Do spellcasters use Burning Hands in your game?

[Shard O'Glase]

At first level, your best bet would be to just move in and cast on the defensive. Your Concentration should be at least a +3 or +4, and definately have Combat Casting (another +4 for defensive casting). So, thats a bout a +8 bonus on average against a DC of 16. Very high success percentage, so cast those first level spells in close quarters!

If a wizard you'll have a decent int so decent skill points so put 4 ponts into concentration. (a decent con might give it a total of+6) But enver oh never take combat casting that +4 is only of use at low levels, and only when you'd draw an AoO(which should be fairly rare) If you really feel the need for some boost to concentration take skill focus for a +2 to all concentraiton checks and not jsut avoid the AoO type.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

Actually, two points here about why I love this spell.

First, my Wizard always has burning hands memorized ... mostly as a defensive spell. He uses it when he somehow gets surrounded by orcs, etc... then casts it (on the defensively to avoid AoO) to wipe out everyone around him. Nice spell for first level.

The second great use for burning hands is if you get the Enlarge spell feat. All of a sudden, you've got a second level spell that shoots out a sheet of flame 20 feet from you. This mini-fireball can come in real handy.

What's even better is that metamagic feat in T&B that lets you alter the area of your spells. Turn it into 4 10' cubes, or the standard cone which is fairly large. It is only +1 caster level as well.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

To answer the basic question. It is a rarely cast spell in most games just ebcause MM is the best 1st level attack spell. About the only types you might see cast it are those who have evocaiton barred as a specialty.

I personally cast it a lot just because I think fire is cool.(also I always really loved that scene in dragonlance where Raistlin busted this spell out)

 

[Sejs]

Yes, in the games I'm in Burning Hands sees a good ammount of use, mainly because it:

A) is a good zone-control type spell at a very low level.

and,..

B) it automatically sets flamable things on fire in a 10ft spread. Look around the room you are sitting in right now. Now imagine every single flamable thing in that room on fire. With one casting of a 1st level spell.

and,..

C) is an elemental damage-dealing spell, which means you can Energy Substitution it.

 

[Sejs]

Shard also brings up a good point. Sculpt Spell is just plain -mean- when used with Burning Hands.

40ft hallway? Be full of fire.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

Shard also brings up a good point. Sculpt Spell is just plain -mean- when used with Burning Hands.

40ft hallway? Be full of fire.

Sculpt Spell for the life of me I couldn't remember the name of that feat.

Thanks

 

[kreynolds]

(also I always really loved that scene in dragonlance where Raistlin busted this spell out)

I enjoyed it when Harkel Harpell(sp?) used it too. Toasted up quite a few nasties.

 

[smetzger]

Burning hands is also one of the few good spells for an Arcan Archer to imbue an arrow with.

 

[Rel]

So it sounds like the general answer to the question is, "Yes, Burning Hands gets used in my campaign, but only when the spellcaster can likely assure that he won't take any AoO's."

 

[Dr_Rictus]

So it sounds like the general answer to the question is, "Yes, Burning Hands gets used in my campaign, but only when the spellcaster can likely assure that he won't take any AoO's."

Or feels that he has a good enough AC to chance it, yes.

I'd also note that, playing on a grid where each character occupies a distinct space (as my groups always do), there are actually 3 spaces out of 6 in the burning hands' area of effect that typically do not threaten the caster, not "one creature in the space 10 feet away."