PATH OF EXILE HAS SPONGEBOB PHYSICS #change my mind

IRL physics says for a material to be capable of being ignited, it must a) have access to oxygen and b) have a redox state favouring oxidation.

The source of the ignition is irrelevant, if there's a flame or spark of sufficient heat nearby, a flammable material will ignite and stay burning, even if you remove the source of the ignition later.

In PoE, ignition is entirely dependent on the source. A source of fire damage can be supported by focus which keeps it from lighting up even the crinkliest paper enemies. Conversely, if you have high enough hit DPS, you can ignite water, ice, and even ectoplasm. You don't even need a support that specifically says "this source of fire damage may ignite non-oxidizing materials in the absence of oxygen".

Whereas in our reality, igniting materials under water or saturated with water, or in anoxic environments, requires specialized sources: elemental sodium or calcium, elemental phosphorus, applying current directly to materials through direct contact or through the water, or specialized catalysts such as mitochondrial cytochromes and nucleoside polyphosphates.


Once ignited, target materials in nature as well as in Wraeclast have a finite time in which to sustain the redox exothermy. Fires go out, candles burn down, fuel is consumed, and monsters die with no other flammable monsters nearby.

I think it's kinda cute when certain individuals tries to apply logic and real life physics to a fantasy-oriented video game. The fact that you can cast hundreds of spells doesn't mind them, but the fact that those spells do ignite damage instead of burn damage does?

I need a beer.

So it seems everyone is arguing that PoE does in fact utilize Spongebob physics. Although some seemed bothered that anyone would even question this fact and want to be convinced otherwise?