Environmental Effects
Environmental Effects represent both positive and negative influences within an area, offering buffs, debuffs, damage, and control options for both allies and adversaries. They essentially mirror the cloud and surface versions of Status Effects in the realm of combat.
Fire Surface:
A fiery terrain that inflicts the Burning status, removing any Wet status from affected entities. It can be extinguished by employing Water or Ice elements. When combined with Poison elements or a mixture of Oil and Fire elements, it detonates explosively. When extinguished, it generates Steam clouds; upon natural dissipation, Smoke clouds linger. Causes Fire damage to those within its vicinity.
Mechanics:
- Burning Status: Afflicted targets suffer ongoing Fire damage over time. (1d6 Fire damage per round for a duration of 1 minute.)
Interaction with Elements:
- Dousing: Water or Ice spells/abilities can extinguish the Fire Surface.
- Explosive Combination: Mixing Poison or Oil with Fire triggers a detonation, causing additional area-of-effect damage (2d8 Fire damage within a 10-foot radius).
- Cloud Generation: Extinguishing the Fire Surface generates Steam clouds in the area. Natural dissipation produces lingering Smoke clouds.
- Damage: Characters and creatures within or moving through the Fire Surface area take Fire damage (2d10 Fire damage on entry, CON Sav DC 13, save for half damage).
- Magic Armor Interaction: The effect of Magic Armor blocks the Burning status, preventing ongoing Fire damage, but characters and creatures still suffer movement-based damage when within the Fire Surface area.
Water Surface:
A Water Surface represents an area covered with liquid, offering dynamic interactions that can influence the flow of battle. It can be transformed into steam, frozen solid, and even induce a shocking effect, providing both tactical advantages and challenges.
Mechanics:
- Transform into Steam: When a Water Surface comes into contact with Fire, it transforms into a billowing cloud of steam. This can obscure vision, providing concealment for those within or allowing for strategic retreats.
- Freeze Solid: Exposure to Ice solidifies the Water surface into a slippery, icy terrain. This impede movement and create difficult terrain, affecting both allies and enemies. (DEX Save DC 10, falling prone on a failure.)
- Induce Stun: Electricity can be harnessed to induce a shocking Stun effect upon the Water Surface. Creatures moving through or standing in the electrified water may suffer electrical damage or be afflicted with the Stun condition.
Interaction with Elements:
- Fire Resistance: Creatures have an advantage against Fire damage when traversing Water surfaces.
- Electricity: Creatures have a Vulnerability against Lightning damage when traversing Water surfaces.
Poison Surface:
The Poison Surface manifests as a hazardous area coated with a toxic substance, emitting a sickly green hue and emanating a noxious odor. It presents a threat to those who tread upon it, as its mere touch can afflict individuals with the Poisoned status, causing them to suffer lingering effects of venomous contamination.
Mechanics:
- Upon entering or starting a turn within the Poisonous surface, characters or creatures are subjected to a Constitution saving throw (DC varies). On a failed save, they become Poisoned for a duration determined by the Dungeon Master, causing them to have disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks. A successful save negates the Poisoned condition.
- Poison Damage: Afflicted targets suffer ongoing Poison damage over time. (1d6 Poison damage per round for a duration of 1 minute.)
Interaction with Elements:
- Detonation with Fire: Poison surfaces reacts violently when exposed to Fire. This reaction triggers an explosion within the Poisoned area, causing additional Poison damage to all creatures within range. This explosion affect a 20 ft radius.
- Magic Armor Resistance: Characters or creatures with protective enchantments or abilities, such as Magic Armor, have an advantage against the initial Poisoned status caused by the Poison Surface. While the Poisoned condition might be resisted by such magical protections, the ongoing movement damage caused by being within the Poison Surface still persists.
Oil Surface:
The Oil Surface represents an area slick with viscous, flammable oil. It appears as a glossy sheen on the ground, making movement difficult and treacherous for those who attempt to traverse it. The area emits a distinct odor of petroleum and presents a hazard due to its highly flammable nature.
Mechanics:
- Slowed Condition: Characters or creatures moving across the Oil Surface have their movement speed reduced due to the difficulty in maneuvering through the sticky, slippery terrain. This reduction in speed imposes the Slowed condition, effectively halving their movement for the duration they remain on the Oil Surface.
- Tough Terrain: Crossing the Oil Surface requires characters to make a Dexterity or Acrobatics check to maintain balance and avoid slipping. Failing this check might result in the character falling prone or suffering additional penalties, like reduced movement or disadvantage on attacks until they regain their footing.
Interaction with Elements:
- Explosive Reaction with Fire: When the Oil Surface comes into contact with Fire, it triggers a volatile explosion. This explosion deals fire damage to any creature within the affected area, causing 2d6 fire damage + 1d8 force damage. The explosion also ignite nearby flammable objects or areas, adding a burning element of environmental danger.
Lava Surface:
Lava presents a perilous environment characterized by molten rock and searing heat. Its intense glow and waves of heat make it a formidable obstacle, promising swift and unforgiving consequences to those who dare to approach.
Mechanics:
- Instant Death: Any creature that makes direct contact with Lava instantly suffers massive fire damage, generally leading to instant death. The sheer intensity of the heat and the molten nature of the lava make survival near impossible for those unfortunate enough to come into direct contact.
- Burning Status: Characters or creatures who have been exposed to Lava, even briefly, are afflicted with the Burning status. (1d6 Fire damage per round for a duration of 1 minute.)
- Wading Through Lava: Creatures wading through a lava stream suffer 10d10 fire damage per round.
- Submerged in Lava: Creatures fully submerged in lava, such as falling or being pushed into it, suffer a more severe 18d10 fire damage per round.
Interaction with Elements:
Freezing Duration: If a character attempts to freeze the Lava with Ice elements, the ice remains intact for up to a half a minute or 2 rounds before melting. This temporary freezing provides a brief window of opportunity for characters to traverse or strategize, but it is not a permanent solution.
Ice Surface:
Ice manifests as a frozen area, coating the ground with a slick, icy sheen. It creates a treacherous terrain, making movement challenging for both allies and adversaries. The surface appears translucent and reflects surrounding light, giving it a shimmering, crystalline appearance.
Mechanics:
- Any creature attempting to move across the Ice Surface must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw with a DC of 10. Failure results in the creature slipping and falling prone. This difficult terrain affects both allies and enemies, making traversal more precarious and hindering combat maneuvers.
- Prone Effect: The failure of the Dexterity saving throw causes a creature to fall prone, impacting their ability to move and act effectively during combat. Creatures who are prone have disadvantage on attack rolls but gain advantage against attacks made within 5 feet.
Interaction with Elements:
- Transformation with Fire: When exposed to Fire-based elements or spells, the Ice begins to melt, gradually transforming into Water. This transformation occurs over a specified duration or immediately, based on the intensity of the fire or the Dungeon Master's narrative.
Inspired by Divinity: Original Sin 2.