The rules for heat dangers say that in conditions of extreme heat you take 1d6 points of lethal damage per minute with no save, and in addition you also have to make a Fortitude save every 5 minutes or take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage.
That seems rather redundant to me. 5d6 lethal damage with no save plus 1d4 nonlethal damage on a failed save? It doesn't seem like that would matter anymore at that point. Is it supposed to work that way, or did there get something mixed up?
Damage, and its type, always "matter." Depending on how many HP you have, that nonlethal damage could be the difference between standing up and acting another round (possibly getting yourself out of the situation) or passing out helpless. It could also be the difference between a simple Cure Light Wounds getting you back up on your feet after you pass out from extended heat exposure (nonlethal healing is done in equal amounts so essentially healing is doubled) or more intensive care being needed.
I guess another way to put it, the rule is there to try and create a sense of urgency (as eventually your nonlethal damage will exceed your current HP value, as it is constantly being chipped away at every minute). It also allows those with good Fort saves to weather the exposure better than those who don't, which makes sense.
Reading it up again, the lethal damage from extreme heat is fire damage, which the nonlethal damage is not. So even if you're not burned by the heat, you still suffer from your body overheating. Makes sense in some way.
Reading it up again, the lethal damage from extreme heat is fire damage, which the nonlethal damage is not. So even if you're not burned by the heat, you still suffer from your body overheating. Makes sense in some way.
Not so.
James,
Can you make a ruling about the effectiveness of cold/fire resistance and evironmental dangers of heat and cold? Does cold/fire resistance negate the dangers of cold/heat? Does it reduce the lethal damage one would take if the fail the associated save? Does one get a bonus to fortitude save for their resistance? Inquiring minds would like to know.
Damage from cold temperatures is cold damage. Damage from hot temperatures is fire damage.
(Sits back and waits for someone to run with this post and cause a big scene over in the rules forums.)
I just found the very good argument that immunity to fire has to include immunity against heat, because otherwise all the native creatures of the plane of fire would be passed out all the time.
