Rules for a house fire?

[ellindsey]

My players are currently exploring a decrepit abandoned mansion in a homebrew campaign I'm running. At the end of the last session they were exploring a dressing room with rotted furniture, piles of old crumbling clothing, and a spider swarm that they have just discovered and will have to fight.

As I plan for the next session, it occurs to me that several of the party have fire-based magic and attacks and are likely to use them, while in a room that is full of flammable materials, in a crumbling wooden structure.

Are there any rules for running a house fire? Any suggestions for how quickly it should spread? I figure I can probably fudge something based on the environmental damage rules, but I'm curious if anyone else has every had to run a situation like this.

[breithauptclan]

I would set it up as a Victory Point system.

Running from the fire would be a chase type - a diminishing point system. So start the players with 4 points, overcoming obstacles increases their points, the fire spreading automatically reduces their points as the fire catches up to them. If they run out of points, they start taking some meaningful damage. If they survive a certain number of fire rounds, then they escape to a safer area.

Fighting the fire could also be a victory point system. Probably a point gaining system this time. The players start with 0 points. They need to do things - usually involving relevant DC skill checks - in order to gain points. If they gain enough points within a certain amount of time, then they put out the fire.

[Ravingdork]

I recommend adapting this Town Hall Fire hazard to suit your needs.

I've run it myself AND have survived a real fire; the encounter was incredible in how it emulated real life in terms of "act quickly and it's no sweat, hesitate, and everyone dies in short order."

There are also rules available for a forest fire or wildfire that might also serve as mechanical inspiration.

I hope that helps. :)

[ellindsey]

Ravingdork wrote:

I recommend adapting this Town Hall Fire hazard to suit your needs.

I've run it myself AND have survived a real fire; the encounter was incredible in how it emulated real life in terms of "act quickly and it's no sweat, hesitate, and everyone dies in short order."

There are also rules available for a forest fire or wildfire that might also serve as mechanical inspiration.

I hope that helps. :)

A modified version of the Town Hall Fire hazard looks like it will be exactly what I need, thanks.