Flame Arrow Oil - Do you have to use it all at once? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Flame Arrow Oil - Do you have to use it all at once? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DigitalMage
11-05-07, 09:23 AM I am creating characters for a con scenario and am considering getting the bard an Oil of Flame Arrow. My question is whether the character could dip his arrows into it one at a time, or whether he has to use the oil to "charge" all his arrows at once.

The Flame Arrow spells states "Fifty projectiles, all of which must be in contact with each other at the time of casting", however this isn't the spell, but a potion.

I am inclined to allow it and once an arrow has been dipped into the oil it must be used within 30 minutes (10min per caster level, minimum caster level is 3) or it loses its effectiveness.

So would my ruling above be a house rule, or is this a case of vague interpretation?
kuonji
11-05-07, 09:31 AM From the SRD:

Potions are like spells cast upon the imbiber. The character taking the potion doesn’t get to make any decisions about the effect —the caster who brewed the potion has already done so. The drinker of a potion is both the effective target and the caster of the effect (though the potion indicates the caster level, the drinker still controls the effect).

The person applying an oil is the effective caster, but the object is the target.

The bolded statement seems to say that the person using the oil acts like the caster of the spell, so it would be an all or nothing affair.
DigitalMage
11-05-07, 10:50 AM :( Bugger, oh well I will re-consider the purchase. Cheers!
Phrennzy
11-05-07, 11:22 AM I am creating characters for a con scenario and am considering getting the bard an Oil of Flame Arrow. My question is whether the character could dip his arrows into it one at a time, or whether he has to use the oil to "charge" all his arrows at once.

The Flame Arrow spells states "Fifty projectiles, all of which must be in contact with each other at the time of casting", however this isn't the spell, but a potion.

I am inclined to allow it and once an arrow has been dipped into the oil it must be used within 30 minutes (10min per caster level, minimum caster level is 3) or it loses its effectiveness.

So would my ruling above be a house rule, or is this a case of vague interpretation?

Dipping an arrow into the fluid would be at least a move action if not a standard action - which would severely limit him.

I would allow him to split the vial in half - treating 25 arrows at a time. But that's about it.

That would, btw, totally be a house rule.
DigitalMage
11-05-07, 11:33 AM Well I was thinking dipping about 5 arrows at a time before entering a skirmish (if you have chance to fire more than 5 arrows, you are likley not in a skirmish but acting more like a sniper).

Anyway, I instead purchased a wand of Colour Spray, a nice way to take out a load of low level soldiers :)
lancean
11-05-07, 05:35 PM Anyway, I instead purchased a wand of Colour Spray, a nice way to take out a load of low level soldiers :)
But with significantly shorter range. :(
DigitalMage
11-06-07, 06:30 AM But with significantly shorter range. :(
Yes, but when in a party of 6 you want to be able to leave some foes for the others (especially the warforged :) )
Finarin Panjoro
11-06-07, 03:07 PM I would house rule that you can pour the oil of flaming arrow into a quiver and it would affect all arrows contained in that quiver (to a max of 50). If you've got a quiver capable of holding 50 arrows you're good to go.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DigitalMage 11-05-07, 09:23 AM	I am creating characters for a con scenario and am considering getting the bard an Oil of Flame Arrow. My question is whether the character could dip his arrows into it one at a time, or whether he has to use the oil to "charge" all his arrows at once. The Flame Arrow spells states "Fifty projectiles, all of which must be in contact with each other at the time of casting", however this isn't the spell, but a potion. I am inclined to allow it and once an arrow has been dipped into the oil it must be used within 30 minutes (10min per caster level, minimum caster level is 3) or it loses its effectiveness. So would my ruling above be a house rule, or is this a case of vague interpretation?
kuonji 11-05-07, 09:31 AM	From the SRD: Potions are like spells cast upon the imbiber. The character taking the potion doesn’t get to make any decisions about the effect —the caster who brewed the potion has already done so. The drinker of a potion is both the effective target and the caster of the effect (though the potion indicates the caster level, the drinker still controls the effect). The person applying an oil is the effective caster, but the object is the target. The bolded statement seems to say that the person using the oil acts like the caster of the spell, so it would be an all or nothing affair.
DigitalMage 11-05-07, 10:50 AM	:( Bugger, oh well I will re-consider the purchase. Cheers!
Phrennzy 11-05-07, 11:22 AM	I am creating characters for a con scenario and am considering getting the bard an Oil of Flame Arrow. My question is whether the character could dip his arrows into it one at a time, or whether he has to use the oil to "charge" all his arrows at once. The Flame Arrow spells states "Fifty projectiles, all of which must be in contact with each other at the time of casting", however this isn't the spell, but a potion. I am inclined to allow it and once an arrow has been dipped into the oil it must be used within 30 minutes (10min per caster level, minimum caster level is 3) or it loses its effectiveness. So would my ruling above be a house rule, or is this a case of vague interpretation? Dipping an arrow into the fluid would be at least a move action if not a standard action - which would severely limit him. I would allow him to split the vial in half - treating 25 arrows at a time. But that's about it. That would, btw, totally be a house rule.
DigitalMage 11-05-07, 11:33 AM	Well I was thinking dipping about 5 arrows at a time before entering a skirmish (if you have chance to fire more than 5 arrows, you are likley not in a skirmish but acting more like a sniper). Anyway, I instead purchased a wand of Colour Spray, a nice way to take out a load of low level soldiers :)
lancean 11-05-07, 05:35 PM	Anyway, I instead purchased a wand of Colour Spray, a nice way to take out a load of low level soldiers :) But with significantly shorter range. :(
DigitalMage 11-06-07, 06:30 AM	But with significantly shorter range. :( Yes, but when in a party of 6 you want to be able to leave some foes for the others (especially the warforged :) )
Finarin Panjoro 11-06-07, 03:07 PM	I would house rule that you can pour the oil of flaming arrow into a quiver and it would affect all arrows contained in that quiver (to a max of 50). If you've got a quiver capable of holding 50 arrows you're good to go.