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
    – Perkins
    Nov 15 at 21:49






  • 2




    @Perkins I was about to post this link sageadvice.eu/2016/07/22/… and then I saw your username, and I don't know if you just coincedentally share a name with Christopher Perkins or you're actually him but... lol, I'll just leave the link.
    – tox123
    Nov 17 at 5:02










  • @tox123 It's a coincidence. And that link is a subtly different question I think.
    – Perkins
    Nov 17 at 9:27













up vote
38
down vote










up vote
38
down vote









According to page 24 in Curse of Strahd (using this related answer):




No spell - not even wish -- allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral Projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail...




A Bag of Holding may not be a spell, but reading a bit further...




Magic that summons creatures or objects from other planes functions normally in Barovia, as does magic that involves an extradimensional space. Any spells cast within such an extradimensional space (such as that created by Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion) are subject to the same restrictions as magic cast in Barovia.




As such, banishing him to the astral plane doesn't seem like an option.






share|improve this answer














According to page 24 in Curse of Strahd (using this related answer):




No spell - not even wish -- allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral Projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail...




A Bag of Holding may not be a spell, but reading a bit further...




Magic that summons creatures or objects from other planes functions normally in Barovia, as does magic that involves an extradimensional space. Any spells cast within such an extradimensional space (such as that created by Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion) are subject to the same restrictions as magic cast in Barovia.




As such, banishing him to the astral plane doesn't seem like an option.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited Nov 15 at 16:18

























answered Nov 15 at 16:12









Mwr247

1,330714




1,330714








  • 21




    This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
    – Perkins
    Nov 15 at 21:49






  • 2




    @Perkins I was about to post this link sageadvice.eu/2016/07/22/… and then I saw your username, and I don't know if you just coincedentally share a name with Christopher Perkins or you're actually him but... lol, I'll just leave the link.
    – tox123
    Nov 17 at 5:02










  • @tox123 It's a coincidence. And that link is a subtly different question I think.
    – Perkins
    Nov 17 at 9:27














  • 21




    This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
    – Perkins
    Nov 15 at 21:49






  • 2




    @Perkins I was about to post this link sageadvice.eu/2016/07/22/… and then I saw your username, and I don't know if you just coincedentally share a name with Christopher Perkins or you're actually him but... lol, I'll just leave the link.
    – tox123
    Nov 17 at 5:02










  • @tox123 It's a coincidence. And that link is a subtly different question I think.
    – Perkins
    Nov 17 at 9:27








21




21




This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
– Perkins
Nov 15 at 21:49




This does yield an interesting question of what happens to the contents of a bag of holding if it's destroyed in Ravenloft... What if you stuff Strahd into the bag, stuff the bag into a deep hole in the ground, and then puncture it? Does the resulting nuclear explosion vaporize Strahd, his resting place, and half of Barovia? Does he simply end up in some random location? Does the GM flip the table and storm out of the room?
– Perkins
Nov 15 at 21:49




2




2




@Perkins I was about to post this link sageadvice.eu/2016/07/22/… and then I saw your username, and I don't know if you just coincedentally share a name with Christopher Perkins or you're actually him but... lol, I'll just leave the link.
– tox123
Nov 17 at 5:02




@Perkins I was about to post this link sageadvice.eu/2016/07/22/… and then I saw your username, and I don't know if you just coincedentally share a name with Christopher Perkins or you're actually him but... lol, I'll just leave the link.
– tox123
Nov 17 at 5:02












@tox123 It's a coincidence. And that link is a subtly different question I think.
– Perkins
Nov 17 at 9:27




@tox123 It's a coincidence. And that link is a subtly different question I think.
– Perkins
Nov 17 at 9:27










up vote
30
down vote













There are several problems



1.) Nothing Leaves Ravenloft



A central problem in Ravenloft is that it is all but impossible to leave that plane. Relevant text can be found here (Curse of Strahd, p. 24, bold added):




No spell - not even wish - allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail, as do effects that banish a creature to another plane of existence. These restrictions apply to magic items and artifacts that have properties that transport or banish creatures to other planes.




As such, the bag of holding would not be able to transport a creature to another plane of existence.



2.) Heart Stabbing is not a given



If you could stab a creature in the heart whenever it was incapacitated automatically, then THL would be a save-or-die spell for most creatures. 5e doesn't have specific rules on "called shots", but there's some guidance given, with relevant text on hit points in the PHB p. 197:




When you drop below half your hit point maximum, you show signs of wear, such as cuts and bruises. An attack that reduces you to 0 hit points strikes you directly, leaving a bleeding injury or other trauma, or it simply knocks you unconscious.




In order to drive a wooden stake through Strahd's heart, you'd need to reduce him to zero hit points. Normally, this is done by attempting to stake the vampire when it is already at 0 hit points, which brings me to my next point.



