We had a group try almost exactly that. I was one of two druids in the party but the only one to say "No way." IIRC, this was 2e, or a homebrew, with the awesome Entangle spell. I entangled the party and threatened them to leave. They came back. I entangled them again and killed the leader. They came back, reinforced. By that time, I was reinforced by several high level Druids. Lost my character for good, but it was worth it!
Setting a forest fire
- Thread starter NewJeffCT
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We had a group try almost exactly that. I was one of two druids in the party but the only one to say "No way." IIRC, this was 2e, or a homebrew, with the awesome Entangle spell. I entangled the party and threatened them to leave. They came back. I entangled them again and killed the leader. They came back, reinforced. By that time, I was reinforced by several high level Druids. Lost my character for good, but it was worth it!
Good story - thanks for sharing
As Umbran noted above, forest fires are pretty much uncontrollable once started. If it spreads to local grassland and then to the locals cornfields then the party would be pretty unpopular in the locality.
True, but the area near the island of goblins has been mostly stripped of any sort of livestock and edible wild animals, and the nearest humans are a few days march away. The goblins need to rely on raiding, scavenging and fishing the river for food.
IronWolf
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The conditions will have a lot to do with it. I've seen bonfires in the woods get quite large and not catch anything on fire enough to start a forest fire to the same woods having fire run rampant through it when a much smaller campfire left unattended managed to catch some underbrush and end up in a good sized woods fire. It was all in the conditions at the time and just how dry the underbrush is.
So start with figuring out a little more about the forest and underbrush in question. Then when was the last series of rains and how long as it been wet or dry. Using those variables to set a DC. I could see a DC ranging from anywhere of a DC5 to a DC30-ish.
So start with figuring out a little more about the forest and underbrush in question. Then when was the last series of rains and how long as it been wet or dry. Using those variables to set a DC. I could see a DC ranging from anywhere of a DC5 to a DC30-ish.
Well, the players did encounter a very rainy day on the way to goblin central, so it has rained within 48 hours or so. It is the equivalent of October in a northerly temperate climate - the players are in a hilly region bordering a mountain range. I would say climate-wise, like central PA or the Adirondack area of NY.
What would alchemist's fire do differently, though, as opposed to lighting something up with a standard torch or other "mundane" source of fire?
IronWolf
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I'd probably say the DC will be on the higher end of the scale then with the recent rainy day and the more northerly climate as opposed to an arid desert climate.
I tend to think of alchemist's fire as a little like napalm, sort of a gel-ly substance that tend to stick and cling as it burns. So to help account for that, mabye give them two checks to see if they successfully start a forest fire? Give them a check in the first round and then one in the second round it is burning. So they end up with two chances to hit the DC due to the tendency of it to coat and stick to things it hits.
If you are so inclined you might even give a slight +2 bonus on the second DC as the first round helped build up more heat and dry out the immediately near brush and such making it a little more likely to catch.
Or maybe there is a middle ground where hitting one DC means you've successfully caught some underbrush on fire generating a lot of smoke, but not likely to catch the whole forest on fire while the higher DC if hit does indeed catch the whole forest on fire.
Pretty subjective criteria, but maybe it helps give you some ideas on how to handle it.
BlackMoria
First Post
For alchemist fire, think small molotov cocktail. The alchemist fire covers a small area instead of a point source like a torch. It also burns for two rounds while the effectiveness of a torch is dependent on how long the torch is in contact with flamable material.
It would be easier to set a tree or bush on fire with alchemist fire because fire is in contact over a wider surface area and burns for 12 secs (2 rounds), making it more likely to have a self sustaining fire. Obviously, the more the better so several alchemist fire in close approximation is better than one.
El Mahdi
Muad'Dib of the Anauroch
The alchemist fire will help start a fire with material that otherwise would be hard to ignite (due to conditions), but is still a finite fuel source and point of combustion. In order to have a forest fire, conditions in the entire area need to be suitable for the spreading of fire. If it's wet or damp like you described, I'd say a forest fire would be impossible. They may start a fairly large and intense localized fire with the alchemist fire (much like a bonfire)...but not a forest fire. Even if the alchemist fire is hot enough to cause some spreading, once the fire spreads beyond the area being fueled by the alchemist fire, it will probably die out.
I'd have to agree, here. The Alchemist's Fire is great for lighting one tree up quickly, but it doesn't make spreading more likely.
Unless, of course, your PCs have several barrels of the stuff lying around....
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