Does resistance to fire grant resistance to heat? It's not clear to me that the rules consider them the same energy type (if heat is an energy type at all).
Also, does resistance to an energy type imply the character is comfortable in that sort of environment? Is it reasonable to assume a character with fire resistance 5 is physically comfortable in extremely hot weather?
We have a planetouched character in our campaign, so it's an important question for us.
Thanks,
Jack
In the rules there is no difference between heat and fire, to much heat burns you as the fire does.
Does resistance to fire grant resistance to heat? It's not clear to me that the rules consider them the same energy type (if heat is an energy type at all).
Also, does resistance to an energy type imply the character is comfortable in that sort of environment? Is it reasonable to assume a character with fire resistance 5 is physically comfortable in extremely hot weather?
We have a planetouched character in our campaign, so it's an important question for us.
Thanks,
Jack
I don't know any official answer to this, but I've always presumed that a resistance to fire/cold makes you immune to basic environmental dangers of the related kinds. If you're resistant to lethal cold damage, I can't imagine why you'd be very much bothered by a little cold snap.
I simply agree with VedicCold.
Ultradan
As do I. Heat/fire are the same thing in my campaign world.
A bit from my Hoarde
I checked the rules in Sandstorm (good suppliment, BTW, if your group is delving into hot wastelands) to get a bit more than an opinion. What I found is this:
From Sandstorm, pg 15 under "Resistance to Fire" - "A character with a spell or effect granting resistance to fire applies this resistance to both lethal and nonlethal damage from hot temperatures. ...<snipped>"
The rest consists of a couple examples that demonstrate the application of damage resistance. In short, it's /possible/ for someone with fire resistance to take damage from the heat. And if they don't take damage, they don't need to worry about heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
It doesn't say that it prevents them from having to make the saving throws to begin with. However, if they don't take damage, then they don't suffer Fatigue. And if there's no chance to take damage, the saving throw can probably be ignored.
Also, it doesn't protect them from dehydration, which also incurs nonlethal damage (or lethal, if also suffering damage from the heat).
To sum up: Fire resistance reduces damage from the heat, but does not confer 'levels' of protection as an Endure Elements and other protective measures would. The character would still have to make saving throws, even though they may not suffer any damage and thus avoid Fatigue. The character is also not protected against dehydration.
Thanks all, especially Xellan for the official reference.
The Sandstorm rules were along the lines of my thinking -- I wanted some support though, as my thinking has from time to time conflicted with the rules :)
Jack
In the Frostburn supplement cold resistance of any kind counts as level 3 protection against cold effects. Sandstorm does not mention fire resistance, but it does say endure elements or a similar effect counts as level 3 protection. It only seems fair that a creature with a fire resistance of 5 would have level 3 protection.
Of course, dessication damage is not heat damage, so that is a particuarly easy way to damage creatures with fire resistance (except for fire elementals and other fiery creatures that probably have dessication resistance by default).
In the Frostburn supplement cold resistance of any kind counts as level 3 protection against cold effects. Sandstorm does not mention fire resistance, but it does say endure elements or a similar effect counts as level 3 protection. It only seems fair that a creature with a fire resistance of 5 would have level 3 protection.
Of course, dessication damage is not heat damage, so that is a particuarly easy way to damage creatures with fire resistance (except for fire elementals and other fiery creatures that probably have dessication resistance by default).
Actually, as I quoted above, Sandstorm specifically mentions the effects of fire resistance.
Actually, as I quoted above, Sandstorm specifically mentions the effects of fire resistance.In the Frostburn supplement cold resistance of any kind counts as level 3 protection against cold effects. Sandstorm does not mention fire resistance, but it does say endure elements or a similar effect counts as level 3 protection. It only seems fair that a creature with a fire resistance of 5 would have level 3 protection.
Of course, dessication damage is not heat damage, so that is a particuarly easy way to damage creatures with fire resistance (except for fire elementals and other fiery creatures that probably have dessication resistance by default).
What I was saying was that it does not talk about fire resistance with regards to levels of protection (the 0 - 3 scale). It just talks about how fire resistance reduces nonlethal heat damage. Actually, by default their own explanation proves I'm right because nonlethal heat damage can never exceed 4 points under the normal rules, therefore a creature with fire resistance 5 would be immune to hot weather.
What I was saying was that it does not talk about fire resistance with regards to levels of protection (the 0 - 3 scale). It just talks about how fire resistance reduces nonlethal heat damage. Actually, by default their own explanation proves I'm right because nonlethal heat damage can never exceed 4 points under the normal rules, therefore a creature with fire resistance 5 would be immune to hot weather.
The writers of D&D have shown a track record of being fairly explicit in their writing. When a rules element is specifically outlined, but a particular piece of that element isn't mentioned, then it's not an official part of that rule.
Yes, it would be fair. And I don't deny that there may be errata which fixes an oversight (I'll agree that this is a likely oversight). So sure, granting level 3 protection for Fire resistance is perfectly reasonable.
Perhaps the actual effects of hot weather are precisely why they haven't given fire resistance a protection ranking. Even under Sandstorm rules, the most nonlethal damage one will take is 1d4 under "Unearthly Heat". The rules only state that taking nonlethal damage causes fatigue. So the only risk a character with fire resistance 5 has is the 1 in 6 chance he'll take 1 point of damage (be that per 10 minutes, or per round).
Until they hit a "Burning Heat" place, where everyone takes 3d10 fire damage per round. Yowch.