Domestic Heating and the Elven People

[Tetsubo]

I've been thinking about domestic heating in a world of magic. The most common forms of domestic heating in the real world for most of our history have been burning wood or dung. This is more than likely also true in most fantasy settings, even if magic is fairly common. But this doesn't fit my image of the Elven people and their forest kingdoms. They aren't going to have a large number of domestic livestock and they aren't going to be cutting down a lot of forests. So how do they produce heat?
I've been thinking of some form of Heat Stone magic. Related to Heat Metal but a lower temperature and a longer duration. Maybe a number of different versions at different power levels. A 0-level version that produces fairly low temperatures for under an hour. A longer, higher temperature version at 1st level for day to day heating of food. Maybe one at 3rd for heating dwellings and high temperature requirements (magic
research, etc.). My only concern is how to balance out the spells. How long should each spell last and how much heat should each of them produce? Any thoughts?
Or is this an example of the amount of time I have on my hands...?

 

[Valmur_Dwur]

there is a birthright setting paperback that addresses that problem exactly. The author has them braid prarie grass into "logs". They even teach it to the few humans who don't despoil the forest. mainly due to the fact that the elves kill those that do Of course I don't have the book in front of me so I can't give the title, but I consider it a must read

 

[Fenris]

In many settings (but not all) elves are more tolerant of temperature extremes and need little or no heating (e.g. Tolkien elves)

 

[Jack Haggerty]

Prestidigitation can heat objects to a warm, but not burning temperature (check T&B). Why not just use a Permanent Prestidigitation on a couple of rocks?

 

[Tetsubo]

The Permanecy idea is a good one but that's a 5th level spell. I was thinking more along the lines of a "peoples" spell. Something 3rd level or under that would provide heat for food, domestic heat and magical experiments.

 

[Jack Haggerty]

The Permanecy idea is a good one but that's a 5th level spell. I was thinking more along the lines of a "peoples" spell. Something 3rd level or under that would provide heat for food, domestic heat and magical experiments.

Well, then...

Continual Flame is a 2nd level spell.

Create a similar new spell called Continual Heat...

Continual Warmth

Transmutation
Level: Clr 3, Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

Warmth equivalent in temperature to that of a campfire, emanates from an object that the character touches. The object becomes warm to the touch, but will not burn. The warmth reaches out to a 20 ft. radius from the affected object. The area of warmth will negate any due to environmental cold, but has no effect on magical cold.

Material Component: Worth 50 gp.

 

[Prince Atom]

Warmth equivalent in temperature to that of a campfire, emanates from an object that the character touches. The object becomes warm to the touch, but will not burn. The warmth reaches out to a 20 ft. radius from the affected object. The area of warmth will negate any due to environmental cold, but has no effect on magical cold.

Okay, a little nitpick here... if it gets as warm as a campfire, won't it burn? What are the elfs going to use to cook their meals if they only have these to heat with? And what happens in hot climates? Does the stone not affect hot temperatures, or does it aggravate them?

As for the original question, trees lose limbs and branches all the time. I suppose one could go scavenge for these fallen limbs in order to make fires out of them, but it might be hard to support very many people on this gathering alone without going very far or devoting a lot of time to hunting the limbs.

Why can't the elfs just maintain a grove intended specifically to be used as firewood? One grove per settlement, probably no more than an acre in area, depending on how large the community is. And the trees won't get too large due to their being cut down every so often

TWK
"Elfs? GARDEN?! Make him stop!"

 

[Xeriar]

You can also pile snow around a fallen tree and make a nice, cozy hut for the winter (like an igloo, only -much- easier to build).

You don't really need that much wood for heat, and depending on your diet of choice, other sources (blubber etc.) are available (not considering magic).

 

[Impeesa]

One epic druid and a Verdigris Tsunami.

--Impeesa--

 

[Tetsubo]

Thank you Jack, I saved that. I think I may use it directly or modify it slightly. Going to mull it over a bit.