Fireball and Web -- good combo?

[Bronn Spellforger]

My 6th level Evoker is always looking for ways to destroy monsters using fire... lots and lots of fire.

Let's say I cast Web on a group of Troglodites, and assuming they fail their saves, cast a fireball at them the next round.

1) What would the minus be to the Trogs' reflex save if they're trapped in the web? I'm guessing it would be -2 from their -4 Dexterity for being trapped in the Web.

2) In addition to the 6d6 points of damage from the fireball, would each of those trogs also take an additional 2d4 points of damage from the burning webs (as per the spell description)?

If so, then the chances are, these trog are going to fail their saves and take 8-44 points of damage each! Nice!

Thanks..

 

[Magus_Jerel]

1. Yep - you got it. Now - if they were actually immobilized - no reflex save allowed.

2. yeah - they would take 8d6 of burn - nifty trick.

 

[Xahn'Tyr]

I'm not certain that "immobilized" = "paralyzed" in this instance. The spell description says that people who fail their save "can't move" but I'm thinking that this means they cannot leave the square they are in (as opposed to being frozen rigid). In effect, their movement rate has been cut to zero. Anyway, I'd still allow them a Ref save (though at the penalty mentioned).

 

[Crothian]

It's a very good combo. Personally, we perfer to web and then pick them abart with ranged weapons. Then when it looks like they are about to escape blast them with the fireball. But against weaker opponents either the ranged weapons or the fireball is not needed.

 

[Greatwyrm]

We always called this sort of thing the Poor Man's Fireball. It usually consisted of Web and a torch/vial of greek fire/1st or 2nd level fire spell. It's more useful at lower levels since area effect damage spells are pretty scarce until you get 3rd level spells.

 

[HeavyG]

A better combo would be a web followed by one or more cold(or sonic)-substituted fireballs.

 

[Bronn Spellforger]

A better combo would be a web followed by one or more cold(or sonic)-substituted fireballs.

So you're saying the Web would stand (for another round of attacks), but you'd sacrifice the 2d4 fire damage from the burning webs? Interesting.

Would a lightning bolt destroy the Web?

 

[Crothian]

A better combo would be a web followed by one or more cold(or sonic)-substituted fireballs.

I think the web would take damage from those spells. Spiderwebs fall and break with ice sickles on them. Not sure how much sound would hurt it, though.

 

[HeavyG]

I think the web would take damage from those spells. Spiderwebs fall and break with ice sickles on them. Not sure how much sound would hurt it, though.

Mmh. It's a reasonable interpretation. However :

- IIRC, cold damage does not damage objects (which is weird in itself)
- These are not literally spiderwebs, but rather supernaturally strong magic-made sticky strands.
- If you treat the web like a damageable object (a reasonable interpretation IMO), then everything but cold (if my statement above is correct, that is) damage will affect it, including lightning, acid and sonic damage.


(I have already houseruled acid to destroy webs, but so far, lightning, cold or sonic damage hasn't come up in my games so the ball's still in the air on these.)

 

[Crothian]

The webs are magical, so perhaps give them a saving throw. Lightning would damage them, as that does burn and set things on fire.

It's not something that ever came up IMC, so I never had to deal with it.