Improvised torches - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Improvised torches

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dgerrimea
Aug 25, 2010 5:26:28 Hello forum

I DM for some players who are about to make some improvised torches out of rags etc. Does anyone have any particular house rules or general rules in regard to improvising a torch? It's a pretty small issue, but you can't just whack any stick with a flint and steel and call it a torch, so I guess I have to get at least a basic concept of what is required for something to be a torch.

So far I'm thinking dryish wood, some kind of initial spark, and some kind of tinder to turn the spark into a small flame that can light the torch (store bought torches have the tinder in the end already anyway I think).
Some kind of oil or animal fat is needed to keep the torch burning beyond a few minutes, but that's optional.

Does this sound unreasonable to anyone?
#2
pluisjen
Aug 25, 2010 5:32:39 To me, that already sounds like way to much time spent on something that shouldn't have an awful lot of time invested into it, but that's all in how you play.

At any rate; a torch costs like 1 copper so mechanically speaking there's no way it can do any damage to have players improvise them.
#3
Kaldric
Aug 25, 2010 5:59:08 It's the little details that make it all feel real.

A few types of possible improvised torch.

1. Flammable liquid, wicking material, handle, and sparks. Indiana Jones uses a human femur, some naturally occurring petroleum, and some grave rags to make such a torch in The Last Crusade. It works well - for the most part, the liquid burns rather than the wick. It provides regular torchlight, for as long as the fuel lasts, and is easy to light with a simple spark. However - it drips, and can light fires inadvertently. Burn yourself or something important on a natural 1, maybe?

2. Dry rags and a flammable handle. This would be some rags wrapped around the end of a dry stick or the similar. Needs tinder to light the rags (or just fray the rags). Takes perhaps 5 minutes to light. The rags burn quickly if they're not acting as a wick for oil, and then the handle burns down. Half as bright, half as long.

3. A burning stick. Basically, you grab a stick out of the campfire. It doesn't burn terribly vigorously or terribly long, and doesn't provide the same quality of light as a prepared torch or improvised oil-burning torch. I go with half the light, for half as long. Can't be lit on the move, it must be removed from a larger fire.

--

Point - I'd say that any reasonably flammable item can be ignited instantly using a power with the Fire/Flame keyword, assuming the controller of the item is cooperating.
#4
dgerrimea
Aug 25, 2010 16:32:26 Nice ideas Kaldric, cheers . Pluisjen, yea it's only a small thing, but it's the little details which create a sense of realism ;)
#5
pluisjen
Aug 26, 2010 3:54:40 Yeah like I said, all in how you play. If you enjoy a bit of realism, your way would work better. I don't know anything about how torches work, and I really don't care either.

I was just chiming in to say that, mechanically, there wasn't a lot that could go wrong so you could do it anyway you wanted it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dgerrimea Aug 25, 2010 5:26:28	Hello forum I DM for some players who are about to make some improvised torches out of rags etc. Does anyone have any particular house rules or general rules in regard to improvising a torch? It's a pretty small issue, but you can't just whack any stick with a flint and steel and call it a torch, so I guess I have to get at least a basic concept of what is required for something to be a torch. So far I'm thinking dryish wood, some kind of initial spark, and some kind of tinder to turn the spark into a small flame that can light the torch (store bought torches have the tinder in the end already anyway I think). Some kind of oil or animal fat is needed to keep the torch burning beyond a few minutes, but that's optional. Does this sound unreasonable to anyone?
#2 pluisjen Aug 25, 2010 5:32:39	To me, that already sounds like way to much time spent on something that shouldn't have an awful lot of time invested into it, but that's all in how you play. At any rate; a torch costs like 1 copper so mechanically speaking there's no way it can do any damage to have players improvise them.
#3 Kaldric Aug 25, 2010 5:59:08	It's the little details that make it all feel real. A few types of possible improvised torch. 1. Flammable liquid, wicking material, handle, and sparks. Indiana Jones uses a human femur, some naturally occurring petroleum, and some grave rags to make such a torch in The Last Crusade. It works well - for the most part, the liquid burns rather than the wick. It provides regular torchlight, for as long as the fuel lasts, and is easy to light with a simple spark. However - it drips, and can light fires inadvertently. Burn yourself or something important on a natural 1, maybe? 2. Dry rags and a flammable handle. This would be some rags wrapped around the end of a dry stick or the similar. Needs tinder to light the rags (or just fray the rags). Takes perhaps 5 minutes to light. The rags burn quickly if they're not acting as a wick for oil, and then the handle burns down. Half as bright, half as long. 3. A burning stick. Basically, you grab a stick out of the campfire. It doesn't burn terribly vigorously or terribly long, and doesn't provide the same quality of light as a prepared torch or improvised oil-burning torch. I go with half the light, for half as long. Can't be lit on the move, it must be removed from a larger fire. -- Point - I'd say that any reasonably flammable item can be ignited instantly using a power with the Fire/Flame keyword, assuming the controller of the item is cooperating.
#4 dgerrimea Aug 25, 2010 16:32:26	Nice ideas Kaldric, cheers . Pluisjen, yea it's only a small thing, but it's the little details which create a sense of realism ;)
#5 pluisjen Aug 26, 2010 3:54:40	Yeah like I said, all in how you play. If you enjoy a bit of realism, your way would work better. I don't know anything about how torches work, and I really don't care either. I was just chiming in to say that, mechanically, there wasn't a lot that could go wrong so you could do it anyway you wanted it.