I have a campaign coming up in which the adventurers will be traversing expanses on lava and I was wondering if a spellcaster could use a spell such as Sleet storm to create a bridge of ice on top of the lava. Or use another spell with a cold descriptor to cool the top layer of lava and form a bridge. Perhaps a spell like ray of frost. Sleet storm states that it "…causes the ground in the area to be icy. A creature can walk within or through the area of sleet at half normal speed with a DC 10 Balance check." I think something like ray of frost would be a bit of a stretch but wanted to see what kind of rules were out there in regards to spells effecting the environment based on descriptor.
[RPG] Could a spellcaster use a spell with the cold descriptor to form a bridge on top of lava
dnd-3.5eenvironmental-hazardsspells
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Best Answer
Spells only do what they say they do, but the DM can improvise. That is, I am unaware of any spell that directly transforms lava into a surface that any creature can fearlessly traverse. Also, alternative ways magic can overcome this hazard are far too numerous to list.
In short, the game doesn't say that a spell like ray of frost or sleet storm freezes the surface of lava into a bridge, but the DM can say that such spells do. The problem, however, is that spells that can solve the same problem without DM intervention exist at equally low levels, so the DM's made the most powerful force in the game—magic!—more powerful, versatile, and unpredictable.
For example, the lowest-level spell that allows traversing the lava is the 0-level Sor/Wiz spell prestidigitation [univ] (PH 264). This article allows the spell to be used to grant an object for 1 hour fire resistance 2, and the rules on Lava Effects say that "resistance to fire serves as an immunity to lava or magma" (DMG 304). Simply casting the spell prestidigitation on a plank and a paddle means for 1 hour being able to traverse lava!
More reasonably (and not relying on what's probably an oversight), for example, the 2nd-level Sor/Wiz spell alter self [trans] (PH 197)—the same spell level as the spell sleet storm—can allow even a humanoid to fly over the lava if the caster knows of a winged humanoid.
This DM is always hesitant to expand spells' mandates, but if it's necessary for your plot, go for it. Just keep in mind that the smallest change can send ripples throughout the campaign. Six months from now when the town is threatened by a lava flow, do you really want the PCs stopping the disaster with a wand of ray of frost?