D&D General Are creatures of the Ethereal Plane the Elemental creature type?

[Charlaquin]

They aren't of the 'elemental' type because the printed books do not have that printed in their stats. And that appears to be the most important thing to most players-- what is printed in black and white in the books. Even if they could change it to something else they'd prefer or add a new type or whatever... that "doesn't count". If WotC prints it, then it's true.

Goblins are 'fey' now and apparently we have to just deal and accept this travesty. Even though we could (and do) just easily ignore that tag... nope, by a lot of people's standards that just the way it is and it sucks and WotC sucks and they're stupid for doing it, but we don't have any choice. Goblins are fey creatures cause that's what the book says. Which means by the same token... ethereal creatures have no creature type and we just have to accept that reality.

I understand your point, but with goblins specifically, them being fey makes sense and aligns with the folklore they’re derived from.

 

[Tonguez]

No. Elementals are aspects of the Material, ontologically constructive beings formed of Elemental substance (matter) whereas the Ethereal is inherently Non-Material, Its inhabitants are not bound by physical rules of Material substance and neither are they formed of Ethereal stuff. Instead creatures with strong emotional or psychic force may become displaced within the Ethereal as it is a liminal transition space between Reality and Void.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I understand your point, but with goblins specifically, them being fey makes sense and aligns with the folklore they’re derived from.

Oh, of course. I personally couldn't care less what tag got put on them (or any monster for that matter). I was coming at my comments from others perspective who got so bent out of shape about it.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Phase spider are the first thing that comes to mind when I think of ethereal monsters and they're monstrosities.

I guess the answer is "not according to the game rules" though of course you can always homebrew.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Phase spider are the first thing that comes to mind when I think of ethereal monsters and they're monstrosities.

Like most things, they are not native to the ethereal, they just have the ability to pass through it.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

Only if I see at least two of: an ether mephit, an ether elemental, an ether myrmidon, and an ether genie.

 

[Corinnguard]

Caylia's Chronicle of Runes has a Planetouched species associated with the Ethereal Plane. The Etherean.

They can be the result of:
*Being exposed to a surge of Ethereal Influence such as an encounter with a planar portal or an especially powerful phase spider, haunting spirit or other corporeal being.
*Being exposed to the Border Ethereal for an inordinate amount of time, such as being trapped there.
*Being born to a humanoid who had been possessed by a ghost.
*Or having an Etherean for a parent.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

For me, an important characteristic of the ethereal is just how empty it is. It’s just vast grey expanse where ghosts cling to the edges of the real world and go insane, and the Radiant Citadel can be hidden away without the chance of something accidentally stumbling across it.

Which makes it different to the Astral, which is full of colour and spirit.