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So I've played some PFS scenarios lately that had some brutal swarms. They were at high enough level that carrying a few alchemist's fire just didn't cut it anymore. Obviously this isn't an issue for arcane casters, but what about martials and divine casters? What other options exist for dealing with higher-level swarms? Here's what I can think of:
Gear:
-Swarmbane Clasp (Expensive, and not useful against anything else)
-Necklace of Fireballs (Expensive, and risky)
Divine Spells:
-Sound Burst (Still low damage, and depending on GM, the stun effect might be useless)
-Wrathful Mantle (Mediocre damage, especially for a 3rd-level spell)
Anything else I should know about?
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Swarmsuit - If you know its coming, makes you immune to it, so you can just walk past it.
Spells:
Gust of Wind and any spell that creates wind works on them. Even though the swarm is a Large creature, you treat it as though it were the size of the individual creatures in the swarm.
Wind Fan (5.5k gp 1/day each additional time 20% cumulative chance to break)
Elixir of Forceful Exhalation, 3 gust of winds within an hour of taking it.
Scrolls of Gust of wind are your best bet for that spell though. Druid/Magus/Sorcerer/Wizard
Anything that does area of effect damage does 50% more damage. Generally swarms have less HP than a monster of similar CR.
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Vermin Repellent
Elixir of Fire Breath
Druid: air elemental (either summoned or transformed) Whiiiirl wind attack!
Fire elemental: go ahead.. hit me!
Flaming sphere
Aqueous orb.
Hmm, I might have to invest in some vermin repellent so I can run away while they feast on my teammates.
The Elixer of Forceful Exhalation would be great if the swarms are flying, but against crawling swarms, the damage isn't so great. I think Elixer of Fire Breath is the way to go so far for my Cleric and Oracle.
Druid has flame strike
And ice storm
Yeah, I know Druids have a solid selection of blasting spells, but Clerics/Oracles, not so much.
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Ingredients:
Ring of fire resistance.
Flask of oil.
Tindertwig.
Process:
Step one: Pour oil on self.
Step two: Set self on fire.
Conclusion:
Swarm will either try to avoid you, or if it does insist on attacking will take fire damage each turn they share space with you.
Depending on the environment, could you use the oil to create a fire to block the swarm? Such as pouring the oil in a ring around yourself, and lighting it on fire.
Obviously circumstantial (dangerous in buildings made using wood; generally frowned upon), and not accounted for in the rules as an action and its effect, but it would make sense for it to work, no? These are hardly large bears that could charge through the fire, but instead dozens/hundreds/thousands of small creatures that would each be burnt badly over a large portion of their bodies.
Would you accept a player using bottles of oil/drinks with high alcohol content as a ranged touch weapon similar to an alchemist's fire? (obviously it would take another action to light, creating an obvious opportunity/actual monetary cost scenario)
Hang on, a Swarmbane Clasp is 3000gp, and you say you're playing at high level. That's hardly expensive. How high level are we talking?
A ring of feather falling isn't useful against anything except falling, either.
Well, high level for PFS, which is about 7+. I might actually go with the Swarmbane Clasp for my combat Oracle, but it won't help my caster Cleric much.
[q]and not accounted for in the rules as an action and its effect, but it would make sense for it to work, no?[/q]
Look under the entry for oil flask in equipment. Just add more oil if not happy with damage :)
Why didn't the gouge tags work?
Steal (...ok, I got nothin' on this one)
Don't come up with anything for this. I just know my players will figure out how to pick-pocket a swarm and stuff the whole swarm into a pouch for later use.
Ingredients:
Ring of fire resistance.
Flask of oil.
Tindertwig.Process:
Step one: Pour oil on self.
Step two: Set self on fire.
Conclusion:
Swarm will either try to avoid you, or if it does insist on attacking will take fire damage each turn they share space with you.
Yes. Alchemist fire could do it a little quicker if you want to get fancy.
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Ingredients:
Ring of fire resistance.
Flask of oil.
Tindertwig.Process:
Step one: Pour oil on self.
Step two: Set self on fire.
Conclusion:
Swarm will either try to avoid you, or if it does insist on attacking will take fire damage each turn they share space with you.
This will work even without the ring of fire resistance, so why use that, it's expensive isn't it???
About the whole lighting yourself on fire thing resistance 5 does t give u immunity to suffocation...
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No, but the average character can hold his breath for a pretty long time.
You can hold your breath for a number of rounds equal to twice your Constitution score, but only if you do nothing other than take move actions or free actions. If you take a standard action or a full-round action (such as making an attack), the remainder of the duration for which you can hold your breath is reduced by 1 round. (Effectively, a character in combat can hold his breath only half as long as normal.)
I always thought that using a burning torch as a weapon against a swarm would be pretty effective???
Anything else I should know about?
Get in and pull up the rope. It is an extra-dimensional space that can be sealed off from the environment.
Sound burst and shout are good choices, sonic resistance is rare.
+1 for just leaving the area.
It's a bit cold, but bait works well too. Cast mount, summon something, or sacrifice the horses to buy yourself time to flee.
WInd wall can buy time.