Pathfinder 1E element bending in Pathfinder

[cgraph]

I was wanting the idea of something a bit like (sans the martial arts aspects) bendning in Air Bender, the nearly intuitive use of the elements, in a flexible and freeform way.

Mongoose had something like it in "elementalists" but it was a bit complex and as I've been given to understand some of the Mongoose products even back in 3.00 had balance issues.

But still I like the idea, and was thinking of something rather like hte Monk or Magus, where instead of specific spells, you make use of arcana/Ki points, possibly reflavored as "elemental points" to use elemental powers.

Great, fine-- but how would you actually mechanically handle the elemental powers?

 

[Crothian]

Ultimate Magic has a variation on spellcasting (words of power) that might work. I've not used it but it could be a good starting point.

 

[cgraph]

Ultimate Magic has a variation on spellcasting (words of power) that might work. I've not used it but it could be a good starting point.

It's an interesting system, but a bit slower in excecution-- which is the problem, since the whole, "I unleash powers on the fly" dynamic needs to have a table dynamic that encourages it.

 

[Rampant]

And thus you run into the issue of converting from tv to a game.

The three major ways to intepret benders generally come down to, monks with spell-like abilities, whole new classes, and psionic characters.

 

[cgraph]

And thus you run into the issue of converting from tv to a game.

The three major ways to intepret benders generally come down to, monks with spell-like abilities, whole new classes, and psionic characters.

Well, the idea of the magus or monk-- where you ahve a character with a reserve of points to use, is what I was thinking of. I had considered dreamscarred presses psionics, but you run into the problem that you then have to include either the entire rules or the setting is less useful to people who didn't purchase the psionics rules. (oth: Dreamscarred presses psionics are great-- I highly recommend them)

 

[Rampant]

Aye which is why most attempts I've seen have been whole new class attempts.

None of them very good.

Hmmmm you could try mixing psionics with new class.

The class gets very basic abilities, but can spend power points to increase area, number of targets, give it a power boost, reshape an effect, etc.

 

[Crothian]

It's an interesting system, but a bit slower in excecution-- which is the problem, since the whole, "I unleash powers on the fly" dynamic needs to have a table dynamic that encourages it.

Any new mechanic is going to be slow at first. But once the players start using it then it will move along at whatever pace your players play at.

 

[Salthorae]

What about adapting the Warlock's Eldritch Blast (3.5 Complete Arcane) mechanic to the idea?

They can use it unlimited times a day, it's damage scales with level, there are "invocations" which could be renamed as "forms" that allow you to alter the range/AOE/etc.

You could also create some custom "invocations" to all things like, freeze your opponent in ice if you're a water bender, something would give a reflex save similar to Freezing Sphere or something.

Take away a couple of things from the monk class like bonus speed and then tack this on seems like it would be a reasonable approximation, though it would take some work...

 

[Angrydad]

What about adapting the Warlock's Eldritch Blast (3.5 Complete Arcane) mechanic to the idea?

They can use it unlimited times a day, it's damage scales with level, there are "invocations" which could be renamed as "forms" that allow you to alter the range/AOE/etc.

You could also create some custom "invocations" to all things like, freeze your opponent in ice if you're a water bender, something would give a reflex save similar to Freezing Sphere or something.

Take away a couple of things from the monk class like bonus speed and then tack this on seems like it would be a reasonable approximation, though it would take some work...

You're actually hitting on the ideas I myself have been kicking around for trying to convert the Last Airbender into a D&D style game. Strange minds think alike, as they say. I like the idea of Benders being a monk/warlock blend to some degree.

 

[Salthorae]

Effectively that is what they turn out to be in the shows.

I think stripping out the slow fall, speed increases, the poison, SR and things like that and basically just leaving the hand to hand combat of a monk with the armor bonuses and tacking on the warlock mechanic and splitting things out as elemental based, pulling in some spells as "forms" would complete the package.