Lava: where are the rules?

[webrunner]

They dont give much in the way of any specific "hindering terrain" (incidentally doesnt that seem like a really euphemistic way of saying 'terrain that will damage and usually kill you outright') rules.. I think the DM is supposed to play it by ear. If the player says "What happens if I stick my foot in lava" then the DM says "Your foot melts off, you are dropped to 0 hp, and you have these drawbacks due to now no longer having a foot". If the player says "What happens if I stick my foot in the lava using my fire-proof boots" then they'd say "as long as you dont go above the boots you're fine"

 

[hamishspence]

given that deep water is hindering terrain

it may not be a euphemism.

I'v heard lots of people say lava is untyped damage: no fire resistance will stop it, if an ancient red dragon or a fire archon is pushed in, it dies. Again, I cannot find any text supporting this, since I cannot find text saying what lava (or hindering terrain-fire) actually does Have I just missed something? Am I looking in the wrong place?

 

[lukelightning]

What happens? You end up getting married, have some kids, then grow apart and end up in a bitter divorce.

Oh, fall in lava? Nevermind....

 

[Dominion]

it may not be a euphemism.

I'v heard lots of people say lava is untyped damage: no fire resistance will stop it, if an ancient red dragon or a fire archon is pushed in, it dies. Again, I cannot find any text supporting this, since I cannot find text saying what lava (or hindering terrain-fire) actually does Have I just missed something? Am I looking in the wrong place?

Ok, what about a Magma Beast? Would a creature MADE OF LAVA die if it touched lava, even though it only has fire resist 10?

There needs to be an amount of damage. Even if it's 9999 or something, just so it can be dealt with. Even if it's "all lava does different amounts of damage", we should know.

 

[hamishspence]

the fire titan way

That seems to be the closest to how I perceive the situation. Its sticky. You are pushed in. You sink to the ankle. Because its dense and sticky, its REALLY hard to move (immobilized, save ends) And you take the same damage every turn (4d6+6) Not ongoing damge, since its lava, not fire, even though it does fire damage.

 

[Harsgault]

This thread is exactly why billions of people from around the world cried out with joy when Dick Cheney shot a lawyer.

Fall in? Dead.

Foot in? Amputee!

Lava monster? Swimming while laughing at you.

It's really not that hard folks. Get your heads out of your calculators and back into a semblance of common sense.

 

[Skyscraper]

What happens? You end up getting married, have some kids, then grow apart and end up in a bitter divorce.

Oh, fall in lava? Nevermind....

Sky

 

[Skyscraper]

This thread is exactly why billions of people from around the world cried out with joy when Dick Cheney shot a lawyer.

Fall in? Dead.

Foot in? Amputee!

Lava monster? Swimming while laughing at you.

It's really not that hard folks. Get your heads out of your calculators and back into a semblance of common sense.

Common sense also suggests that a sword stroke breaks an arm if it doesn't outright kill you and that a fireball would consume all within it.

 

[hamishspence]

rules

its just that i'm puzzled as to where everyone got the info.

same principle wold apply in any situation where the game rules as written are more important: RPGA events, for example.

 

[mvincent]

Might use the Everflame trap rules, removing the magical descriptor. Or draw from the fire titan lava throw rules; 4d6+6 fire + immobilized (save ends).

The hotness of the lava might scale to the adventure. Example: the "Spew Lava" ability of a Magma Claw only does ongoing 5 fire damage + immobilized (save ends both).

"I'm still going to melt all the cities of the world with hot magma" - Dr. Evil