Flamethrower Basics

[Crafty_Pat]

So when armed with a Flamethrower, I pick whether I hit the square or the Character in the square. If I hit everything burns, if not a square near by (and whatever is in it) goes up in flames right?

Fire spreads according to the fire damage rules in Chapter 5.

[meadicus]

Why wouldn't you aim for the square every time?

To avoid setting fire to the room maybe, though if you want to be even the slightest cautious you've picked the wrong weapon.

[Daedalus4096]

Why wouldn't you aim for the square every time?

Well, assuming there's nothing else preventing it, sneak attack damage can only be added when targeting a character.

[Oleyo]

If the targets defense is lower than 15, then it would be preferable to hit the character right?

[Bill Whitmore]

Well, assuming there's nothing else preventing it, sneak attack damage can only be added when targeting a character.

Holy crap, that is awesome.

FLAMETHROWER SNEAK ATTACK!

MWA-HA-HA-HA!

My players are SO going to hate me after the next mission I run for them.

[Crafty_Pat]

Holy crap, that is awesome.

FLAMETHROWER SNEAK ATTACK!

MWA-HA-HA-HA!

My players are SO going to hate me after the next mission I run for them.

Yeah. We intentionally opened sneak attack up to most attacks under various circumstances. Seemed appropriate that you should be able to take advantage of critical opportunities with more than just unarmed and melee attacks. After all, it's done in the movies and TV all the time. Take HRM's one-shot kill in the Season 1 Heroes finale for example.

[Agent 333]

Don't have my book with me at the moment, but doesn't Fire Damage preclude the use of Sneak Attack damage? I know it doesn't allow action dice....

[Crafty_Pat]

Don't have my book with me at the moment, but doesn't Fire Damage preclude the use of Sneak Attack damage? I know it doesn't allow action dice....

Unless we did something crazy and didn't include that particular rule in either the fire damage or sneak attack damage sections (which is unlikely, but possible, I suppose), then the two damage types are not mutually exclusive.

[Antilles]

I can't find anything in either Sneak Attack Damage or Fire Damage section that indicates fire damage can't be used in sneak attacks.

I've got a question, though: sneak attack damage is considered of the same type as the attack, right? So a sneak attack with fire is all fire damage? So, if I inflict 7 fire damage, and adds 4 from sneak attack, the total is 11 fire damage, and the target(s) and the square will have to roll to avoid catching on fire?

[Crafty_Pat]

I've got a question, though: sneak attack damage is considered of the same type as the attack, right? So a sneak attack with fire is all fire damage? So, if I inflict 7 fire damage, and adds 4 from sneak attack, the total is 11 fire damage, and the target(s) and the square will have to roll to avoid catching on fire?

Yes.

[Morgenstern]

Actually, since objects are not subject to sneak attack damage, I'm gonna have to encourage the model that you do base + sneak attack in fire tamage to the target, but only base damage is used to determine how bad you set the square on fire.  Torching a guys face (in particular) should not count as a superior method of starting a fire in tha square.

Edit: Hmm. Pat just made an interesting case for his thought process (one big fire number to rule them all). Consider the jurry out on this one.

[Bill Whitmore]

Actually, since objects are not subject to sneak attack damage, I'm gonna have to encourage the model that you do base + sneak attack in fire tamage to the target, but only base damage is used to determine how bad you set the square on fire.  Torching a guys face (in particular) should not count as a superior method of starting a fire in tha square.

Edit: Hmm. Pat just made an interesting case for his thought process (one big fire number to rule them all). Consider the jurry out on this one.

Without knowing just what this "interesting case" is all about, it makes more sense to me if sneak attack does not determine how badly the square is set on fire for the same reason Morg mentioned.  The surrounding area doesn't become more flammable simply because you happened to hit someone in their vulnerable spot...

...unless that vulnerable spot was a full can of gasoline or something.  But even that wouldn't increase the flamethrowers chance of starting a fire, just cause a second chance of a fire starting.