|
For a scenario I'm adapting I need either a low-level spell or a low level monster that might be summoned, that could reasonably end up inadvertently starting a structure fire. That is, an NPC casts the spell or summons the monster without the intent to set the building on fire, and the building ends up set on fire. I'd prefer something official, that could reasonably be explained as doing that under the rules as written. Any suggestions? Premaster or Remaster would work for this purpose.
Second choice would be a pointer to a third party product that contains a spell or monster that fits the bill.
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
Lava otter. You just can't get mad at such an adorable arsonist.
The Illuminate cantrip is also an amazing way to accidentally burn a house down because you didn't notice a candle fell and rolled under a couch.
The Illuminate cantrip is also an amazing way to accidentally burn a house down because you didn't notice a candle fell and rolled under a couch.
Hah. That is phenomenal.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
If spells used to try to blast creatures are on the table for the narrative leading up to this fire, any indiscriminate AoE also fits. Burning Hands/Breathe Fire may only describe the damage they do to creatures, but the written rules for that sort of spell are "GM determines how they impact the environment" not "only creatures are affected".
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
For a scenario I'm adapting I need either a low-level spell or a low level monster that might be summoned, that could reasonably end up inadvertently starting a structure fire. That is, an NPC casts the spell or summons the monster without the intent to set the building on fire, and the building ends up set on fire. I'd prefer something official, that could reasonably be explained as doing that under the rules as written. Any suggestions? Premaster or Remaster would work for this purpose.
Second choice would be a pointer to a third party product that contains a spell or monster that fits the bill.
Fire scamp seems about right. Level 1, fire attacks etc.
|
|
If spells used to try to blast creatures are on the table for the narrative leading up to this fire, any indiscriminate AoE also fits.
I’m about to start a campaign using (an on-the-fly conversion of) Monte Cook’s Ptolus, and the book specifically states that “spells of mass destruction cast within the city proper (no fireballs[)]” are illegal, so you’re on the right track, but this will be an encounter for first level characters, so that limits me a bit.
Burning Hands/Breathe Fire may only describe the damage they do to creatures, but the written rules for that sort of spell are "GM determines how they impact the environment" not "only creatures are affected".
I don’t necessarily want to strongly set the precedent that spells, by default, affect the environment. But I’m not ruling it out.
|
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
I think there's a line somewhere about how much collateral damage from area spells is reasonable. If you never let them do any collateral damage at all, it's silly. But if you overdo it, it hamstrings the game.
If you Breathe Fire on someone standing on the other side of a desk, burning some of the papers on the desk, I don't think is unreasonable. They were easily flammable and exposed.
You don't want to go too far - the desk itself is probably just a bit singed, and in general you don't want to go through a whole inventory of every room any time someone uses an area attack.
I think it's also important to never "gotcha" your players - it's fine if an NPC is dumb and does it. But if a player were to do it you shouldn't surprise them that this time it has bad effects when last time it was totally fine. If the PC had been arguing about paperwork on the desk and the player says they want to Breathe Fire, you should ask them "are you sure? you'd be burning the papers on the desk", not "haha, you forgot about the papers on the desk".
Also, it's something to take in account when picking NPC tactics and loot/plot things. You wouldn't want to stage a fight between a fire dragon and the PCs in the room and give it a fabulous hoard of scrolls and then halfway go "oh drat, I guess all the loot is burned now". The players never stood much chance of getting any of that loot with the way the encounter was set up. (There's interesting opportunities there actually if the dragon also doesn't want to burn the hoard, so attacking it exactly there is a way to get it to hold back from using its breath weapon.)
Is this meant to be a combat encounter?
|
|
Is this meant to be a combat encounter?
Yeah. It's an adaptation of a 3.X encounter in which an enemy caster summons a fire elemental, which incidentally starts a house fire. I don't think that is even how it worked in 3.X, and I'd like something a little more rules-compliant to hang my hat on.
So far Fire Ray looks to be my best bet, since "On any result other than a critical failure, the ground in the target's space catches fire[.]"