My Friend and I are at a major disagreement when it comes to the rules of lava. Now I imagine if you fell into lava, as I have seen in multiple sources, that's it, no saves or nothing, but what the argument is about is weather or not fire immunity/resistance applies.
If you were immune to fire, would lava Insta-kill you? How would you rule this?
Immunity to fire damage is 100% intended to protect against lava (possible bludgeoning damage from falling into molten rocks aside.) All sorts of fire elementals feel right at home in extreme heat. Magma Mephit are literally made of the stuff.
The Dungeon Master's Guide suggests that being submerged in lava should do about 18d10 damage, which works out to an average of 99 damage (probably each round.) Resistance to fire and enough HP will buy you a bit of time, but you're going to be dead in a few seconds and I really hope you weren't carrying any valuables.
It's D&D. It's a fantasy game. Some creatures have abilities that are supernatural and amazing.
Immune to fire. Heat does not damage the creature. This is easy to picture for fire elementals and other fantastical creatures, less easy for a human being. However, if they are somehow immune to fire damage then yes they could go walking on lava and have no issues though they might be walking nude or wearing melted armor after a few steps depending on the nature of the lava. (People don't tend to sink into lava it is much more dense and viscous than people so sinking would typically be very slow).
It is the heat above the lava that is likely to kill you.
Anyway, the D&D suggested damage of 18d10 (from Coder) every 6 seconds wold tend to kill folks within a few seconds which is probably quite realistic :). In reality, the heat and burns and other effects would likely be what gets the character - they won't typically sink into the lava - even if it is fast flowing and looks like water - it isn't - it is hot flowing rock.
100% agree with ICoder. Lava does fire damage. Any equipment that isn't immune is sure to be toast... but if that immunity was magically granted, all their gear should be safe, too.
But there are other dangers with lava. Suffocation, toxic gas, explosions. But if the PC can breath and has immunity to fire, and has enough HP to survive a potential explosion (which isn't that frequent anyway), then they should be able to swim in it with ease.
100% agree with ICoder. Lava does fire damage. Any equipment that isn't immune is sure to be toast... but if that immunity was magically granted, all their gear should be safe, too.
But there are other dangers with lava. Suffocation, toxic gas, explosions. But if the PC can breath and has immunity to fire, and has enough HP to survive a potential explosion (which isn't that frequent anyway), then they should be able to swim in it with ease.
I agree with this. Once we settle the question about damage from heat, now we are into something like swimming or drowning. You may also need to consider the substantial weight of the (molten) rock on your body too.
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
Lava is basically rock. People are basically water. Rocks sink through water, water does not sink through rock. You can walk on the lava, but it will burn you. Heat is the main problem. Smoke and explosions may also be present, but they are not default. That would be a second danger that should be mentioned and treated separately.
You don‘t swim in lava, but you will sink in a feet or two. After all your whole weight including equipment is concentrated on a small area.
There is a ruleset for quicksand or something like this in one of the Dragon of Icespie Peak add ons.
Edit: The module is Sleeping Dragons Wake, chapter „Claugiyliamatar’s Lair“, section c8 slime pool. I am not copy pasting it directly because i am not sure about copyrights.
Ya there is no wading through lava. Between lava's high density and high viscosity, you wouldn't sink into lava. You could walk across it but not wade through it as you would not sink into it unless you were something even denser like a iron golem or something.
Ya there is no wading through lava. Between lava's high density and high viscosity, you wouldn't sink into lava. You could walk across it but not wade through it as you would not sink into it unless you were something even denser like a iron golem or something.
They literally have a wade through lava damage listed in the improvising damage section of the 2024 DMG. My joke example for why high level characters are superhuman is in the rules.
Its 10d10 by the way, fully submerged its 18d10. With enough hit points or fire immunity you can scrooge mcduck your lava bin.
you want to be realistic? then you can say yes the immunity protects from the heat, however the player doesnt get to just walk away now you treat it as if they were under water, with the possability of drowning or suffacating, and since lava is not water their movement is reduced to half of a half (Almost solid/ almost liquid would be harder then water to move through) and require a dexterity check with disadvantage to get out of
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Hi.
My Friend and I are at a major disagreement when it comes to the rules of lava. Now I imagine if you fell into lava, as I have seen in multiple sources, that's it, no saves or nothing, but what the argument is about is weather or not fire immunity/resistance applies.
