D&D 4E Elementals in 4e ?

[Aloïsius]

In the "archons" excerpt, they explain that

Second, archons are focused on a single damage type, while elementals generally display aspects of multiple elements and damage types. Archons are thus good when you want to really emphasize a single element, whether you’re mixing them with other monsters that share that damage type or deliberately choosing complementary monsters.

Elementals display multiple elements ? What does that means ? Is there something about it in world and monsters ? Or in another preview I missed ?

 

[Voss]

Not sure. They also mention disconnecting it from the classical elements (and that is somehow a good thing).

The only thing I can think of is the Magma Brute in the DDM set. Its an elemental and essentially fire/earth.

It does seem to be a way around the stupid earth=acid, water=cold and air=lightning of 3rd edition, but it seems to go about it in the most backwards way possible.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Not sure. They also mention disconnecting it from the classical elements (and that is somehow a good thing).

The only thing I can think of is the Magma Brute in the DDM set. Its an elemental and essentially fire/earth.

It does seem to be a way around the stupid earth=acid, water=cold and air=lightning of 3rd edition, but it seems to go about it in the most backwards way possible.

The classic Air/Fire/Earth/Water elements seem gone. It is now more the "elements of nature", that a good Ranger or an Endure Elements spell can bring you through.

All in all, it makes the Elements less well defined, but provides us with more options. I think the designers value the "options" thing more then the clear definitions of Air/Fire/Earth/Water.

So, I guess we might see "Storm Elementals" (composed of earth, water and lightning) or "Magma Elementals" (composed of fire and earth), and whatever crazy stuff people will come up with.

 

[Lurks-no-More]

Elementals display multiple elements ? What does that means ? Is there something about it in world and monsters ? Or in another preview I missed ?

I think it's talking about "elementals" as a category of elemental creatures, including archons, efreeti, djinn and the old-style elementals (and probably more). Most of these won't be of only one element in 4e; the archons, and the pure elementals they're made from, are probably the chief exceptions to this.

 

[Byronic]

Imagine having to fight a glass elemental. Sounds dangerous.

 

[Family]

Because when you think of sturdy, hard to destroy things, glass is where it's at!

Paid for by the Glass Council of North America, Because Transparrent Alluminum Ain't Real (tm)

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Imagine having to fight a glass elemental. Sounds dangerous.

Nothing that John McClane would fear. He would fight them barefeet!