Fireballs on Baator - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Fireballs on Baator

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Cyriss
May 28, 2004 3:58:19 Here's an odd question for anyone that has run games on Baator:

How do you handle the random fireballs that may explode near PC's while they are travelling? I have the 2e rules that mentions a 10% chance per turn getting hit or blinded by them, but it seems WAY too inconvenient for the DM to use that method.

Just for the Nine Hells of it I rolled up an example of 24 hours worth of being on the road/path and came up with 138 chances for one to explode nearby and 60 of those are close enough to do damage, the rest would just blind them. The damage can range from 1d4, 2d4, or 3d4 points.

It's going to take 16 days to cross the first layer and I can't imagine figuring this info out per turn. Even if I did that's a ton of damage each day not including being attacked.

I'm just wondering what methods people use when running a game on Baator.
#2
zombiegleemax
May 28, 2004 8:29:28 Just rule that an "Avoid Planar Effect" spell negates the damage.
#3
Shemeska_the_Marauder
May 28, 2004 8:47:40 And didn't those random fireballs only apply to Avernus? By the time any of my PC's have ventured into Baator (and ooooh what a fun time it was having them stumble into the assassination of a noble Baatezu in Maladomini...) they've been able to use an 'avoid planar effects' spell, a 'planar atunement' spell or have fire immunity or resistence to the point where it hasn't honestly mattered.

Random environmental effects have rarely impacted my players' PCs, with the notable exceptions of their stint to The Mountain of Ultimate Winter, the Quasielemental Plane of Lightning, and this weekend the Quasielemental Plane of Radiance. (Color Storms... mmmm tastes like blindness)
#4
primemover003
May 29, 2004 13:44:33 The open plains of Avernus are a nice place to have a nasty encoutner in, but are difficult to adventure in to say the least...

I'd use the chances for Thunderstorms and lightning strikes from the DMG. Determine at what point in the adventure you want a Firestorm to descend on the party. I'd never do it randomly, it wastes the flavor of it.
As a rule of thumb, assume one fireball per minute for a 1-hour period at the center of the storm. Each fireball causes Fire damage equal to 1d10 eight-sided dice.

Bolded sections are my addition
#5
ripvanwormer
May 29, 2004 21:08:09
Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder
And didn't those random fireballs only apply to Avernus?

Yeah. They were said to be manifestations of the rage of the imprisoned lord Zariel.

Other layers have other fun things, though.
#6
zombiegleemax
Jun 02, 2004 13:48:23 I like primemover's idea for the fireballs, but 1 per minute is still a bit much. Remember that in 2nd Edition a turn was different than a round. A turn was a whole 10 minutes.
#7
primemover003
Jun 02, 2004 15:28:27 Well it is HELL after all... Baatezu are immune to fire, so why would the plane care about anything not fireproofed?
#8
zombiegleemax
Jun 02, 2004 16:16:58 Good point. Nuke them all. I have a character that was hit a few times by those random fireballs before I traded with another character for a ring of fire protection that only worked in Baator. Sadly, I never got hit after that
#9
zombiegleemax
Jun 02, 2004 17:01:49
Originally posted by Nolgoth
I have a character that was hit a few times by those random fireballs before I traded with another character for a ring of fire protection that only worked in Baator. Sadly, I never got hit after that

Wasn't Murphy's law written by a baatezu...? ;)
#10
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Jun 02, 2004 18:06:00
Originally posted by Javier Phenergan
Wasn't Murphy's law written by a baatezu...? ;)

"There's a joke somewhere about Murphestopheles, but I won't make it. Here..." *shoves a lightning mephit into the room*

"He did however. Scragg him."

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Cyriss May 28, 2004 3:58:19	Here's an odd question for anyone that has run games on Baator: How do you handle the random fireballs that may explode near PC's while they are travelling? I have the 2e rules that mentions a 10% chance per turn getting hit or blinded by them, but it seems WAY too inconvenient for the DM to use that method. Just for the Nine Hells of it I rolled up an example of 24 hours worth of being on the road/path and came up with 138 chances for one to explode nearby and 60 of those are close enough to do damage, the rest would just blind them. The damage can range from 1d4, 2d4, or 3d4 points. It's going to take 16 days to cross the first layer and I can't imagine figuring this info out per turn. Even if I did that's a ton of damage each day not including being attacked. I'm just wondering what methods people use when running a game on Baator.
#2 zombiegleemax May 28, 2004 8:29:28	Just rule that an "Avoid Planar Effect" spell negates the damage.
#3 Shemeska_the_Marauder May 28, 2004 8:47:40	And didn't those random fireballs only apply to Avernus? By the time any of my PC's have ventured into Baator (and ooooh what a fun time it was having them stumble into the assassination of a noble Baatezu in Maladomini...) they've been able to use an 'avoid planar effects' spell, a 'planar atunement' spell or have fire immunity or resistence to the point where it hasn't honestly mattered. Random environmental effects have rarely impacted my players' PCs, with the notable exceptions of their stint to The Mountain of Ultimate Winter, the Quasielemental Plane of Lightning, and this weekend the Quasielemental Plane of Radiance. (Color Storms... mmmm tastes like blindness)
#4 primemover003 May 29, 2004 13:44:33	The open plains of Avernus are a nice place to have a nasty encoutner in, but are difficult to adventure in to say the least... I'd use the chances for Thunderstorms and lightning strikes from the DMG. Determine at what point in the adventure you want a Firestorm to descend on the party. I'd never do it randomly, it wastes the flavor of it. As a rule of thumb, assume one fireball per minute for a 1-hour period at the center of the storm. Each fireball causes Fire damage equal to 1d10 eight-sided dice. Bolded sections are my addition
#5 ripvanwormer May 29, 2004 21:08:09	Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder And didn't those random fireballs only apply to Avernus? Yeah. They were said to be manifestations of the rage of the imprisoned lord Zariel. Other layers have other fun things, though.
#6 zombiegleemax Jun 02, 2004 13:48:23	I like primemover's idea for the fireballs, but 1 per minute is still a bit much. Remember that in 2nd Edition a turn was different than a round. A turn was a whole 10 minutes.
#7 primemover003 Jun 02, 2004 15:28:27	Well it is HELL after all... Baatezu are immune to fire, so why would the plane care about anything not fireproofed?
#8 zombiegleemax Jun 02, 2004 16:16:58	Good point. Nuke them all. I have a character that was hit a few times by those random fireballs before I traded with another character for a ring of fire protection that only worked in Baator. Sadly, I never got hit after that
#9 zombiegleemax Jun 02, 2004 17:01:49	Originally posted by Nolgoth I have a character that was hit a few times by those random fireballs before I traded with another character for a ring of fire protection that only worked in Baator. Sadly, I never got hit after that Wasn't Murphy's law written by a baatezu...? ;)
#10 Shemeska_the_Marauder Jun 02, 2004 18:06:00	Originally posted by Javier Phenergan *Wasn't Murphy's law* written by a baatezu...? ;)** "There's a joke somewhere about Murphestopheles, but I won't make it. Here..." shoves a lightning mephit into the room "He did however. Scragg him."