D&D 3E/3.5 [3.0/3.5] Fire Shield

[jgsugden]

The damage applies on each attack. A high level cleric shielded in fire shield can be a pain for a creature using natural attacks.

Ways to avoid the damage: Energy resistance spells, weapons with the reach ability (the easiest way for a melee warrior to keep going - see the last sentence in second paragraph of the description) or missile weapons.

 

[kreynolds]

I'm not worried about ways to avoid the damage. That's my players' problem, not mine.

 

[green slime]

The spell definitely works at every strike.

The dead giveaway is the flickering blue, green or violet flames, which warns the experienced PC to stay away, or seek another solution to the problem at hand. Anybody who immolates themselves before striding into battle should be taken as a serious threat.

Back in 1e, this little beauty used to deal double the damage dealt to the spell caster, to the attacker.

 

[MacMathan]

Maybe it works well for the cleric types out there but against tougher foes it is a death sentence for an arcane caster to stand toe to toe.

Sure the fighter may have taken 4 hits for ~18 points each but most level 16+ fighters I have seen would still have plenty of HP's left while a lot of level 16 wizards will be on the floor bleeding.

I have mainly seen it used to keep the lower HD humanoid hoards from grappling the caster ( or at least holding on for very long)

 

[green slime]

Eldritch Knights will quite happily saunter in to battle with Fire shield, stoneskin, and displacement.

the combination with stoneskin is particularly good, as the fire shield reacts to a strike, not to wether the caster actually receives damage.

 

[green slime]

I just recalled a fight IMC, where a 1st fighter/7th Wizard NPC would have slaughtered a 9th level PC fighter in melee combat, were it not for the 9th level (PC) cleric at his side.

They didn't manage to hit the NPC.

With Still spell feat, and in magical Full Plate, hasted, with displacement, shield, and Expertise... Fire shield would have been overkill.

This was without the Eldritch Knight PrC.

A hasted sorcerer with his full compliment of magic missiles can bring down a fighter in a terrifyingly short period of time.

5 ft. step, 2*(4d4+4) adds up real quick. Killed a Fighter PC in two rounds.

 

[Plane Sailing]

5 ft. step, 2*(4d4+4) adds up real quick. Killed a Fighter PC in two rounds.

More fool the PC fighter for not taking a 5ft step and grappling or something then!

 

[Iku Rex]

That's what I thought too, but then I saw it in action against a 20th-level drow cleric. That poor player would have suffered around 126 points of damage.

And how much damage did the cleric suffer? Fire shield is balanced because usually the caster takes more damage per hit than the attacker.

(BTW, if you want a more efficient "don't hit me" defense, use an empowered Mestil's acid sheath [MoF]. )

 

[green slime]

More fool the PC fighter for not taking a 5ft step and grappling or something then!

Indeed. I seem to recall he attempted a grapple and failed. Still goes to show one shouldn't underestimate the effect of magic missiles.

This character had a brooch of shielding but had lent it to another character. And he charged away from the main battle to engage this sorcerer who had been sniping at the party from the shadows.

So there was no backup to quickly heal him up.

Truth be told, I rolled phenomally well as well. I don't think any series of 4d4+4 did under 16 damage...

Just remembered, with shield and haste that puts the touch AC at 21 at least. Which is non-trivial, even for a 6th-7th level fighter.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Just remembered, with shield and haste that puts the touch AC at 21 at least. Which is non-trivial, even for a 6th-7th level fighter.

I wouldn't allow shield to improve the touch AC. Now in 3.5e I believe it is officially a shield bonus, but even in 3e I'd have no difficulty in ruling no touch AC bonus.

I'm glad the fighter tried, at least. There's no accounting for bad dice luck at the time!