Unattendended backpack + fireball = ?

[Quasqueton]

What happens to an unattended backpack and its contents when caught in a 10-dice fireball (35 points of damage)? The backpack contains the regular mundane equipment plus many potions and scrolls.

This recently happened in my campaign, and there was some disagreement.

Quasqueton

 

[hong]

The backpack and other mundane equipment automatically gets fried. Any magic stuff inside it, though (including scrolls and potions), get saving throws. They may possibly even get cover bonuses from the backpack, depending on how generous you are.

EDIT: as objects, they presumably have no Dex scores, which means they automatically fail Ref saves such as for a fireball.

 

[Thanee]

Not, that it really helps a scroll or potion, if the save is made for half damage.

Bye
Thanee

 

[hong]

It could be an intelligent scroll or potion with 2 rogue levels, for evasion. You never know.

 

[Piratecat]

Hijack: there was such a potion in my friend's game once. When the PCs opened it, it squeaked "Drink me!"

"What do you do?"

"I don't know. I've never been drunk before!"

I think it became the party mascot.

 

[Thanee]

Why does this remind me to Snarfquest now...

Bye
Thanee

 

[hong]

Snarfquest? I'm thinking of Alice in Wonderland!

 

[James McMurray]

I'm looking for the rule about effects breaking through barriers but can't seem to find it, so all of this is IIRC.

The fireball can break through barriers. That means that if it does enough damage to destroy the backpack, the items inside the backpack wil be hit by its full effects. For the most part this will probably destroy them too. Even if a vial holding a potion isn't destroyed, the instantaneous boiling of the liquid inside probably has some negative effects.

 

[Thanee]

Snarfquest?

I meant this leech-thing after being granted a wish.

Bye
Thanee

 

[ConspiracyAngel]

Fireball & Equipment

Rescued from Hijack -

Then all the flamable items burn. And combustable items combust. Low melt point metals melt. Don't let your players be whiners. If there items were destroyed then so be it.