3.) Timing Matters



Note the relevant text on staking a vampire (MM p. 297, bold added)




Stake to the Heart. If a piercing weapon made of wood
is driven into the vampire's heart while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place, the vampire is paralyzed until the stake is removed.




It's not enough to have the vampire in its resting place, incapacitated, with a stake through its heart that was driven there earlier: you must drive the stake through its heart "while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place." Unless Strahd was somehow in his coffin when you (successfully) cast tasha's hideous laughter on him, these terms would not be satisfied by your strategy.



4.) Spell Scrolls only work for certain people



Although any person can read a generic "magical scroll" to attempt to decypher its meaning, a spell scroll is a specific magic item with its own rules. Specifically (DMG, p.200):




If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can use an action to read the scroll and cast its spell without having to provide any of the spell's components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible.




Since tasha's hideous laughter is a first level spell, I'm assuming that any character in your party who has it on their class's spell list could cast it already without a scroll. But anyone who doesn't have that spell on their class list will be unable to use the spell scroll to cast it.






share|improve this answer























  • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – mxyzplk
    Nov 17 at 23:10















up vote
30
down vote













There are several problems



1.) Nothing Leaves Ravenloft



A central problem in Ravenloft is that it is all but impossible to leave that plane. Relevant text can be found here (Curse of Strahd, p. 24, bold added):




No spell - not even wish - allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail, as do effects that banish a creature to another plane of existence. These restrictions apply to magic items and artifacts that have properties that transport or banish creatures to other planes.




As such, the bag of holding would not be able to transport a creature to another plane of existence.



2.) Heart Stabbing is not a given



If you could stab a creature in the heart whenever it was incapacitated automatically, then THL would be a save-or-die spell for most creatures. 5e doesn't have specific rules on "called shots", but there's some guidance given, with relevant text on hit points in the PHB p. 197:




When you drop below half your hit point maximum, you show signs of wear, such as cuts and bruises. An attack that reduces you to 0 hit points strikes you directly, leaving a bleeding injury or other trauma, or it simply knocks you unconscious.




In order to drive a wooden stake through Strahd's heart, you'd need to reduce him to zero hit points. Normally, this is done by attempting to stake the vampire when it is already at 0 hit points, which brings me to my next point.



3.) Timing Matters



Note the relevant text on staking a vampire (MM p. 297, bold added)




Stake to the Heart. If a piercing weapon made of wood
is driven into the vampire's heart while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place, the vampire is paralyzed until the stake is removed.




It's not enough to have the vampire in its resting place, incapacitated, with a stake through its heart that was driven there earlier: you must drive the stake through its heart "while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place." Unless Strahd was somehow in his coffin when you (successfully) cast tasha's hideous laughter on him, these terms would not be satisfied by your strategy.



4.) Spell Scrolls only work for certain people



Although any person can read a generic "magical scroll" to attempt to decypher its meaning, a spell scroll is a specific magic item with its own rules. Specifically (DMG, p.200):




If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can use an action to read the scroll and cast its spell without having to provide any of the spell's components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible.




Since tasha's hideous laughter is a first level spell, I'm assuming that any character in your party who has it on their class's spell list could cast it already without a scroll. But anyone who doesn't have that spell on their class list will be unable to use the spell scroll to cast it.






share|improve this answer























  • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – mxyzplk
    Nov 17 at 23:10













up vote
30
down vote










up vote
30
down vote









There are several problems



1.) Nothing Leaves Ravenloft



A central problem in Ravenloft is that it is all but impossible to leave that plane. Relevant text can be found here (Curse of Strahd, p. 24, bold added):




No spell - not even wish - allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail, as do effects that banish a creature to another plane of existence. These restrictions apply to magic items and artifacts that have properties that transport or banish creatures to other planes.




As such, the bag of holding would not be able to transport a creature to another plane of existence.



2.) Heart Stabbing is not a given



If you could stab a creature in the heart whenever it was incapacitated automatically, then THL would be a save-or-die spell for most creatures. 5e doesn't have specific rules on "called shots", but there's some guidance given, with relevant text on hit points in the PHB p. 197:




When you drop below half your hit point maximum, you show signs of wear, such as cuts and bruises. An attack that reduces you to 0 hit points strikes you directly, leaving a bleeding injury or other trauma, or it simply knocks you unconscious.




In order to drive a wooden stake through Strahd's heart, you'd need to reduce him to zero hit points. Normally, this is done by attempting to stake the vampire when it is already at 0 hit points, which brings me to my next point.



3.) Timing Matters



Note the relevant text on staking a vampire (MM p. 297, bold added)




Stake to the Heart. If a piercing weapon made of wood
is driven into the vampire's heart while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place, the vampire is paralyzed until the stake is removed.




It's not enough to have the vampire in its resting place, incapacitated, with a stake through its heart that was driven there earlier: you must drive the stake through its heart "while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place." Unless Strahd was somehow in his coffin when you (successfully) cast tasha's hideous laughter on him, these terms would not be satisfied by your strategy.



