Flame blade

[Cavalry_Medic]

I'm revisiting this old favorite spell and considering new builds for it, and I've come up with more questions than answers.  To that end, I'm asking you geniuses to help me out, or point me to a better resource/forum.  At the end of this, I may have a workable build to share.

1)  Can a flame blade leave your hand under any circumstances?  Nat-1 Fumbles?  Disarms?  Throw anything feat?  Can you give it to others to use?
1a)  How does whirling blade interact with flame blade?
1b)  Since strength is made irrelevant by the flame blade description, do I gain the +Int or +Cha function of whirling blade?
2)  Can you power attack with flame blade, since it is a touch attack?

At the moment, I've got a war mage that blew a feat on Extra spell - flame blade and acquired a couple of other friendly spells via spell swapping*.  He is built around whirling blade + flame blade, but some of my co-gamers are trying to naysay my fire joy.  I could use some help.

*Blade of blood (swift, 1 rd/lvl), Blades of fire (swift, 1 rd), current L5 version is d6+2+2 edge+d8 blades of fire+d6 or 3d6 blade of blood = avg 12 to everything I can touch in a 60' line, more to the first poor sucker.

Thank you for your help.

[PhaedrusXY]

Nat-1 fumbles are strictly a houserule/alternate rule.

AFAIK, you can Power Attack with things like Flame Blade.

Unless the +Cha or +Int specifically says it replaces +Str to damage, you should still get it. If it says it replaces Str, I don't think you should.

[Cavalry_Medic]

Whirling blade, per SC.
"...you can choose to substitute your Int modifier or your Cha modifier (as appropriate for your spellcasting class) for your Strength modifier on the weapon's attack rolls and damage rolls."

[AndyJames]

The flame blade only works for you, IIRC. It does fire damage not slashing, so it cannot be the target of a whirling blade in any case.

[Cavalry_Medic]

Flame blade, PHBp231
"...you wield this bladelike beam as if it were a scimitar."
I was hoping that'd qualify it for whirling blade.

[AndyJames]

It just means you are profficient in it.

The damage type is fire, not slashing. This is what Whirling Blade triggers off.

[Thrice Dead Cat]

Considering that the spell has a range of 0 feet, there technically shouldn't even be a noticeable blade, due to

, but that might just be for instantaneous spells.

You can at least power attack with it, because it is treated as a scimitar and scimitars are normally power attack'able.