Attacking with torches

[RangerWickett]

Well, hitting one person with one torch would be club damage, plus maybe 1d6 fire damage. There's nothing special about that.

Hitting a swarm with one torch would be the same, and I wouldn't halve it, because the fire is good at hurting a swarm.

But dousing a swarm in oil and lighting it on fire? I'd be fine with 2d8+6. It wouldn't work against a non-swarm creature, and you probably don't have a ton of oil on you to use this willy nilly.

 

[Ryujin]

I'd be somewhat leery of making it better than an Alchemical device, that's available at the same level.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Well, hitting one person with one torch would be club damage, plus maybe 1d6 fire damage. There's nothing special about that.

Hitting a swarm with one torch would be the same, and I wouldn't halve it, because the fire is good at hurting a swarm.

But dousing a swarm in oil and lighting it on fire? I'd be fine with 2d8+6. It wouldn't work against a non-swarm creature, and you probably don't have a ton of oil on you to use this willy nilly.

I mostly agree but I would make them make a Dex based check to see how much of the swarm they cover in oil.
If they make the eacy DC then half damage, the moderate DC then full damage, and if hard DC then max damage.

They would have to take an attack of opportunity while pouring oil over them.

If they throw the oil at the swarm and hope for the best I would be less generous.

In that case, attack vs reflex with the oil and normal attack with the torch and a saving throw for the swarm to see if the torch hits a oiled critter.
If the swarm fails then ongoing fire damage. How much I would have to look up the critter.

 

[interwyrm]

It depends on if you plan on using rot grubs again in this campaign.

Your player came up with a clever idea, reward him for it! Have it do full damage and daze the swarm for a round. After that, it just does full damage (as they adjust to the heat/light/whatever)

 

[I'm A Banana]

Personally:

Page 42 it. Melee attack roll (no proficiency bonus) vs. Reflex. Have it burn the lil' buggers once, and then the torch goes out.

Ditto with the flask of oil, I'd just up the area affected.

 

[Doombybbr]

fire damage + ongoing fire sounds good and it would probably have a bonus of causing fear(not sure if that ailment exists or not but at least a debuff) to creatures that hate fire eg. snakes.
however it will not be very effective at all vs. enemies who aren't weak to fire.