Please help with a "fiery" combat

[scipio]

The PCs are getting ready to head towards the climactic battle of the campaign. The setting is a large ancient persia-styled city (big step-pyramid palace, lots of crowded streets and alleyways) sitting on an island in the middle of a huge lake. They spent some time here in peaceful situations, but now the BBEG has summoned forth an army of fiery denizens to destroy this place. There are 6 PCs, 11th level. The enemies so far consist of Efreeti, Fire elementals, conflaguration oozes, etc. There will be a flaming, swirling vortex over the city that rains fire (out of which will spring elementals). The civilian collateral will likely be significant, but the group should be able to find some capable allies.

I've got the encounter with the BBEG pretty well layed out, but was wondering what challenges you guys would suggest for getting through the city, and what tricks smart PCs would try in this situation (aside from the obvious proc fire, resist fire, which I plan to provide anyway). Some things I've though of are: fire-storm which leads to a battle with elementals; an ooze comes rolling down an alley consuming the populace as it goes; and fire bats! Thanks in advance.

 

[scipio]

What, no takers? Are there any other creatures that would "make" this adventure?

 

[RandomPrecision]

Sounds like you've got some ideas - the first thing that came to mind was something like the fire races in the beginning of Unearthed Arcana. Any other fire-related templates could probably work too. I don't remember where the rules for genasi went, but you might have some of those, I suppose. As for introducing them, coming out of fiery stuff is a good way to bring in a fire creature. Storms, fires already started, corpses of other fire monsters, they all provide gates for fiery critters to enter the fray.

Maybe one or more red dragons could spice up the fight. Also in the huge/difficult category are pyrohydras.

People who cause fire to rain from the sky tend to be somewhat evil, so you might exploit the fiery stereotype of demons and devils here as well. If you're going the evil route, consider something that allows some of the fire to deal unholy damage, which will negate fire resistance.

As for trying to preempt the PC's, you might consider giving important creatures items to resist cold, or perhaps an illusion to resemble cold-based creatures (sure, the party probably won't have anything else prepared, but it might spook them for a while).

Maybe there can be some way to pierce the resistances of the PC's, or if the PC's are pretty immune to fire, have the enemies use some completely different kind of attack - acid, electricity, sonic, etc.

The other thing is, your PC's might not take damage from fire, but can they breathe fire/extremely hot air/smoke? If they're completely immolated, even if the flames don't do any harm directly, the PC's require air to live, and fire takes that away. If you can force the PC's into a structure with a limited air supply, this should become much more evident, but even out in the open, a giant fire will cause the same effects.

 

[blargney the second]

I think magmins, salamanders, and thoqqua would make lovely additions to your menagerie.

Collapsing buildings, monstrous explosions with shockwaves, and fiery rocks raining from the sky can make for some entertaining environmental hazards. Lava's also a great way to melt through their defenses.

-blarg

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Poisonous gasses released from the flames.

Oxygen deprived areas.

Backdrafts when doors are opened into oxygen deprived areas.

Solid plates floating on lava that have turned brittle.

Ash fall and smoke obscuring vision.

The Auld Grump

 

[Old One]

Poisonous gasses released from the flames.

Oxygen deprived areas.

Backdrafts when doors are opened into oxygen deprived areas.

Solid plates floating on lava that have turned brittle.

Ash fall and smoke obscuring vision.

The Auld Grump

What AG said...

Rent Backdraft or watch a Pompeii special for some ideas ! The environmental effects of this conflagration could be as deadly as the critters they meet up with. Fire protectives don't do squat against choking clouds of smoke, ash and noxious fumes. An ever-expanding blob of semi-sentient lava might be nasty as well.

As far as PC preps...any kind of wind, weather and "blocking" magics would be extremely helpful. Wind Wall could hold approaching flames at bay for a bit, as could the various other Wall spells (just avoid Wall of Fire ). Summoned water elementals and ice paraelementals could help battle the fire critters. An everfull flask of water would be REAL handy...but make the PCs fight to get it (maybe it is in a collapsing wizard's tower in the middle of the action). Dig and other earth-moving spells would be helpful in establishing firebreaks.

Sounds like fun...good luck!

~ OO

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Oh, and if they are there for any real length of time dehydration becomes a major issue - we are talking about the better part of a gallon every few hours.

The Auld Grump, salt or citrus will help with that too...

 

[domino]

If it's just a general opening up to firey planes, whos to say that friendly, or at least GOOD fire type outsiders won't come through, to fight on the PCs aid? Assuming they don't attack them from the outset.

 

[frankthedm]

If it's just a general opening up to firey planes, whos to say that friendly, or at least GOOD fire type outsiders won't come through, to fight on the PCs aid?

The Good aligned fire types are likley trying to get rid of the evil fire types from their home plane to a cold cruel place where the wicked won't survive for long..

I think the BBEG should have strong fire and cold resists and a primary cold based attack that keep his minions in line. This way the final fight won't just be a "few more charges of the ice storm wand"

Also this creates a situation where a bit of friendly "fire" can tip the scale in the PCs favor if the fight starts looking like a TPK.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

How about some salamanders on chariots surfing on a wave of lava as it flows down a street? Maybe pulled by some kind of seahorses made of fire? Perhaps warhorses with the elemental fire template from the MotP?