Dragons Breath, Cone of Cold etc.

[jester47]

Does anyone know if a white dragons breath weapon would extinguish open flames like torches and such? Cone of cold does not state that it does this, but then again, a cone of cold is not the dragons breath weapon.

I was wondering because I am retooling the tactics for the White in SC. And it occurs to me that putting the lights out on theplayers might be a handy trick.

I know, I know rules forum... but just wondering.

Aaron.

 

[jester47]

Also, would a character tha got hit by white dragons breath have to deal with the effects of a chill metal spell?

Aaron.

 

[Wycen]

I suppose small open flames could be extinguished. However other effects may also be argued to do the same thing. A fireball could suck up the oxygen used by torches, or a spray of acid or dirt could smother flames.

 

[Simplicity]

Also, would a character tha got hit by white dragons breath have to deal with the effects of a chill metal spell?

Aaron.

Don't know about extinguishing open flames... It's possible, I suppose. Though I doubt it. Fires burn quite well in environments where the temperature is too cold for people to survive. Heck... That's why people light fires.

There definitely isn't a chill metal effect. The damage caused by the
cold is already factored into the breath weapon effect. You could house
rule it this way, but be sure to reduce the breath weapon damage if you do.

 

[Klaus]

Thing is, adding these side effects could really unbalance a creature...

Officially, the white's breath weapon do just the cold damage. Chill metal is a more continuous exposure to the cold energy. One thing a DM might do is say that the white dragon, through meticulous (or reckless) use of its breath weapon, has created cold spots around its lair. Those within are subject to the damage of a chill metal spell (or maybe the Str damage of a chill touch spell).

It's the same with a fireball or a red's breath weapon. While it may ignite combustibles (oil, alcohol and such), it won't set a character ablaze because the energy comes and goes in a split second. It would require a longer exposure to fire to set a character ablaze.

If you say that a white's breath can cause numbness in a victim (like the Str damage of a chill metal spell), add +1 to the white's CR, to reflect the additional challenge. You could also say that an old (or older) white emanates intense cold, affecting all those within melee reach of it with a chill metal spell for as long as they remain within reach. That's good for an additional +1 CR.

Game On!

 

[jester47]

Well, I did not realise chill metal was so intense! (just read the description!). I fuigured it was somthing like taking subdual damage from cold.

Post effects of dragon breath might be an intersting thing to investigate. Or maybe whites IMC will be a little more insideous. Making up for thier small frame with a humdinger of a breathweapon.

However, I think I will house rule that dragon's breath of any sort extingushes open flames. Thats fair and makes sense.

Aaron.

 

[Klaus]

You might want to give characters holding open flames (like torches) a Reflex save (equal to the breath DC) to protect the flames enough to keep them alight. Unattended normal flames are blown out by the breath, while magical flames aren't blown out at all (some of these can even burn underwater so a breath isn't likely to put them out).

Game On!

 

[Napftor]

You could also just say that since BW's are supernatural effects they only deal damage. It's that nebulous magical origin that saves you from worrying about other real-world considerations.

 

[AnthonyJ]

Well, if the candle is exposed to the breath, it certainly goes out (it also freezes solid and shatters; candles have low hit points and hardness). In any event where someone's possessions would take damage from a breath weapon, the candle goes out.

Other than that, I'd say it probably doens't put candles out.

Green dragon breath probably causes candles to temporarily burn strange colors, however.