Make Alchemist Fire Barrels deadlier

[putrid_plum]

this suggestion is the bomb

[Random_White_Guy]

As a potential maybe to bolster a few of the discussion points raised here:

HP is correct in that it is massively weighty and at most it seems to offer about the damage of a Fireball when used. While this is a fairly balancing thing and it adds a great panic effect of seeing a giant keg of explosive- PCs really don't have the luxury that DMs do. Typically I've acquired perhaps one in any particular tenure on a PC.You don't have the mechanical capabilities and typically not the good luck to acquire more than one.

So yes, on a DM quest when you see a couple alchemist fire barrels strategically placed and they daisychain when one goes off it can add some serious firepower to your situation. I too have seen entire parties wipe, but that's typically to Multiple blasts. Just like with Goblin Firebombers.

From the PC end though, you can set one off and have negligable but a very impactful statement. Blowing something up in EFU isn't really about body-count. Typically an explosion of any magnitude freaks out PCs and sends a pretty potent and awesome message. It's AOE damage, with fire and a blast and sudden and great effects.

Typically they need DMs to use anyway and PCs are able to get creative with them. Strategically placed using skills like Engineering of Masonry you can potentially convince a DM to let you put it in the so called "Sweet spot". If a DM is willing you can use things like traps and other aspects to rig more dangerous aspects when PCs or NPCs interact.

TLDRVersion: Some more damage would be cool, but on the whole you can do a variety of cool things with a DM. 90% of the time they are used in DM situations anyway so creativity can be used to spice up the typically less than impactful blast. More damage would be cool but without it there's still some awesome with it.

[Big Orc Man]

Your wish is my command.

[CollegeDropout]

Your wish is my command.

you fools, if only you knew what you've released upon ymph