A More specific - how would you respond to this request?

[Mort]

Some posters thought the question in this thread was a bit too broad. I actually don't think so and think the responses have been very enlightening. That said, I can certainly see how narrowing the situation might be even more enlightening/interesting.

Also, I had a conversation with a friend this morning about his game session last night where this exact question came up.

On to the scenario he faced and the situation that arose (Apparently this straight from the Pathfinder Legacy of Fire adventure path - So possible very minor spoiler warning).

It is the first encounter of the first session of the campaign:

The setting is a desert - windy and lots of sand everywhere - not that much water (though here there is some it is not rare).

A gyspy wagon (part of a larger caravan, think a medium sized trailor) is on fire and the caravan master is trying to get help where he can.

The PCs are nearby.

One of them is a wizard with the spell Expeditous Excavation and wants to use it to put out some or all of the fire. As it is the Pathfinder SRD I doubt reposting it is problematic but instead I'll link to it and if there are any problems with that, gladly take it down.

How do you respond to the player's request?

[edit: replaced dessert with desert - oops!]

 

[jonesy]

I'd say that since the burst of grit and dirt that the spell allows is good enough to provide concealment, then it's also good enough to extinguish the fire. At least partially.

 

[Dykstrav]

Yeah, I'd let that happen.

The spell's description says that you can affect one square with concealment with a "burst of dust and grit." The spell's description doesn't specifically say that the dust and grit can be used to extinguish a fire, but a look at the rules for dousing a fire (Environmental Rules - Pathfinder_OGC) makes it seem reasonable to me.

Dousing a Fire


Source Pathfinder Adventure Path volume #25: Bastards of Erebus

Dousing a fire requires a large amount of water or other non-flammable material, such as dirt, to be deposited on the burning area. One effective strategy for extinguishing a fire quickly is to surround the burning area with nonflammable material. PCs doing this must make a ranged touch attack against an AC of 10 to deliver their payload to the intended square. The following indicates how many 5-foot squares of fire a number of the listed containers can extinguish with successful delivery.​

• Waterskin: Twenty waterskins full of water extinguish one square.
• Bucket: Four buckets full of non-flammable material extinguish one square.
• Gallon Container: Twelve gallon containers of nonflammable material extinguish one square.
• Cauldron: One cauldron of non-flammable material extinguishes one square.
• Portable Hole: A portable hole filled with non-flammable material extinguishes a 12-square-by-12-square area.
• Bag of Holding: A bag of holding, type I filled with nonflammable material extinguishes a 3-square-by-3-square area, type II extinguishes a 5-square-by-5-square area, type III extinguishes a 7-square-by-7-square area, and type IV extinguishes a 10-square-by-10-square area.

 

[Mark CMG]

I can see that smothering the fire in a five foot square area but if the fire is larger by the time the PC reacts, more will need to be done.

 

[Herremann the Wise]

The setting is a dessert... not that much water ...How do you respond to the player's request?

Sounds like you need to introduce more egg whites but remember to whisk well until you can produce a soft peak before folding it into the mixture.

What?

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

PS: Sounds OK to me.

 

[Mort]

Sounds like you need to introduce more egg whites but remember to whisk well until you can produce a soft peak before folding it into the mixture.

What?

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

PS: Sounds OK to me.

Just to be clear, this is not my campaign and these are not my players.

I'll post the DMs response a bit later.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

 

[Herremann the Wise]

Just to be clear, this is not my campaign and these are not my players.

I'll post the DMs response a bit later.

Fair enough and the DMs response would be interesting. It was your spelling though.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Wycen]

This kinda reminds me of the other thread, "I have the spell to solve the problem" or whatever the thread is named.

Anyway, I'd say this spell will help, but not finish it in one fell swoop. And depending on where they target the spell, might cause some damage to the wagon or its contents, say, like if they cast it right under the wheels.

 

[Umbran]

Well, that dirt does have to go somewhere. I'd say that smothering a 5' square might be appropriate. Or maybe smothering a ring around where you put the hole, as you don't really have control of where that dirt is flying.

 

[JamesonCourage]

I'd say that it probably takes care of the fire in that square, and has a chance of affecting the squares around it. If used on the square underneath a vehicle, I don't think I'd say the vehicle would stop burning, but it'd probably dampen the fire.

To be honest, though, I don't really get the connection between this and the last thread. I mean, I see how they're tangentially connected, but not in any direct way. Then again, I steadfastly hold to a "it depends" viewpoint, so maybe that's why. As always, play what you like