Playing an Air Elemental

[EOL]

I have a player just starting in a campaign which is currently around 13th level and he wants to be a medium Air Elemental Archer (ECL 9) I'm mostly fine with that, but I'm not sure how to work equipment. What sort of slots would an air elemental have? All the normal humanoid ones? It seems obvious that an Earth Elemental would have all the normal slots, and Air Elementals are not incorporeal, so I'm inclined to say sure, you can wear a ring or a necklace, carry a quiver and shoot a bow, wear a chain shirt, etc.

But then I started thinking about a fire elemental, which seems even more odd to give all the normal equipment slots to. Especially when you consider they would constantly be in danger of catching fire, or by choosing to wear the items would he offer some measure of protection?

So what;s the verdict can an Elemntal wear normal, appropriately sized, equipment?

 

[Artoomis]

I'd say no. Their equipment tends to get flung around as they make themselves into a whirlwind, etc. They could (maybe, if you feel generous) carry some small amount of equipemnt their "hands." Personally, I just don't think this is really workable in any reasonable way.

Sorry - I know I may sound kind of harsh, but let's get real here - a player ELEMENTAL? That's just a bit much.

 

[Crothian]

Ya, this is very wierd. I think you can design some special items that an air elemental can use, but I'm not sure how normal items can be used.

 

[EOL]

In Dragon 294 the editor talks about playing a Darkmantle barbarian, from my perspective this is not as odd as that, and only slightly more unusual than playing a Gensai of some sort.

Additionally I like to experiment with new things and I think monsters as characters may be a bad idea, and an Air Elemental as a PC may be an exceptionally bad idea, but I'd like to give it a shot and see.

In Dragon 293 with all the ECL's all the Elemental's have the same ECL, as such you would assume a certain degree of equality. If one (the earth, and that may be disputable) can wear any equipment then shouldn't the others be able to, and since Equipment is such a big deal, if they can't shouldn't it be reflected in their ECL?

Okay I realize I'm working with Minutia here, but to rephrase the question what about a shifter PrC? You may think the idea of an Elemental PC to be fairly ludicrious, but the idea of a Shifter becoming an Elemental should be more mainstream, would they be able to use thier equipment when they turn into an Earth Elemental? What about Water? Since they can meld their equipment into their form the question of losing everything during a whirlwind is less pressing.

 

[Crothian]

There's nothing wrong with it, it's just rare and odd.

You are right, limiting the equipment is hurtful. Out of curiosity what Class is the Air Elemental? You can allow it to have the same types of slots as a humaniod within reason. They have no feet so no boots, armor would have to be specially made to fit the funnel shape of the elemental. A cape would be sort of cool, though. Give him two bladed weapons, make a ranger and get to the Tempest PrCl. THat would be cool. Also, you could design special feats to use weapons with some of his special abilities.

The shifter and all the forms it gets does cause problems. However, he does have the option to just have the equipment meld with him.

Ultimately, I think you are going to have to balance realism with practicality. Realistically, it's hard to equip air, but it's not pratcical for PCs to be penalized to now equipment. I don't envy you on DMing this.....

 

[gfunk]

Alternatively you could let your PC make an Air Genasi or a Half-Air Elemental. The template for the latter is in Manual of the Planes.

 

[Zerovoid]

Well, all the elemental planes have liquid, solid, and gas forms of their elements, right? I would think the air elemental would need to use equipment from his own plane made out of air stuff. I think that is the only type of material that an elemental could interact with normally. How would he draw back a material bow? I don't think it would be possible to create gusts of wind quite that strong and focused.

 

[EOL]

There's nothing wrong with it, it's just rare and odd.

You are right, limiting the equipment is hurtful. Out of curiosity what Class is the Air Elemental? You can allow it to have the same types of slots as a humaniod within reason. They have no feet so no boots, armor would have to be specially made to fit the funnel shape of the elemental. A cape would be sort of cool, though. Give him two bladed weapons, make a ranger and get to the Tempest PrCl. THat would be cool. Also, you could design special feats to use weapons with some of his special abilities.

The shifter and all the forms it gets does cause problems. However, he does have the option to just have the equipment meld with him.

Ultimately, I think you are going to have to balance realism with practicality. Realistically, it's hard to equip air, but it's not pratcical for PCs to be penalized to now equipment. I don't envy you on DMing this.....

He was going to play some sort of archer type, but the tempest PrC does sound very cool. As far as DMing it, he's still not sure if he wants to give up 9 levels to be an air elemental and my decision on equipment will probably be the deciding factor, so it's even worse.

 

[Crothian]

He was going to play some sort of archer type, but the tempest PrC does sound very cool. As far as DMing it, he's still not sure if he wants to give up 9 levels to be an air elemental and my decision on equipment will probably be the deciding factor, so it's even worse.

Losing all those levels is really going to hurt an effective Archer. I also can't really see how a quiver of arrows is going to fit on the funnel shape of the elemental.

 

[wolfpunk]

I would suggest this. If you want the player to get to play the character then sit down with the player and talk about equipment. See what they are willing to work with, maybe they have a solution to make it easier for you.

My other thought is this, if the character is equivalent of 9th level, do they ave 9th level resources? I am sure you could come up with some magical items that would work for an air elemental. Perhaps you could go the route of the animated shield? How about an animated bow and quiver? Maybe you can come up with cool ways for the character not to have to hold anything.

I hate to game mechanics and reality, disrupt the idea of something. Kind of like my half-dragon/gelatinous cube sorcerer. Can't do it they said. I say, it's my world I can do whatever I want. So can you, if the players have fun and you can sleep at night, then you can do it.