Setting Arrows on Fire

[filthgrinder]

How does everyone handle lighting arrows on fire and shooting monsters with them? I can't seem to have any rules on it.

 

[Nebulous]

How 'bout "Minor action to light an arrow with burning pitch; does an extra 1d6 or 1d8 damage; ongoing damage 2 or 5 (save ends).

 

[lukelightning]

How 'bout "Minor action to light an arrow with burning pitch; does an extra 1d6 or 1d8 damage; ongoing damage 2 or 5 (save ends).

That's better than a daily item power.

I'd say no extra damage. The amount of material you'd have to put on the arrows to get them to light up would reduce the effectiveness of the arrow.

 

[Sagiro]

How about something like: if there's an adequate source of fire within one square, take a move action to light the arrow. A burning arrow does half its damage as fire damage.

That way its base damage is no different, but it's useful against targets that are vulnerable to fire.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Use the legendary pg 42 of the DMG. Since it's something that they could do every round, it should probably have the low damage associated with a stunt done by characters of their level.

 

[DMingNicholas]

I would just allow the arrows to ignite flammable they hit. That's usually what they were used for in combat anyway, burning hay or wooded areas to change the battlefield.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Yeah, I don't think a burning arrow would do any extra damage to a target in particular, unless it was vulnerable to fire maybe. Make putting pitch on the arrow a minor action, and lighting it another minor action. Then if it hits something that can burn, it can start a fire.

 

[Lauberfen]

Yup. Where this is relevant is vs trolls.

Burning arrows shouldn't be useful enough to extra damage in normal combat.
But an ingenious party should be able to set things on fire, and deal with Trolls once they've beaten them.

 

[jdcash]

Are you kidding? That's better than a daily item power.

I'd say no extra damage. The amount of material you'd have to put on the arrows to get them to light up would reduce the effectiveness of the arrow.

Agree. If there is going to be extra damage associated then it needs to cost the players something other than some small coin for pitch. Maybe a Weapon Proficiency feat for flaming arrows or take a penalty to hit and to the arrow's range. (Maybe this is too much the other way)

If you just change the type of damage to fire with no ongoing, then maybe no cost.

 

[fba827]

i would jump to the dmg pg42 for stunts, but considering how OFTEN this could get used -and- considering that it pretty much negates the need for the magic item that is flaming amunition, i'd keep it small. maybe a flat +2 fire damage (and possibly a -1 to attack given the added weight to the arrow). i haven't really thought it all out, but that is my initial reaction.