I have a Druid who has picked up a Fire-forged steel scimitar and is considering casting Heat Metal spell on it to boost its damage potential. How would this work? If it works at all.
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RAW, it does nothing. Heat metal doesn't damage the blade, it damages the wielder.
As a hosue-rule, I would allow the weapon to do it's +1d4 for two rounds after the heat metal spell applied 10 points of damage to you, which may not be until the 4th round.
All in all, it's not a good tactic unless you have a high fire resistance, especially since you can't wear fire forged armor as a druid.
RAW, holding it in a campfire for 1 full round does not damage it either. And "weapons crafted from fire-forged steel similarly channel heat away from the wearer; this does not grant the wielder energy resistance. Instead, the blade absorbs and channels heat to the parts of the weapon that contact enemies."
So, does the Heat Metal spell generate as much heat as a campfire? If it does then you should get the +1d4.
I am thinking it should add +1d4 on rounds 1 and 7, +2d4 on rounds 2 and 6, +3d4 on rounds 3 to 5.
I do not think its too unbalancing for a 2nd level spell.
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Imbicatus got it. Heat metal does not deal damage to the item itself. A fireforged weapon absorbs fire damage dealt to IT not it's wearer. It would work as armor though.
Even if it did, heat metal does not generate the kind of heat a campfire does until 3rd-5th turn since fire does 1d6 points of damage (being on fire).
If you are GM'ing, you are welcome to house-rule it how you wish. If you are the one playing the Druid then don't count on this working the way you want.