4.) Spell Scrolls only work for certain people



Although any person can read a generic "magical scroll" to attempt to decypher its meaning, a spell scroll is a specific magic item with its own rules. Specifically (DMG, p.200):




If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can use an action to read the scroll and cast its spell without having to provide any of the spell's components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible.




Since tasha's hideous laughter is a first level spell, I'm assuming that any character in your party who has it on their class's spell list could cast it already without a scroll. But anyone who doesn't have that spell on their class list will be unable to use the spell scroll to cast it.






share|improve this answer














There are several problems



1.) Nothing Leaves Ravenloft



A central problem in Ravenloft is that it is all but impossible to leave that plane. Relevant text can be found here (Curse of Strahd, p. 24, bold added):




No spell - not even wish - allows one to escape from Strahd's domain. Astral projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail, as do effects that banish a creature to another plane of existence. These restrictions apply to magic items and artifacts that have properties that transport or banish creatures to other planes.




As such, the bag of holding would not be able to transport a creature to another plane of existence.



2.) Heart Stabbing is not a given



If you could stab a creature in the heart whenever it was incapacitated automatically, then THL would be a save-or-die spell for most creatures. 5e doesn't have specific rules on "called shots", but there's some guidance given, with relevant text on hit points in the PHB p. 197:




When you drop below half your hit point maximum, you show signs of wear, such as cuts and bruises. An attack that reduces you to 0 hit points strikes you directly, leaving a bleeding injury or other trauma, or it simply knocks you unconscious.




In order to drive a wooden stake through Strahd's heart, you'd need to reduce him to zero hit points. Normally, this is done by attempting to stake the vampire when it is already at 0 hit points, which brings me to my next point.



3.) Timing Matters



Note the relevant text on staking a vampire (MM p. 297, bold added)




Stake to the Heart. If a piercing weapon made of wood
is driven into the vampire's heart while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place, the vampire is paralyzed until the stake is removed.




It's not enough to have the vampire in its resting place, incapacitated, with a stake through its heart that was driven there earlier: you must drive the stake through its heart "while the vampire is incapacitated in its resting place." Unless Strahd was somehow in his coffin when you (successfully) cast tasha's hideous laughter on him, these terms would not be satisfied by your strategy.



4.) Spell Scrolls only work for certain people



Although any person can read a generic "magical scroll" to attempt to decypher its meaning, a spell scroll is a specific magic item with its own rules. Specifically (DMG, p.200):




If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can use an action to read the scroll and cast its spell without having to provide any of the spell's components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible.




Since tasha's hideous laughter is a first level spell, I'm assuming that any character in your party who has it on their class's spell list could cast it already without a scroll. But anyone who doesn't have that spell on their class list will be unable to use the spell scroll to cast it.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited Nov 16 at 3:12

























answered Nov 15 at 16:09









Gandalfmeansme

16.9k363108




16.9k363108












  • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – mxyzplk
    Nov 17 at 23:10


















  • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – mxyzplk
    Nov 17 at 23:10
















Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– mxyzplk
Nov 17 at 23:10




Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– mxyzplk
Nov 17 at 23:10










up vote
-3
down vote













From my understanding you could not "shred" or "stab" a bag of holding as it was more of a portal to another dimension.



Provided you could fit a creature or object inside your bag of holding, your best bet would be to toss them in a Portable Hole.






share|improve this answer



















  • 11




    An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
    – Gandalfmeansme
    Nov 15 at 19:39

















up vote
-3
down vote













From my understanding you could not "shred" or "stab" a bag of holding as it was more of a portal to another dimension.



Provided you could fit a creature or object inside your bag of holding, your best bet would be to toss them in a Portable Hole.






share|improve this answer



















  • 11




    An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
    – Gandalfmeansme
    Nov 15 at 19:39















up vote
-3
down vote










up vote
-3
down vote









From my understanding you could not "shred" or "stab" a bag of holding as it was more of a portal to another dimension.



Provided you could fit a creature or object inside your bag of holding, your best bet would be to toss them in a Portable Hole.






share|improve this answer














From my understanding you could not "shred" or "stab" a bag of holding as it was more of a portal to another dimension.



Provided you could fit a creature or object inside your bag of holding, your best bet would be to toss them in a Portable Hole.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited Nov 15 at 22:57









V2Blast

18.1k248114




18.1k248114










answered Nov 15 at 19:33









rstephen

1




1








  • 11




    An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
    – Gandalfmeansme
    Nov 15 at 19:39
















  • 11




    An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
    – Gandalfmeansme
    Nov 15 at 19:39










11




11




An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
– Gandalfmeansme
Nov 15 at 19:39






An interesting idea, but the bag of holding does have specific rules for what happens if it (the physical bag) is punctured or torn. Specifically, the contents are scattered across the astral plane (DMG, p. 153-154).
– Gandalfmeansme
Nov 15 at 19:39




















 

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