Again, if the fire dealt 1d6 fire damage, it wouldn't be a problem. But the Flaming ability adds +1d6 fire damage to the damage dealt by the weapon. The whip doesn't deal zero damage; it deals no damage. The two are treated very differently in D&D.
A character who can cast 0 3rd level spells, with an ability score that grants 1 3rd level bonus spell, gets a total of one spell. 0 + 1 = 1.
A character who can't cast 3rd level spells, with an ability score that grants 1 3rd level bonus spell, gets no 3rd level spells. -- + 1 = --.
An 8th level ranger with the Mageslayer feat has a caster level of 0. With an orange ioun stone, which grants +1 caster level, he has a caster level of 1. An 8th level fighter has no caster level. An orange ioun stone does nothing for him.
A character who has his Dex permanently damaged to 0, then reads a Manual of Quickness of Action +3 (by telekinesis, perhaps
) has a Dex of 3. 0 + 3 = 3. A Formian Queen who reads the same book gets no benefit. -- + 3 = --.
A whip deals no damage. No damage +1d6 fire damage is -- + 1d6.
-Hyp.
