The title is literal, not lyrical, in this case.
A certain PF publication talks about harming an incorporeal creature (a shadow in this case) with fire from a torch or lit oil. Is there any evidence in the PF (or heck even 3.5) rules that this is possible?
Nope. In both PF and 3.5 incorporeal creatures are immune to all nonmagical attack forms.
Fair enough. Thanks.
Given who wrote those words, I was certain I was missing something that the Pathfinder rules had deliberately changed.
The Beastiary isn't out yet, so we don't know all of the details, but as you found in
The Beastiary isn't out yet, so we don't know all of the details, but as you found in ** spoiler omitted ** incorporeality has changed. Non-magical weapons still do nothing, but magical weapons, energy (including fire damage from a lit torch) and spells deal half damage. No more rolling a 50% chance for full effect or nothing. Force effects and ghost-touch weapons still deal full damage.
This is cool. I'm not sure I agree that ALL incorporeal creatures should take damage from fire but I think shadows should. I also prefer the simpler 50% damage to rolling every time.
This may be a specific situation for shadows, but is definitely not the standard for all incorporeal creatures (well, unless they're changing it with the bestiary release, but that would be weird). The PRD states:
Incorporeal
Creatures with the incorporeal condition do not have a physical body. Incorporeal creatures are immune to all nonmagical attack forms. Incorporeal creatures take half damage (50%) from magic weapons, spells, spell-like effects, and supernatural effects. Incorporeal creatures take full damage from other incorporeal creatures and effects, as well as all force effects.
This would be easily covered for shadows if they have a racial susceptibility to light/fire. Other incorporeal creatures that have been previewed (the allip, for instance) were not noted as being vulnerable to fire.
This would be easily covered for shadows if they have a racial susceptibility to light/fire. Other incorporeal creatures that have been previewed (the allip, for instance) were not noted as being vulnerable to fire.
It was a good theory. But the shadow's in the new preview and it doesn't mention fire. And the description of incorporeal matches the others.
Holy water is identified as the only non-magical thing that can harm them. (And since when is holy water non-magical anyway?)