D&D 4E Elementals and 4E: All Evil?

[Pale]

As a fan of all things 'elemental' I'm really digging what they're doing along those lines with the flavor of the 4E setting.

However, I get the distinct impression that there won't be any elementals on the opposite side of the spectrum from the demonic/daemonic/devilish coming out of that maelstrom. Has there been any news on non-adversarial elemental beings in the new default setting?

I apologize if this has been brought up already, if there is a thread devoted to this topic that I missed, would someone please point me to it?

 

[Dausuul]

As a fan of all things 'elemental' I'm really digging what they're doing along those lines with the flavor of the 4E setting.

However, I get the distinct impression that there won't be any elementals on the opposite side of the spectrum from the demonic/daemonic/devilish coming out of that maelstrom. Has there been any news on non-adversarial elemental beings in the new default setting?

The current philosophy seems to be, "Don't give Monster Manual space to critters the players will hardly ever fight." (In light of the focus on combat stats in the 4E MM, this seems mostly reasonable to me, although I have to wonder what it means for classic "good creatures" like unicorns.) So I suspect the answer to your question is that elemental beings will not all be EVIL with a capital EVIL, and they can certainly fill non-adversarial roles, but all of them will have the potential to wind up on the opposite side of a battlefield from the PCs.

 

[Pale]

Hmmm.. can't say I agree with that philosophy... especially with the propensity for some of the new classes and races for bringing forth the villain in our players. Tiefling Infernal Warlock anyone?

 

[frankthedm]

Well, the elementals shouldn't be that chummy with the god's minions and worshippers. The gods [just one TBH] turned their home into a cosmic toilet bowl with the seed of evil.

 

[ideasmith]

Djinnis (Sp?) will probably be unaligned. Most of them, anyway.

 

[Incenjucar]

The fact that the City of Brass is such a big deal suggests that, while perhaps not very cuddly, elemental entities aren't automatically out to murder you for breathing.

It'll be more like the historical periods fantasy is based on, where any one kingdom might try to eradicate or enslave any other kingdom pretty much at the drop of a hat, but without the compulsive need to kill on sight.

More Roman-style evil and less Rabid Tanar'ri-style evil.

 

[Shroomy]

I would think that the majority of 4e elementals are like the majority of 4e fey (as described by the designers). Not exactly evil, but extremely unlikely to sing Kumbaya around the campfire with the PCs; and whatever you do, don't make them angry!

 

[Lurks-no-More]

Djinnis (Sp?) will probably be unaligned. Most of them, anyway.

I think that most elemental beings will be unaligned, and frequently uncaring about mortal races. Fire Archons seem like they might be Evil, but I wonder about the rest of the archons. Efreeti are likely Evil as well, considering that they create more FA:s and enslave others.

 

[Stogoe]

I don't see Archons as Evil. Militaristic, mercenary, but not Steal Your Soul Evil. Most things are unaligned.

 

[FabioMilitoPagliara]

More Roman-style evil and less Rabid Tanar'ri-style evil.

liberally quoting from Brian of Nazareth:

Romans are evil!!!!

well they gave us streets, laws, schools, aqueducts but indeed are evil!