Fireball

[NMcCoy]

The way I've run it is that fire damage works as normal on objects; to ignite something, you need to do something that causes ongoing fire damage.

One of my houserules is that unattended objects don't make saving throws.

 

[Pbartender]

The way I've run it is that fire damage works as normal on objects; to ignite something, you need to do something that causes ongoing fire damage.

One of my houserules is that unattended objects don't make saving throws.

Or, "It catches fire at 'bloodied' hit points."

Honestly, using the charts on DMG page 65 and the suggestions for vulnerabilities on page 66 as guidelines, something like a tapestry (Large, Cloth, Vulnerability 5 Fire) will have all of 4 hit points.

Even without the vulnerability, a Fireball (or even a Scorching Burst, with a decent Intelligence bonus) will burn it to cinders in a single blast.

 

[Somebloke]

Dm's perogative, all the way.

My players once thought it would be a good idea to liberally roll around the Ball of Flame spell in a cushioned, carpeted, curtained room. Cue spontaneous skill check to stop the place from burning down.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Here's how I've handled it. First and foremost, it needs to be dramatically appropriate -- every little scorching burst isn't going to light up the dungeon. But when the fire burst scores a critical hit against the elite vampire warlock mastermind, killing him, in the dusty old castle attic... he needs to explode and his flaming body parts need to ignite the place, making the fight with the otherworldly entity released by his passing all the more dramatic.

-- 77IM.

*Yoink*.

Damn right it should work like that! It's something I could do with being a bit more aware of, actually, making sure that major NPC's have a decent send-off in terms of a good description.

 

[timbannock]

Description might be your friend:

"The fireball ignites the tapestry, burning it away. Your robes also catch fire. All told, the fireball deals X damage to everyone in the burst. By your action, the fires on your robe are smoldering, and you shake off the shock and ... take your action."

Describe things burning up and describe the clothing of the targets burning off or whatever, but don't deal extra damage or anything. Just assume flammable objects either burn slowly enough that they don't disappear, or they get incinerated. Clothing on a character is toasted and gone or damaged, but the fire itself goes out before dealing any added effects.

Make sure you charge your players for new clothes the next time they go into town though...otherwise the authorities arrest them for indecency. That's the old-school way to show 'em!