Question about basic pyrokinesis


Rules Questions


So it say, that the light you create with light produces heat like a normal flame.

So if i cast light on an enemies armor what happens? Do he become slightly warm or will he get burned by the heat.
Can i use it on some rocks to cook food on?
Can i ignite things with it?

Any one ells have any ideas of what you can do with it?


So if i cast light on an enemies armor what happens? Do he become slightly warm or will he get burned by the heat.
I'd say he feels warm. I wouldn't allow it to hurt enemies because the ability doesn't say it can. One shouldn't allow autofire damage with something that doesn't have an attack roll or saving throw and as a level 0 cantrip. Essentially, a cantrip shouldn't replicate a level 2 spell "Heat Metal".

Can i use it on some rocks to cook food on?
I'd allow that.

Can i ignite things with it?
Sure. That and spark would be good for flammable objects.

Any one ells have any ideas of what you can do with it?
With heat adaption, I'd put the light on hand and use it as a torch and also to ignite flammable things as I walk by.


Sorry to respond after so long, and i agree on balance grounds, but it's kinda silly that it's hot enough to cook food but not harm a person.

Fire that is as hot as fire hurts but light that is equally hot doesn't.

Could you use the light, which is as hot as fire, to boil water?

Also, if you can start fires with it, why would using it on armor not ignite flammables on the wearers person?

It seems like it's more trouble than it's worth for the added flavor light being hot gets you.

Also worth noting it should only be balanced against a cantrip on average, since it's the main part of a basic utility wild talent(arguably one of the strongest), which are worth anywhere between equal to a full wild talent(aether) and a nerfed cantrip + the cost of pruning shears(phyto-)

& "set stuff on fire" is exactly what you(I) want out of basic pyrokinesis thematically, which spark doesn't really do.

Shame there's no direct combat application that isn't preposterously unfair.

It'd probably be fixed if it had a reflex save or caveat about not working on attended items though.

EDIT: cleaned up censored language in italics.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

You want things hot enough to hurt someone, use fire blast.

Logic arguments for kineticists break down for every element.


You're a kineticist, and can create fire at will with your mind, so...

1) An enemy would just feel warm, you want them to catch fire, you blast them with a burning infusion, don't expect basic pyro to do something that requires a blast, an infusion, and a failed save to do.

2) Sure, go ahead, the fire is a bit small since it's supposed to be equivalent to a torch, but over time it might work.

3) It should, again, over time, if you want it done quickly, use spark.

4) Don't use it to light your way in old coal mines, or if you're stuck in a small isolated room, other than that, the same stuff you generally do with a light spell.


Sorry bout the dead bump.

as pertaining to the using light cantrip equivalent to set people on fire. by using the rules of harmless spells to non harmless (something that is usually very situational) such as using a cure spell on a skeleton, you must make a touch attack against the enemy to set them on fire, now this states that it burns as normal fire, which is 1d6 damage a round but can be put out on their turn for a dc 15 Reflex save as per putting out a normal fire. it could also be doused with water or they could stop drop and roll and give themselves that bonus. this makes it very ineffective against heavily armored opponents who would have several turns (3 if we go by heat metal) to put out the flames (and you cant just cover them in fire as you can only have 1 effect at a time). when placing light on substantially sized objects you basically leave a hand print of light, and thus in this case fire. so if you wanted to do well with this in combat you need to hit clothes or flesh. now this is twice as much damage as say, acid splash, but it is also a touch based spell-like/Supernatural ability and thus provokes or must be cast defensively. this makes it a risky thing to use in combat but also balanced, risk vs reward. to make it not overly appealing the fire should go out if smothered, whetted, or otherwise extinguished, but otherwise maintain the 10 min/lvl time frame. i think i covered everything there. not sure, point out any issues please.

Dark Archive

Well, it casts light as per the cantrip, so it can only target objects, not flesh. However, it is magical and magical fires usually take more than non-magical water to extinguish them.

I agree it would take a touch attack to the enemy's clothing and it would provoke an AoO since it is an SP ability.

1 fire damage per turn from the get go, just like if someone had a torch pressed up to them.
(Damage from a medium torch is 1d3 +1fire)

No waiting period like heat metal. It doesn't have to 'heat up,' it just starts as hot as a torch. Better than a cantrip should be (because it is Pyrokinesis.. derp) but still less effective and more risky than just igniting someone from a distance with a burning blast.

Fun, clever, legit, but sub par.
Epic for shenanigans though.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / Question about basic pyrokinesis All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.