Lava - What is it?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Even if you do allow it to work; once someone steps on the 'frozen' surface block of lava, it's probably going to sink in right quick under the extra weight as it's heating up.

I'd probably just allow it to be used as a one-round "bridge" across a lava field. Depending on the layout, I might call for Balance checks (if I was being mean ).

 

[Nail]

If you are trying to be technical, lava is molten rock. It is rock superheated to the liquid phase. Due to its heat, it tends to react explosively with air, which is why you can't breathe near the mouth of a volcano; all the oxygen has already been burnt up. That is also why you will note occassional fires in lava flows; as they move to areas where there is oxygen, fires start where they may.

Uhmmm......

Although that's a fine Fantasy interpretation of how lava works (YMMV), that's not how it works in the RW. Lava does not "react explosively with air", etc.

 

[James McMurray]

James: I meant from a rational standpoint. PWK is a word, not a series of words that need to be invoked. Once you hear enough of that word to recognize it as PWK, there probably isn't time REALISTICALLY to incant the activation phrase for a Cure Light Wounds that hasn't been Quickened to a shorter activation phrase.

What if the PWK were Supercalifragelisticexpiallidocious, and most other verbal components are Abracadabra? The RAW allows one to recognize and counter PWK just as easily as any other verbal spell. IMO it's up to the group to decide why that is possible (assuming it bothers them).

 

[Ltheb Silverfrond]

This is just one of those spells that has too many "what-if's" attached.

I vote that Magma/Lava = Fire+Earth, but is a (non-water)liquid.

As for lower level spells countering higher level ones: IMHO, it's somewhat bad design to have an attack effect without an easier to obtain defense. Example: Death Ward. Stops most death spells, which are either equal level (Phantasmal Killer) or higher level (Finger of Death). If death ward were 9th level, those death spells would be a whole lot scarier. I think using this spell to counter Transmute Rock to Lava is a creative use of one's resources. (Though it's one of those situations that would come up so rarely it probably won't matter how you rule, as long as you rule from a logical standpoint)

As for PWK: Doesn't it have the same cast time as any other spell? Therefore, while it is one word, you still have just as much time to identify and counter it. (It must be a really long word)

 

[James McMurray]

Phantasmal Killer is one of the comparatively few save or die spells that Death Ward won't help against. Not really topical, but I figured I'd point it out anyway.

Also, PWK doesn't have t be a long word. It's equally possible that it's just the same size as all the other words for spells, truename utterances, item commands, and the various other speech actions you can ready to interrupt (including the free action of speech itself).

 

[Voadam]

Here's the spell:

Flash-Freeze
Transmutation [Earth, Cold]
Level: Druid 2
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25ft + 5ft/2 levels)
Area: 10-ft square/level
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

All earth, stone, and water in the spell's area is drained of heat. Earth, mud, and stone become everfrost and water freezes. You affect a 10-foot-square area to a depth of 1 foot. Magical, enchanted, dressed, or worked stone cannot be affected. Earth, stone, or water creatures are not affected.

This spell can be used to create small icebergs in large bodies of water. these icebergs float, but are extremely slippery and unstable, requireing a DC 15 Balance check per round to stay on the iceberg. Icebergs may be propelled through the water by the current, paddling, or other means.

Would that work on lava? Yeah. Lava is just hot stone and "all ... stone ... in the spell's area is drained of heat." The floating/sinking part is the issue and even the unstable DC 15 balance check or fall into the remainder of any lava.

 

[Fieari]

Given that it's going to be sinking at the same time, I'd up the balance DC to 20 to account for it moving under your feet while you're trying to cross.