FIRE Remastered - When the Torches Come Out, the Rules Go Up in Flames

RPGBOT.Podcast

Want to know how one spark can ruin a dungeon, a campaign, and your DM’s will to live? Light up this episode and find out.

Need a game that burns brighter than your last TPK? Book a session with DM Adamantine at dungeonmasteradamantine.com or find him on StartPlaying: startplaying.games/gm/dmadamantine.

In this scorching episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the team throws gasoline on the topic of fire in tabletop RPGs—then promptly fails their Reflex save. What starts as a conversation about lighting a torch quickly turns into a flaming whirlwind of rules, tactics, and creative chaos.

The hosts explore the many layers of how fire is used in games—from setting ambiance with a cozy campfire to leveling an entire goblin village with an ill-advised Fireball. They break down how different systems handle fire damage, ongoing effects, and the often-overlooked consequences like smoke inhalation, visibility loss, and your ranger's hair catching fire.

They debate the difference between magical and mundane fire, argue about whether a flaming sword cooks enemies or just looks cool, and discuss how to weaponize your environment (spoiler: the answer is always "start a fire").

You'll also get a peek into the chaotic neutral minds of players who think "we burn it down" is a viable solution to every social encounter. And yes, someone definitely asks, "How flammable is a gelatinous cube?"

Whether you're a DM trying to keep your players from razing your lovingly crafted tavern or a player wondering how many flasks of oil you can strap to a badger before initiative rolls—this episode brings the heat.

Key Takeaways:

• Fire is more than just damage: Light, visibility, intimidation, and panic can all stem from a single spark.
• Environmental fire is your friend… or a really vengeful enemy: Setting things on fire can alter the battlefield dramatically—but so can smoke choking everyone out.
• Fire effects stack: Heat, flames, smoke, and structural damage all interact in messy, crunchy ways. Don't forget to track them—or just wing it and blame it on the wizard.
• System-specific differences matter: Pathfinder and D&D treat fire differently—especially when it comes to ongoing damage, saving throws, and magical fire resistance.
• Magical fire bends the rules: Flaming Sphere follows you. Wall of Fire ruins friendships. Hellish Rebuke makes everyone suspicious of your warlock.
• Realistic consequences are hilarious and horrifying: Fires attract attention, collapse buildings, and create very bad PR for adventuring parties.
• Players will always find creative fire-based chaos: Including but not limited to: oil barrel trebuchets, flaming goats, and the "Molotov Kobold Cocktail."
• As always, communication with your DM is key: Especially before you torch the local orphanage because it "looked suspicious."