Elementalist Conversion to 3e
Originally Appeared in the Tome of Magic

The elemental wizard is one who do not follow the usual school
classification in magic in favour of a more natural understanding of magic
based along the lines of the four prime elemental sources.  The result is
elementalism.

As with a 'regular' specialist mage, when created the Elemental Mage must
choose a field of magic in which to focus.  Any of the four elements may
be chosen as desired;  this focus may never be changed.  Each element has
a diametrical opposite: air opposes earth, fire opposes water, and vice
versa. Elementalists may cast spells from their chosen element with a
bonus, and they may also cast from the two other non-opposed elements with
no penalty.  They may not cast any spells associated with the element that
opposes their speciality.


        Fire
          |
Air -- opposes -- Earth
          |
        Water


Benefits and Penalties (and conversions from original Tome of Magic)

- Elemental Mages gain the following modifiers to their spellcraft checks
  when determining if they may learn a spell:

    Spell is of Chosen  Element:  +2
    Spell is of Neutral Element:  +1
    Spell is of Opposed Element:  Cannot Learn
    Spell is not of the Elements: -2

- Elemental Mages may prepare and cast one additional spell per day,
  provided the extra spell relates to their chosen element.

- Upon reaching 15th level, an elementalist does not need to concentrate
  when controlling elementals of his specialty element summoned by the
  5th-level spell conjure elemental . The normal 5% chance of the
  elemental turning upon its summoner remains in effect.

- At 20th level, there is no chance of a summoned elemental turning
  upon an elementalist if the creature is of the wizard's specialty
  element.

- As Specialist Mages no longer receive bonuses to save vs spells of their
  chosen school, the elementalist no longer receives any either.

- Under the original write-up, and elemental mage could cast a single
  spell per day at 1d4 levels higher than the caster's level.  This bonus
  may be kept by the DM if desired (while it is not a bonus shared by
  'regular' specialist mages, the reasoning was that the elemental mage's
  more limited spell list was a disadvantage).  Alternately, the DM may
  allow the elementalist the Empower Spell feat for free, at first
  level.  More generously, the DM may allow the elementalist to choose any
  metamagic feat desired at first level.  In either case, these bonus
  feats work only on the mage's chosen element.

- An elemental mage may not use any magical item or scroll that duplicates
  spell effects or makes use of their opposed element.

- At the DM's discretion, the elementalist may research and learn (or
  create an equivalent spell) elemental magic from spell lists other than
  that of the Wizard (divine magic, for example).  This would allow a fire
  mage to learn and cast flame strike, for example.  Note however that
  unlike a Priest's flame strike, all damage would be magical fire, none
  would be divine.

- Bonuses and Penalties to spell research will have to wait until the 3e
  DMG is released.  }:)

In all other respects, an Elementalist behaves and is treated as is a
Specialist Wizard.





09-02-00  Oliver Bollmann