So How Deadly is Lava Anway? (Forked From: If it's not real then . . . )

[Stoat]

Everybody knows that if you fall in you die, no save, but how dangerous is it just to be close to Lava?

 

[Nymrohd]

Well it depends. I guess that any room with lava could count as an enviromental hazard, could mean nothing, or could deal constant damage depending on how dangerous you want to make it. I can see being close to lava dealing some fire damage on an attack vs fort or even weakening players (with an Endurance countermeasure), since it would superheat the air they breath. Maybe lava occasionally splashes and deals heavy fire damage. It's your call really.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Everybody knows that if you fall in you die, no save, but how dangerous is it just to be close to Lava?

In 3rd edition: Lava does'nt kill you: it just deals 20d6 damage for full imersion. Basics for being near it are nothing.
The DM can change that, of course.

In 4th, I have no idea but i think it kills you.

 

[Mournblade94]

In order for geologists to study lava they need to wear heat reflective suits outside, with filtered breathing. THe lava vaporizes all kinds of toxins in the air. The heat of being on the rock near lava flow is enough to melt the rubber on most hiking boots.

Lava flow in a chamber would have extremely toxic air both for the vapourized toxins and the heat of the air.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Very dangerous. The exact distance one can be away from the source without anything save discomfort will vary. I would guess that being inside an underground cave would up the distance a lot. It would create more of an oven effect than being outside. Lava temps can reach 2700 C which is 4892 F !!! Considering that flesh will easily roast in an oven at 300 degrees I would say that being in a cave with lava would roast an unprotected creature in short order from many yards away.
A normal creature would be unable to breathe before getting close enough to start burning (unless they fell).

 

[Nymrohd]

The field of everflame fro the DMG (pg. 92) seems like a good approximation. Though I think lava probably does some poison damage as well (from the fumes).

 

[hafrogman]

It also depends on the type of lava. On certain flows that form a skin, you can get within 6 feet or so without damage.

But exposed molten rock, or anything with vents or cracks will release a lot more heat.

 

[Andor]

Lava is, as mentioned above, freaking hot. The radiant heat from lava will burn your skin off, if you are close enough. Radiant heat of course decreases with the square of the distance so you can get fairly close before it burns, you but past that comfort zone, look out.

OTOH Convection will ensure that the heat from the lava rises so the air near lava will not be unbreathable, unless the volcano is also belching poisonus gas (which is pretty common actually.)

On the the gripping hand I saw a Nat geo thing on a guy who gives hiking tours of hawaii's lava fields. These guys were hiking around near lava for hours and actually cammped out on a rise with lava flowing past on both sides. The guide cooked the steaks by tossing them onto the lava and fishing them off with a car antenna.

So... On lava? Quick but painfull death. Within 5'? Probably 3d6 rnd damage? Maybe more? 10' away 1d6 rnd. 15' safe.
All of this btw assumes you're outside. In a cave with lava you have magical protection, or you are dead from the trapped heat and gas. Period.

 

[Imban]

In 4th, I have no idea but i think it kills you.

As I said in the other thread, it deals 10d10 fire damage per round of immersion. It also apparently inflicts 15 ongoing fire damage (save ends), which I forgot the first time. This is based on the adventure Beyond the Mottled Tower, since the corebooks are silent on the subject and it's the only Dungeon adventure I've found where you have a reasonable chance of skinnydipping in molten rock.

 

[Nymrohd]

What hafrogman said is very important. Lava cools off fast and builts a skin. While it is still molten beneath that skin, it seals off the radiant heat and most of the fumes. I think that you should be able to cool off a thick enough layer of lava with a decent cold spell to quickly traverse a river of it.