Cave-Ins and Collapses

Cave-Ins and collapses occur when an unstable structure or area of earth collapses in a building, cavern, tunnel, or similar structure. If creatures are present beneath the area of collapse, they are subject to attack from the falling debris and may suffer an injury. After the collapse, the debris can block access to paths and exits or bury creatures alive. Alternatively, a structure or area can collapse from underneath creatures (such as a bridge, weak floor, or tunnel complex), causing creatures to Fall.

Unless particularly unstable, Cave-ins and Collapses usually occur in response to a particular stimulus, such as an explosion, earthquake, the addition of a significant weight, or similar effect. Any powers or abilities that deal Structural Damage have the potential to collapse an unstable structure.

When a collapse happens above a creature (or group of creatures), it is subject to an attack and damage based on the Durability of the Structure (see table below). The target must make a Resilience check [DC 20] to avoid suffering and injury, with a bonus or penalty to the check based on whether the attack hits and the Durability of the structure. Structures of higher Durability may also cause the creature to become Buried beneath them, with the difficulty of the Saving Throw dependent on the Durability of the Structure. Durability also determines the amount of time it takes for unaffected creatures to clear the rubble and free a trapped creature, if it is not able to do so itself.

If the collapse happens beneath a creature, they are subject to the same attack (based on the Durability of the structure), but they instead take Falling damage based on the distance they fall from the collapse.