Wrath of Hell questions

[Navdi]

Wrath of Hell states that a character with this feat can summon hellfire, which surrounds the character or his weapon for one round causing +1 dmg on melee attacks or causing 1 dmg to anyone who strikes the character. A few questions:

* Does the hellfire illuminate? How much?
* Can I light a torch with it?

[Navdi]

Some kind of answer to this one before Sunday would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Ratpick]

Well, this is no official ruling, but I'd say that since it's fire it should illuminate like a torch. Personally I don't see this coming up too often as it'll only work during your turn, but it might be of use when fighting in darkness.

[Navdi]

I can think of several uses for a fire-starting at will ability. Say, touch attacks to set someone's clothes or hair on fire, starting a brushfire in a dry field, creating a fire or an explosion in any place that has loads of flammable/combustible materials, such as a sawmill, a mill or a bakery. Not to mention the intimidation value of "OMG, that guy's on fire. Its a demon! Run, you fools!"

[Ratpick]

Navdi wrote:

I can think of several uses for a fire-starting at will ability. Say, touch attacks to set someone's clothes or hair on fire, starting a brushfire in a dry field, creating a fire or an explosion in any place that has loads of flammable/combustible materials, such as a sawmill, a mill or a bakery. Not to mention the intimidation value of "OMG, that guy's on fire. Its a demon! Run, you fools!"

Unfortunately, none of these cases are covered by the rules as per the SRD. Remember, objects still have a huge damage resistance to elemental damage, as stupid as it may be.

As much as it'd make sense to give a character a circumstance bonus to Intimidate because of a flaming sword, it'd have to be done through DM fiat... besides, it'd make any character with a flaming weapon an extremely good intimidator, even though such weapons aren't probably THAT special.

[Matthew Morris]

I seriously thought about a Chelaxian fighter, with maxed out ranks in Ride and Intimidate, who fought with a spiked chain. Better Still, a Paladin

I'm sure I'm not alone.

[Ulak]

I would suggest that you not read into the feat, and simply accept that the only purpose the "hellfire" has is to give the extra damage during combat. Otherwise I would suggest it is colorless, odorless, invisible, incapable of starting fires, etc...

This is a case of taking the fluff of the description of a Feat effect and trying to make it crunchy in my opinion.

The extra point of damage is fire-based in order to identify which resistance protects from it, as well as which susceptibility it would take advantage of. Otherwise I recommend thinking of it as "heat" damage not as an open flame.

So no Hellfire candle-lit dinners for anyone with this feat. Just the ability to do another point of fire-based heat damage with a warm message from the bowels of hell attached.

At least that's how I'd go with it until the Paizo folks rule differently.

[Joshua J. Frost]

It gives off the equivalent of torch light. No it can't set fire to anything. It's one round of magic "fire" damage--not a zippo. :-)