So, this is how my table has always run splash weapons as they pertain to swarms. You can target a swarm with a splash weapon, since it's a weapon. I know that swarms consisting of Diminutive or smaller creatures are immune to weapon damage, but that's not the same as being immune to being targeted by weapon attacks. I can make an attack roll with my greatsword against a swarm composed of Fine creatures; I'm just not going to deal any damage to it.
What we've further houseruled is that even though technically a Diminutive- or Fine-creatured swarm should be immune to a splash weapon's main damage, and thus only take the splash damage, it instead takes full damage from a splash weapon, as well as splash damage, and this combined damage is increased by 50%.
This seems, to me at least, the comport more closely with the RAI of how swarms function vis-a-vis area effects, and I think it seems like a balanced way of allowing non-spellcasters to be able to handle swarms at least somewhat more competently.
Thoughts?
Cheers,
- Gears
I would rule it the same way if it ever came up in my game. So I agree at least. Take that for what you will.
Cheers for the reply. I mean, I'm reckoning it seems balanced and all. Alchemical splash weapons are fairly expensive, and this is one way to make them actually useful outside of classes and archetypes specifically designed to boost their utility. Still, I figured it couldn't hurt to sound the sage Paizo boards community for input. :)
Since we are discussing reasonable house rules and not RAW, sounds proper to me, if I picture throwing a molotov cocktail on a carpet of spiders, I do imagine that they would get toasted a bit.