Grease spell = grease fire?

[werk]

Most greases do not burn easily at room temperature. Grease fires happen when the grease is heated, such as when cooking, to a near-boiling point. This generally takes more than 6 seconds.

And slathering flash-point grease all over the place would probably have other effects not mentioned in the spell as well.

Maybe if we say it's commercial grease rather than cooking grease... Grease for High Temperature and Extreme Pressure Application

Best use of grease IMC involved a little latitude in the rules for flair. The party wound up facing a fire giant BBEG, and a multi-classed squishy in the group thought that a little grease would maybe give them the upper hand (it was his only spell left and he desperately wanted to contribute). He cast the grease under the giant, which promptly made his balance check. The rest of the party unloaded on him, taking him down to a measley single hitpoint. Then it was his turn, balance check rolled a 1, so I said that he took that last point of damage when he fell...hard.

"Is that the best you can...WHA?!? <crash>"






The Onion...Americas finest news source.

 

[Cedric]

I have to agree with werk. Most greases do not burn easily at room temperature. Grease fires happen when the grease is heated, such as when cooking, to a near-boiling point. This generally takes more than 6 seconds.

I agree in 3.x that Grease is not meant to be flammable. But, remember back in 1e, we were dealing with rounds that lasted a minute. That...and the stipulation (in our group while playing 1e) that once you cast Grease you had to spend a round setting it on fire...is why we considered it flammable in 1e.

 

[werk]

...is why we considered it flammable in 1e.

I thought it was considered flammable because it said so in the spell's description. <shrug>

 

[Cedric]

I thought it was considered flammable because it said so in the spell's description. <shrug>

It first appeared in Unearthed Arcana (the original), and I don't believe it was specified as being flammable there. However, it may have been considered flammable in the 2e PHB.

 

[Glyfair]

It first appeared in Unearthed Arcana (the original), and I don't believe it was specified as being flammable there. However, it may have been considered flammable in the 2e PHB.

No, the 2E PHB doesn't mention it as being flammable. As to the type of grease it creates, the material component is either a piece of pork rind, or some butter.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I appreciate your analogy, and I'm not saying it lacks merit.

However, there is a big difference between an open ladle of grease from the kitchen and a body wrapped in layers of moist skin.

The butter is also a good point, but again, that's just a matter of perception. If you perceive the spell as having wiped everything down with butter...then I agree, not reasonably flammable.

If you perceive the spell as having poured kitchen grease on an area...very flammable.

Search google for "grease fire".

Yes, there is a big difference - the ladle of grease from the kitchen is already hot enough to do damage - stick your hand in a kettle of hot grease and find out. (Well, don't really, it will hurt, and make you look silly into the bargain....) The Grease spell does not say 'covers an area with hot grease, so no, it is a lot closer to butter, lard, shortening, chicken fat, vegetable oil, lubricating oil, etc - while they can all be set on fire it is not already hot enough to catch on fire. Heck, try lighting a puddle of lamp oil on fire - it does not ignite all that easily either.

I would not allow the Grease spell to be used in this fashion either.

The Auld Grump

 

[Geoff Watson]

It first appeared in Unearthed Arcana (the original), and I don't believe it was specified as being flammable there. However, it may have been considered flammable in the 2e PHB.

In both 1e and 2e it was stated that the grease was non-inflammable (ie it cannot be easily set alight).

PS: Why does everyone use "flammable" when they mean "inflammable"?

Geoff.

 

[Particle_Man]

PS: Why does everyone use "flammable" when they mean "inflammable"?

Because people who don't understand english that well (including some fire fighters) read certain containers saying "inflammable" and thought that meant that they were "not flammable". This lead to real fires that destroyed real properties. The powers that be decided that it would be easier to relable certain things "flammable" then try to educate everyone who might become a fire fighter.

And that change has trickled down to today, so that "flammable" and "inflammable" have the same meaning, but some people think that latter means "not flammable".

 

[wayne62682]

Quoth Dr. Nick Riviera (of Simpsons fame):

Don't worry, its inflammable!

*KABOOM*

Inflammable means flammable?! What a country!

 

[Cedric]

In both 1e and 2e it was stated that the grease was non-inflammable (ie it cannot be easily set alight).

PS: Why does everyone use "flammable" when they mean "inflammable"?

Geoff.

The original Unearthed Arcana didn't specify if Grease was flammable or not. Was it stated somewhere else in 1e?

As to 2e, I couldn't say. I never played much 2e and didn't save my books. Once my group read that Magic Missile was limited to 5 missiles, we tossed it out as junk.

As to flammable vs inflammable...they have the same meaning in this context. I use flammable because it's two letters shorter and less cumbersome in daily use.