Is 'Heat' a damage type?

[rvalle]

In our game last night there was a fight with a large number of Magmin.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/magmin.htm

Magmin deal damage three ways... a Burning touch +4 melee touch (1d8 fire plus combustion), a slam attack and by:

Fiery Aura (Ex)
Anyone within 20 feet of a magmin must succeed on a DC 12 Fortitude save or take 1d6 points of heat damage per round from the intense heat. The save DC is Constitution-based.


I tried to treat the head damage as a seperate type as 'fire'. While the parties 'Pro Energy (Fire)' was stopping the Fire damage they were going to take 'heat' damage.

This raised the question of was it the fire or heat that would cause metal weapons to melt.

One of the players asked if the Magmin were immune from Fire or Heat. As they were only immune to Fire this would mean they would take 'heat' damage.


I gave it up as a bad idea and decided that Endure Elements saves them from temps below 140 and Pro Fire from Fire and Heat above that. And their weapons were safe as well.

Was that right?

rv

 

[green slime]

I'd apply three ounces of "common" sense, and say that the designers meant fire damage, and therefore, the magmin does not need to suffer "heat" damage.

I'm also guessing here that this is the only occurance of "heat" damage in the entire game?

 

[pallandrome]

Fire and heat are the same thing there fella. Have you ever noticed, for example, that fires are hot, and that hot things start fires? Punishing your players for a nonsensical rules interpritation would just be mean.

You did the right thing.

 

[pallandrome]

Also, how would the magmen SURVIVE as a race if they took their own damage al the time?

 

[rvalle]

I'd apply three ounces of "common" sense, and say that the designers meant fire damage, and therefore, the magmin does not need to suffer "heat" damage.

I'm also guessing here that this is the only occurance of "heat" damage in the entire game?

I think it is mentioned elsewhere but as an envrionmental thing. Areas can be under 'extreme heat' that causes damage.

This is the type of damage I was thinking the magmin generate. They create so much heat that they make the area around them very hot.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/environment.htm#heatDangers

 

[rvalle]

Also, how would the magmen SURVIVE as a race if they took their own damage al the time?

Exactly. Once this was pointed out I had to back off my stance.

And if 'immune to fire' worked for them then 'Protection from Fire' had to work for the party.

Sure made it a dull encounter though.

 

[rvalle]

I'd apply three ounces of "common" sense, and say that the designers meant fire damage, and therefore, the magmin does not need to suffer "heat" damage.

I'm also guessing here that this is the only occurance of "heat" damage in the entire game?

Would Protection from Energy (Fire) then save you from a 'Heat Metal' spell??

 

[gardengoth]

Heat Metal carries the [Fire] sub-type so I'd be inclined to say Protection from Energy would work.

 

[Klaus]

Extreme Heat (as defined by Sandstorm) deals fire damage. So I'd say the Magmin's aura deals Fire damage.

 

[rvalle]

Ok, thanks guys.

I don't mind starting off wrong as long as we get it right at the end.

rv