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Snow
Learned Scribe
USA
125 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 09:04:23
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I recently had a friend of mine (he's a blacksmith) make me a flint-striker forged from steel and a knapped piece of flint. Of course, I've had a ton of fun learning the ideosyncracies of how flint-&-steel works.
Since flint-&-steel is the easiest and most common source of low-level firemaking while adventuring in F.R. D&D, I'm curious to see if there are any F.R.-based fan fiction, homebrew game material, or general discussion on flint-&-steel firemaking in the Realms.
I did a search here at Candlekeep, and this is a topic never before discussed.
Thanks for your time!
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Halidan
Senior Scribe
USA
470 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 13:49:59
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| In the module that takes place in the Border Forest (part of the Zhentil Keep boxed set), it says that sawdust is collected and filled into pouches to be used as fire starters for those who are too lazy or too unskilled to use flint and steel. While that is all it says, I would assume that the sawdust is combined with either wax or a small amount of lamp oil and that the pouch itself is lit with a match (i.e. tindertwig). |
"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied,
"If you seek for Eldorado!"
Edgar Allen Poe - 1849 |
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Galuf the Dwarf
Senior Scribe
USA
731 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 14:26:33
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| There is the Instant Campfire item featured in Races of Faerun. I think that's meant for getting an adequate fire started in a hurry, particularly where a lot of food and/or warmth is needed for a large group of people (ex: an army). |
Galuf's Baldur's Gate NPC stats: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8823
Galuf's 3.5 Ed. Cleric Domains: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14036
Galuf's Homebrew 4th Edition Races: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13787
Galuf's Homebrew Specialty Priest PrCs: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14353
Galuf's Forgotten Realms Heralds and Allies thread: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8766 |
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MisterX
Learned Scribe
Germany
118 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 14:58:19
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I always allowed magic-users to light up fires with the Prestidigitation-Spell. It's just cool to make fire just by muttering a few words and clapping your hands…
In Pathfinder, they got a special cantrip for that iirc (maybe so. here knows the exact name). |
I've lost track of recent realmslore, since my campaigns are still in the 1370ies. :-)
---
When talking about rules (and related stuff) I always refer to 3.5e unless explicitly noted. |
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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 15:45:56
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| There's also a cantrip like the light spell, only focused. Ideal for the drow as well. |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4471 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 16:30:42
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| I let a PC put a spring-loaded fire starter on the handle of his bow so he could light the wicks of fire arrows. It required a utility rig in the bow to allow for multipul attachments from pin-sights for increased range, spool of wire to shoot grappling arrows to fising attachments. |
Diffan's NPG Generator: FR NPC Generator |
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Lady Shadowflame
Learned Scribe
115 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 16:48:27
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quote:
Originally posted by MisterX
I always allowed magic-users to light up fires with the Prestidigitation-Spell. It's just cool to make fire just by muttering a few words and clapping your hands…
In Pathfinder, they got a special cantrip for that iirc (maybe so. here knows the exact name).
Ah, Prestidigitation, what can't it do?
Our DM allows us cantrips at-will and repeatable, so I've had a character serve as an impromptu laundry service for the party, using the spell to clean their clothes.
And I do tend to have my characters carry flint and steel; it's just too useful not to. |
Save a lizard... Ride a drow.
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Edited by - Lady Shadowflame on 22 Aug 2011 16:51:25 |
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Snow
Learned Scribe
USA
125 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 17:29:55
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Thanks Halidan, Galuf, Diffan and Lady S! I'll track those references down ....
Yes, I realize the Prestidigitation magic is a superior fire-starting source. But I love the real-world history of the flint-&-steel (it was a primary firemaking source in Earth's history for about 1,100 years!). So anything Realmsian related to this important piece of firemaking gear is definitely welcome! |
Edited by - Snow on 22 Aug 2011 17:31:59 |
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Eltheron
Senior Scribe
740 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 17:32:36
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There's also the handheld "Sparker" that's available from Aurora's Whole Realms Emporium (and catalog). 
It's basically flint and steel mounted into a small handheld device, and with a small movement the two will strike each other to create sparks.
