Since my character is a Khajiit archer, he does not use flames or any other magic, I wish I could take out a torch and light that gas or what ever it is up without using flames.

Either make the torch able to do that, or implement matches lol


EDIT: Ideas from a contributor

=Arrows with flame enhancements

theres usually a pot hanging from the ceiling above. shoot the pot, it will fall down and ignite the flammable stuff on the ground.

If you see any jars hanging from ropes above them, you can knock them down and they'll ignite. I never tried a torch attack. It doesn't work?

There is almost always a lamp pot above the oil, use a bow and shoot it down.

Hint, don't use a sword to knock it down, things get a might toasty.

No, and the jars are helpful but there are other places where the jars aren't visible...like not always in dungeons

actually come to think of it, I didn't check for the pots, thanks!

I've often wondered why Shock spells won't ignite the fluid. They just don't. Go figure.
Neither will an arrow from a flame-damage bow.
Nope. Nothing but hitting that pot or using a fire thingie will do....

... And to hit the pot, you need to use a ranged attack... AND if you're going to use a ranged attack, why even bother trying to hit the pot in the first place? Why not just hit the enemy?
If you happen to be a sword-user exclusively.... those pots are just another form of maschism... and you have no helpful way to light the fuel...

In fact... those fuel traps are all but useless most of the time.

Fire Breath Shout.

I can usually get 3 or 4 Drauger by igniting the oil. It can also be used to soften up a room before you enter it. However, the game gives you several ways to kill things, it is up to you to pick the one that works for you or the situation that you are in.

Suit yourself. I prefer to fight effectively.
That said I tend to burn the oil AFTER the fight anyway because it is messy. The amount of time I spend cleaning up rooms in Skyrim is.... well... silly...

I'm curious.

Why do you consider killing multiple enemies with one shot less effective than maybe killing one enemy with one shot?

find or enchant a bow with fire. that will pretty much make fire arrows and should work to light the liquid. although i don't know for sure because i have never tried this, i usually just shoot down the pot above the oil.

It doesn't tend to kill them. It tends to damage them IF they happen to be standing on it while it is burning... and of course they could run off it and take less damage, or if you trigger it too early they might not get damaged at all. Sure, it might be a bit AoE, but it is iffy to control, doesn't do much damage, gives away position AND obscures vision.
The alternative is a ranged sneak-attack which almost certainly will kill whatever it hits unless I'm using REALLY crappy gear... and maybe even ranged-sneak any other enemies looking for me after the first shot (since it is best done from a good sniping spot)... but in either case, I've never had any difficulty in Skyrim taking down enemies by shooting them with arrows.

So all in all.... more damage, more control. If I wanted AoE, I'd throw fireballs.

All true. Nonetheless, sometimes it's just darn fun to use a non-magical means to set a group on fire (esp. if your character isn't skilled at destruction). Oh, and sometimes the confusion caused by the flames and the obscuring nature of the flames themselves produce the means to get to cover, if not create cover outright, in an otherwise well-lit, cover-less area.

Sometimes it's just about creating chaos.

The flaming arrows do not ignite the oil. This is a considerable oversight, IMO, since the pots are not always in view or range. Furthermore, the resulting explosion does not harm "sleeping" draugr, only those that are up and about, so generally you want to wake them up first, then light the oil.

Also, I wish the arrows left us at least at shoulder height, and not from our knees! So many times I've had a clear sight line to a mob on the floor below and the arrow goes into a railing in front of me instead. Good grief.

Depend on level, at low level it's very effective, at high level it might be an disadvantage as it's better to sneak attack.

Heh, I only actually realised the oil-like liquid was flammable when I was standing in it and flaming something.

oops.

I agree that there should be more actions that ignite them such as striking the oil with a torch or shock spells, but useless? Sometimes I break from my character just to use the flame spell/bow to set bandits on fire (especially fun in that bandit cave just north-west of Whiterun). So much fun.

Agree you should be able to bash with the torch to set stuff on fire like you can npc. I always make a strict sword n sheild build no magic no arrows, i love the torches because i like my games dark and useing the spells is often not my thing, i hope some one makes a mod with better weapons functioanlity for torches like setting oil on fire, making a metal refillable torch that fits harder blocks better ect.