Air Elemental--Whirlwind Ability

[Helmholtz]

I'm trying to understand how the air elemental's Whirlwind ability works. As a Whirlwind, can the elemental move through as many characters as it wants (up to its Fly speed), damaging and picking up all those that fail their saves? Or does the Whirlwind have to stop each time it encounters a creature?

 

[kreynolds]

Here's a huge frickin' Sage reply...

I have several questions about the air elemental’s whirlwind ability.

First, when in whirlwind form, can the elemental still make its normal slam attacks?

No.

Can it make attacks of opportunity, and if so, what form do they take - slams or attempts to "catch" the target in the whirlwind?

No, it does not threaten the area around it.

Second, it’s not clear exactly what the elemental has to do to try to "catch" somebody. Does it need to make an attack roll?

No. The creature has to enter the whirlwind or the elemental has to move over the creature (this does not provoke AoOs from the defender).

Does it need to expend an action, and if so, what type?

See previous answer.

Does it still have its normal reach, or does it need to physically move into the target’s square?

See previous answer.

If the latter, does it have to end its movement in the target’s square to "catch" him?

No, the elemental just moves, the creature is carried along if "caught" or left behind if it is not.

If not, is there any limit to the number of creatures it can try to "catch" by moving into beyond the limit of how far it can move?

No.

How does Flyby Attack apply here?

It doesn't.

Third, what can a non-flying creature do if it is trapped in the whirlwind?

Pretty much anything except move.

Obviously it can’t attempt to move since it’s trapped, but are there any other restrictions on what it can do?

You have to make a concentration check to cast spells (same as the Reflex save DC) You can attack, but you're treated as entangled.

Can it attack the elemental, and if so, does it receive any special bonuses or penalties to such an attack?

See previous answer.

Does the dust cloud effect apply to a trapped creature?

Yes, if it is present.

These answers also apply to a water elemental in vortex form and to a djinni in whirlwind form.

Thanks to your perceptive and lucid questions, I'm inclined to rewrite the whirlwind description thus:

Whirlwind (Su): The elemental can transform itself into a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in that form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In this form, the elemental can move through the air or along a surface at its fly speed.
The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at the base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 50 feet tall, depending on the elemental’s size. The elemental controls the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet.
&nbsp&nbsp&nbspThe elemental’s movement while in whirlwind form does not provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the elemental enters the space another creature occupies. Another creature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches or enters the whirlwind, or if the elemental moves into or through the creature’s space.
&nbsp&nbsp&nbspCreatures one or more sizes smaller than the elemental might take damage when caught in the whirlwind (see the following table for details) and may be lifted into the air. An affected creature must succeed at a Reflex save when it comes into contact with the whirlwind or take the listed damage. It must also succeed at a second Reflex save or be picked up bodily and held suspended in the powerful winds, automatically taking the listed damage each round. A creature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round to escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage but can leave if the save is successful. The DC for saves against the whirlwind’s effects varies with the elemental’s size. The DC is Strength based.
&nbsp&nbsp&nbspCreatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move except to go where the elemental carries them or to escape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the whirlwind can otherwise act normally, but must a concentration check (DC 10 + spell level). Creatures caught in the whirlwind suffer a –4 penalty to effective Dexterity and –2 penalty to attack rolls.
&nbsp&nbsp&nbspThe elemental can eject any carried creatures whenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the whirlwind happens to be. A summoned elemental always ejects trapped creatures before returning to its home plane.
&nbsp&nbsp&nbspIf the whirlwind’s base touches the ground, it creates a swirling cloud of debris. This cloud is centered on the elemental and has a diameter equal to half the whirlwind’s height. The cloud obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. Creatures 5 feet away have one-half concealment, while those farther away have total concealment (see Concealment, page 133 in the Player’s Handbook). Those caught in the cloud must succeed at a Concentration check to cast a spell (DC 15 + spell level).
&nbsp&nbsp&nbspAn elemental in whirlwind form cannot make slam attacks and does not threaten the area around it.

Skip Williams
RPG R&D

Thanks, that was helpful.

I had one additional question I left out of my email because I’d already received a good answer from another source (Sean K. Reynolds, on his website). However, if you’re really going to rewrite the description of this ability for errata or something similar, you might want to address it.

The question: how many creatures can be trapped inside the whirlwind simultaneously? Sean’s suggestion was to follow the same scheme as the Swallow Whole ability: two creatures of one size lower, four creatures of two sizes lower, etc. Seemed like a good answer to me!

It's a good answer. But the correct one is: as many creatures as fit in or touch the space the whirlwind or vortex fills (which is not fixed).