And for speedy fire-lighting, "tindertwigs" are essentially matches made through an alchemical process; they've been available at least since the core 3.5E player's handbook. |
"The very best possible post-fourteenth-century Realms lets down those who love the specific, detailed social, political and magical situation, with its thousands of characters, developed over forty years, and want to learn more about it; and those who'd be open to a new one with equal depth, which there just isn't time to re-produce; and those repelled, some past the point of no return, by the bad-taste-and-plausibility gap of things done to the world when its guardianship was less careful."
--Faraer |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36912 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 18:12:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Lady Shadowflame
quote:
Originally posted by MisterX
I always allowed magic-users to light up fires with the Prestidigitation-Spell. It's just cool to make fire just by muttering a few words and clapping your hands…
In Pathfinder, they got a special cantrip for that iirc (maybe so. here knows the exact name).
Ah, Prestidigitation, what can't it do?
Our DM allows us cantrips at-will and repeatable, so I've had a character serve as an impromptu laundry service for the party, using the spell to clean their clothes.
And I do tend to have my characters carry flint and steel; it's just too useful not to.
I had a character do similar stuff with cantrips in 2E, under a variant system that made them actually useful. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36912 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 18:13:14
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| I can't think of too many stories, Realms or otherwise, where the ability to create a fire was an important plot point. Often, it's too minor a detail to mention, like tying your shoes. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4696 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 18:23:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Snow
Thanks Halidan, Galuf, Diffan and Lady S! I'll track those references down ....
Yes, I realize the Prestidigitation magic is a superior fire-starting source. But I love the real-world history of the flint-&-steel (it was a primary firemaking source in Earth's history for about 1,100 years!). So anything Realmsian related to this important piece of firemaking gear is definitely welcome!
Hmm, some years ago I read about another fire making method that might be longer then flint and steel.
The fire caused by friction. Basic concept you need two pieces of wood, a curved stick and a cord. One piece of wood being a stick or rod like, the other piece being larger with a hollow in it. The trick is the use the handle with cord warped around the rod, and spin the rod back and forth in order to cause a fire the start.
The article I read about it, indicated most people found it better to carry fire with them then make a new fire. The researchers though asked many to make a fire by this traditional process and some tried. It appeared most could not generate the speed to get friction heat high enough to start a fire. One however did do so. After seeing done a few times it was discovered that that person added sand or other some grit to the hollow, which increased the friction factor. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Daviot
Senior Scribe
USA
372 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 21:42:35
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quote:
Originally posted by MisterXIn Pathfinder, they got a special cantrip for that iirc (maybe so. here knows the exact name).
Yup, the cantrip in question being spark, which is simple enough to work backwards with the 3.0-era cantrips for those interested.
Also, since Gond okay-ed starwheel (wheellock) pistols, there could be wheellock-based firestarters, that is, a small spring-wound box with a pyrite-lined wheel against steel, and a small lever or trigger to release the tension and use it. Such things were made in our own world, albeit apparently as expensive novelties, and ill-recorded in the historical record. |
One usually has far more to fear from the soft-spoken wizard with a blade and well-worn boots than from the boisterous one in the ivory tower.
My Tabletop Writing CV. |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Eltheron
Senior Scribe
740 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2011 : 00:06:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
Kentinal, are you perhaps referring to the wood-rubbing method? I've tried it, and one has to move the rod very fast indeed ot get even a spark. It also makes quite a bit of noise, IIRC. Like the sound of a squeaky bed.....
*cough* wood-rubbing... very fast... lots of noise... squeaky bed...
Yep, definitely the ticket to a roaring fire!
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"The very best possible post-fourteenth-century Realms lets down those who love the specific, detailed social, political and magical situation, with its thousands of characters, developed over forty years, and want to learn more about it; and those who'd be open to a new one with equal depth, which there just isn't time to re-produce; and those repelled, some past the point of no return, by the bad-taste-and-plausibility gap of things done to the world when its guardianship was less careful."
--Faraer |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Flint & Steel .... Firestarting Gear in the Realms
