"Heat Metal" Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

"Heat Metal" Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Etsu_ElfRanger
10-02-06, 11:25 PM I have a quick question about the heat metal spell. I don't have my PHB with me, so I can't look it up. I know that the spell causes the metal items on the target to heat up and then gradually cool down, doing damage as long as they are held/worn. What I was wondering is, if the character picks up a new metal item, is it heated as well?

Example: The cleric casts the spell on the orc chief. He drops his weapon (the only major metal he is touching). Can the orc then grab a (metal) dagger from his slain companion to use, or would the dagger heat up as well once he touches it?

Thanks for the help.
User5127
10-02-06, 11:36 PM from what i remember, heat metal heats up a target metal object, so only his weapon gets scaldingly hot, so i'm sure he could pick up another sword or dagger of a fallen ally/foe...
tarkin
10-03-06, 10:58 AM I would let him drop his own weapon and pick up someone else's weapon without having the new weapon heat up.

At the very least, it would 'restart' the clock so to speak.
Artector
10-03-06, 05:59 PM Heat Metal
Transmutation [Fire]
Level: Drd 2, Sun 2
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: Metal equipment of one creature per two levels, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart; or 25 lb. of metal/level, all of which must be within a 30-ft. circle
Duration: 7 rounds
Saving Throw: Will negates (object)
Spell Resistance: Yes (object)

Heat metal makes metal extremely warm. Unattended, nonmagical metal gets no saving throw. Magical metal is allowed a saving throw against the spell. An item in a creature’s possession uses the creature’s saving throw bonus unless its own is higher.

A creature takes fire damage if its equipment is heated. It takes full damage if its armor is affected or if it is holding, touching, wearing, or carrying metal weighing one-fifth of its weight. The creature takes minimum damage (1 point or 2 points; see the table) if it’s not wearing metal armor and the metal that it’s carrying weighs less than one-fifth of its weight.

Round Metal
Temperature Damage
1 Warm None
2 Hot 1d4 points
3-5 Searing 2d4 points
6 Hot 1d4 points
7 Warm None
On the first round of the spell, the metal becomes warm and uncomfortable to touch but deals no damage. The same effect also occurs on the last round of the spell’s duration. During the second (and also the next-to-last) round, intense heat causes pain and damage. In the third, fourth, and fifth rounds, the metal is searing hot, causing more damage, as shown on the table below.

Any cold intense enough to damage the creature negates fire damage from the spell (and vice versa) on a point-for-point basis. If cast underwater, heat metal deals half damage and boils the surrounding water.

Heat metal counters and dispels chill metal.

Its based on weight of metal on body, so depends on what the change is. If the dagger's the only thing then it might not matter anyways.
Forged_Fury
10-03-06, 08:32 PM Sorry to threadjack this, but I also had a question concerning Heat Metal. This probably should be on the Eberron boards, but I figure it would also apply to fighters in metal armor.

Question: If my warforged (or character in metal armor) is hit with a Heat Metal spell, can he then attempt to grapple an opponent and deal Heat Metal damage to his opponent for the spell's duration? The spell specifies "touching" as an acceptable circumstance in which damage would be dealt. Grappling generally involves body to body contact, so would damage be dealt?

Thanks for any responses.

-Forged_Fury
Branto
10-03-06, 09:30 PM Hahahhaa, I like that idea, Forged_Fury. I'd say yes, of course! I just hope you've got a lot more HP than your enemy, because obviously you'll be taking the damage too.
User5127
10-03-06, 10:13 PM Forged_Fury

good point, and yes, it doesn't say who touches the metal, just that what ever is touching it takes damage, so if you didn't mind burning (or were immune to fire dammage) then it would deffinatly be an excalent counter to the mage that put it on you.
mage: "haha feel the burn as your metal sears your flesh!"
pc: "ok, but you suffer as well *initiates grapple*"
mage "nuuuuuuu! foiled again! :'("

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Etsu_ElfRanger 10-02-06, 11:25 PM	I have a quick question about the heat metal spell. I don't have my PHB with me, so I can't look it up. I know that the spell causes the metal items on the target to heat up and then gradually cool down, doing damage as long as they are held/worn. What I was wondering is, if the character picks up a new metal item, is it heated as well? Example: The cleric casts the spell on the orc chief. He drops his weapon (the only major metal he is touching). Can the orc then grab a (metal) dagger from his slain companion to use, or would the dagger heat up as well once he touches it? Thanks for the help.
User5127 10-02-06, 11:36 PM	from what i remember, heat metal heats up a target metal object, so only his weapon gets scaldingly hot, so i'm sure he could pick up another sword or dagger of a fallen ally/foe...
tarkin 10-03-06, 10:58 AM	I would let him drop his own weapon and pick up someone else's weapon without having the new weapon heat up. At the very least, it would 'restart' the clock so to speak.
Artector 10-03-06, 05:59 PM	Heat Metal Transmutation [Fire] Level: Drd 2, Sun 2 Components: V, S, DF Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) Target: Metal equipment of one creature per two levels, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart; or 25 lb. of metal/level, all of which must be within a 30-ft. circle Duration: 7 rounds Saving Throw: Will negates (object) Spell Resistance: Yes (object) Heat metal makes metal extremely warm. Unattended, nonmagical metal gets no saving throw. Magical metal is allowed a saving throw against the spell. An item in a creature’s possession uses the creature’s saving throw bonus unless its own is higher. A creature takes fire damage if its equipment is heated. It takes full damage if its armor is affected or if it is holding, touching, wearing, or carrying metal weighing one-fifth of its weight. The creature takes minimum damage (1 point or 2 points; see the table) if it’s not wearing metal armor and the metal that it’s carrying weighs less than one-fifth of its weight. Round Metal Temperature Damage 1 Warm None 2 Hot 1d4 points 3-5 Searing 2d4 points 6 Hot 1d4 points 7 Warm None On the first round of the spell, the metal becomes warm and uncomfortable to touch but deals no damage. The same effect also occurs on the last round of the spell’s duration. During the second (and also the next-to-last) round, intense heat causes pain and damage. In the third, fourth, and fifth rounds, the metal is searing hot, causing more damage, as shown on the table below. Any cold intense enough to damage the creature negates fire damage from the spell (and vice versa) on a point-for-point basis. If cast underwater, heat metal deals half damage and boils the surrounding water. Heat metal counters and dispels chill metal. Its based on weight of metal on body, so depends on what the change is. If the dagger's the only thing then it might not matter anyways.
Forged_Fury 10-03-06, 08:32 PM	Sorry to threadjack this, but I also had a question concerning Heat Metal. This probably should be on the Eberron boards, but I figure it would also apply to fighters in metal armor. Question: If my warforged (or character in metal armor) is hit with a Heat Metal spell, can he then attempt to grapple an opponent and deal Heat Metal damage to his opponent for the spell's duration? The spell specifies "touching" as an acceptable circumstance in which damage would be dealt. Grappling generally involves body to body contact, so would damage be dealt? Thanks for any responses. -Forged_Fury
Branto 10-03-06, 09:30 PM	Hahahhaa, I like that idea, Forged_Fury. I'd say yes, of course! I just hope you've got a lot more HP than your enemy, because obviously you'll be taking the damage too.
User5127 10-03-06, 10:13 PM	Forged_Fury good point, and yes, it doesn't say who touches the metal, just that what ever is touching it takes damage, so if you didn't mind burning (or were immune to fire dammage) then it would deffinatly be an excalent counter to the mage that put it on you. mage: "haha feel the burn as your metal sears your flesh!" pc: "ok, but you suffer as well initiates grapple" mage "nuuuuuuu! foiled again! :'("