If you were immune to fire, would lava Insta-kill you? How would you rule this?
Immunity to fire damage is 100% intended to protect against lava (possible bludgeoning damage from falling into molten rocks aside.) All sorts of fire elementals feel right at home in extreme heat. Magma Mephit are literally made of the stuff.
The Dungeon Master's Guide suggests that being submerged in lava should do about 18d10 damage, which works out to an average of 99 damage (probably each round.) Resistance to fire and enough HP will buy you a bit of time, but you're going to be dead in a few seconds and I really hope you weren't carrying any valuables.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
It's D&D. It's a fantasy game. Some creatures have abilities that are supernatural and amazing.
Immune to fire. Heat does not damage the creature. This is easy to picture for fire elementals and other fantastical creatures, less easy for a human being. However, if they are somehow immune to fire damage then yes they could go walking on lava and have no issues though they might be walking nude or wearing melted armor after a few steps depending on the nature of the lava. (People don't tend to sink into lava it is much more dense and viscous than people so sinking would typically be very slow).
Interesting articles :)
https://www.wired.com/2012/01/can-you-walk-on-lava-falling-into-lava-revisited/
https://www.wired.com/2011/12/the-right-and-wrong-way-to-die-when-you-fall-into-lava/
It is the heat above the lava that is likely to kill you.
Anyway, the D&D suggested damage of 18d10 (from Coder) every 6 seconds wold tend to kill folks within a few seconds which is probably quite realistic :). In reality, the heat and burns and other effects would likely be what gets the character - they won't typically sink into the lava - even if it is fast flowing and looks like water - it isn't - it is hot flowing rock.
100% agree with ICoder. Lava does fire damage. Any equipment that isn't immune is sure to be toast... but if that immunity was magically granted, all their gear should be safe, too.
But there are other dangers with lava. Suffocation, toxic gas, explosions. But if the PC can breath and has immunity to fire, and has enough HP to survive a potential explosion (which isn't that frequent anyway), then they should be able to swim in it with ease.
I agree with this. Once we settle the question about damage from heat, now we are into something like swimming or drowning. You may also need to consider the substantial weight of the (molten) rock on your body too.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
Lava is basically rock. People are basically water. Rocks sink through water, water does not sink through rock. You can walk on the lava, but it will burn you. Heat is the main problem. Smoke and explosions may also be present, but they are not default. That would be a second danger that should be mentioned and treated separately.
You don‘t swim in lava, but you will sink in a feet or two. After all your whole weight including equipment is concentrated on a small area.
There is a ruleset for quicksand or something like this in one of the Dragon of Icespie Peak add ons.
Edit: The module is Sleeping Dragons Wake, chapter „Claugiyliamatar’s Lair“, section c8 slime pool. I am not copy pasting it directly because i am not sure about copyrights.
Attack: [roll]3d20dl2+6[/roll] Damage: [roll](if([roll:-1:critical], =0, 1d8, 2{1d8}.expand()))+4[/roll] Sneakattack: [roll](if([roll:-2:critical], =0, 2d6, 2{2d6}.expand()))[/roll]is there a link to that - can't find it ... ahh under combat and not environments, useful.
Improvised damage section in combat - thanks.
Life's hard - get a helmet!
10d10 for wading through a lava stream or 18d10 for being submerged in lava.
Guess it depends on how deep in the lava you want to put the PC.
I think I'm gonna go with:
When you come into contact with lava, and when you end your turn in contact with it, you take:
Ya there is no wading through lava. Between lava's high density and high viscosity, you wouldn't sink into lava. You could walk across it but not wade through it as you would not sink into it unless you were something even denser like a iron golem or something.
They literally have a wade through lava damage listed in the improvising damage section of the 2024 DMG. My joke example for why high level characters are superhuman is in the rules.
Its 10d10 by the way, fully submerged its 18d10. With enough hit points or fire immunity you can scrooge mcduck your lava bin.
you want to be realistic? then you can say yes the immunity protects from the heat, however the player doesnt get to just walk away now you treat it as if they were under water, with the possability of drowning or suffacating, and since lava is not water their movement is reduced to half of a half (Almost solid/ almost liquid would be harder then water to move through) and require a dexterity check with disadvantage to get out of