Your fireball has melted 2" of stone. Now what?

[Liquidsabre]

Keep in mind that damaged objects (PHB p.165) remain fully functional until the item's hit points are reduced to zero. So that 6 inch thick piece of flagstone might be blackened and possess small cracks but that's about it. No melting as that would be a result of the destruction of the item and that requires the object to be brought to 0 HP.

 

[TheGogmagog]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Corsair
Area: 20-ft.-radius spread

well darnit, how'd I misremember that one?

He's tricksy. You remembered correctly, Area is spread NOT burst. A burst would not affect all sides, a spread would.

It's certainly worth remembering that these spells do damage rock and wood. Assuming calculations above are correct, it's a 1/2" stone, and 1" wood? What about a maximized fireball, is it about 2-1/2 or 3"? It's worth noting when it a tavern or castle the players might want to move into.

I'd avoid any additional effects, like molten rock for typical damage. The thermal expansion is the best explanation, describing the falling shards (no damage) or rubbled floor (probably no movement penalty or culmative damage). I always hated the 2e DM's with the burning inn, but that seems like a reasonable reaction to a chair or table which has been completely destroyed by average fireball damage, or a cieling support or beam if completely destroyed (d4 rounds before colapse?).

 

[glass]

I'd tend to make it more than that, given the rules on object vulnerability.

And I would, if anything, make it less on the same basis. Timber columns behave surprisingly well in fire.



glass.

 

[uzagi_akimbo]

Fireball, lacking a "pressure wave" is not really the optimal spell for wrecking a room, instantly, though the fires started by it will ensure that in the immediate future ... maybe less of a problem in dungeons, but in an average medieval to renaissance room, especially one with drapes, hangings, carpets, sawdust or shavings on the floor, plaster-daubed wicker walls with wooden frameworks....not to mention lamps etc. shattered by the explosion and releasing their igniting fuel into the room... I am not even going to mention smoke caused by the fires. The initial damage from the spread will be the least of their difficulties within a few rounds.

Demonstrate the problems caused by 'fireballing' indoors to the players prior to the final encounter - they will likely take the hint.

Now, if you want to wreck and cave-in a room, use "Shatterfloor" (MoF or SC), it is basically a wrecking ball against structures, sonic damage not being halved when determining damage to objects.... Or "Acid Breath" (SC) etc...

As for supporting pillars and beams - take into account that these need a mininum level of integrity before they collapse from stress - after all you cannot hold up a ceiling with a beam with the remaining Hit Points of a reed...*grin*