The Floor is Lava!
Falling into lava is among the worst things that can happen to an adventurer. While many systems deal an arbitrarily large amount of damage to the unfortunate soul, I suggest that the phrase “you die” is a more elegant rule. And I don’t care how many videos you show me of guys running up lava flows on YouTube. I’ve got a wealth of Gollums, Terminators, and Anakins who would like to have a word with you about fantasy physics.
Now aside from the question of high density fluids interacting with adamantine footwear, I’d like to take a moment to talk about the nature of today’s comic. It’s the third in a series that began with Point Man and continued in Aid Another. You may notice a certain continuity between the side scroller style and the background details. Well there’s a reason for that. Laurel and I have plans for several more in the series, with a goal of turning them all into a contiguous dungeon image. Will there be a poster? Does an owlbear crap in the Feywild?
Of course, dungeons are tricky buggers, and require a lot of planning. What’s lurking in the deepest dungeon? What kind of boss monster is hanging out on the tallest tower? Why can’t the party simply scale the outer walls of the castle? I think I’ll throw this one open to you guys. If you’ve got any bright ideas, I wouldn’t say no to a little brainstorming.
See you in the comments!
ADD SOME NSFW TO YOUR FANTASY! If you’ve ever been curious about that Handbook of Erotic Fantasy banner down at the bottom of the page, then you should check out the “Quest Giver” reward level over on The Handbook of Heroes Patreon. Twice a month you’ll get to see what the Handbook cast get up to when the lights go out. Adults only, 18+ years of age, etc. etc.
Well I must say, the contiguous dungeon thing is an amazing idea.
Indeed, fire resistance always sounds better for out of combat applications than it really winds up being. Run into a house fire to save those orphans? Doesn’t help much against that support beam that just fell on you. Set up an ambush in the desert? You still need to stay hydrated and deal with sand seeping into every crevice. Burn down an entire town full of plot important NPCs who have annoyed you? GM’s raging hot temper isn’t resisted at all!
In the depths of the dungeon…. hmmm. A chained up angel?
Boss monster…. A giant flying manta ray with four taloned legs that’s also an evil druid that can shapeshift into an elf? (What? Humanoid druids can shapeshift into animals. Animal druids should be able to shapeshift into humanoids. Makes perfect sense, I swear.)
They can’t scale the tower because it’s already scaled…. in slippery fish scales!
For extra brainstorming, hire some Intellect Devourers. Because everyone LOVES those. Urgh.
Well hey, I certainly love me some intellect devourers. I let them loose in a local academy in my last module:
https://adventureaweek.com/shop/b24-young-minds/
I’m digging the chained up angel. I’ll have to think on that one….
A chest full of baby rust monsters! That’s the worst boss I can think of. Or a room with a fake floor monster, fake ceiling monster, and four fake wall monsters. Maybe four, since it’s a side scroller.
*three
You know what? I’ve heard of the “living room” encounter before, but I would dearly love to make my poor artist draw it. Let’s not forget to fill the room with mimic furniture too!
3.x and pathfinder have this to say about Lava:
Immunity or resistance to fire serves as an immunity to lava or magma. A creature immune to fire might still drown if completely immersed in lava (see Drowning).
Unsurprisingly 5e has no rules about lava damage, but then again it also has no rules for stealth.
I always like the universal, system agnostic rules: http://www.scratchfactory.com/Resources/LavaBanners/LavaRules.pdf
By RAW, fire resistance equals lava immunity. Regardless, it’s fiction. Don’t think too hard.
Naw man. Immunity to fire is immunity to lava. Tieflings in Pathfinder, for example, come packaged with fire resistance 5. That’s -5 damage from your typical fireball, dragon’s breath, or angry volcano. Assuming that those deal listed damage (by RAW lava is 20d6 points of fire damage per round), you’re looking at one crispy outsider!