The elemental savant from Complete Arcane

[Sonofapreacherman]

The elemental savant from Complete Arcane lists electricity as an air energy and acid as an earth energy.

Lightning is the build up of electrical potential between cloud and ground generated by the magnetic field of the planet "earth". Even the lightning that arcs from cloud to cloud is a product of the magnetism created by the planet.

In reality, air should = cold to reflect wind chill and other atmospheric conditions created by low air temperature, like "snow".

Earth should = electricity, water should = acid, and fire should = fire (the only element/energy relationship that the savant got right).

 

[Jdvn1]

I don't think they based the element/energy relationships off of science, but of lore. Air elementals look like clouds. They attack with lightening. Makes sense.

 

[Sonofapreacherman]

I don't think they based the element/energy relationships off of science, but of lore. Air elementals look like clouds. They attack with lightening. Makes sense.

So you're saying an earth elemental looks like a humanoid of liquid? Nay. I think this is an instance where you can marry science and magic.

 

[Jdvn1]

I'm saying it makes sense for air and electricity. I don't think it's a stretch to say that a water elemental might throw cubes of frozen water at you, either. Earth and acid might just be the leftovers, but in a fantasy setting, I don't see how earth and electricity follow. There are no stories I can think of that seem to allow that to follow. And water = acid might be a stretch too.

Going by fantasy stories, not science. Seeing as how I'm playing D&D, not d20 Modern.

 

[Thanee]

Well, ice is frozen water and the cold temperature is not generated by winds either, but by the earth, which blocks the heat of the sun.

Lightning fits to air (even if it might not be scientifically correct), I just don't really get earth = acid. But what else could there be...

Bye
Thanee

 

[Tarril Wolfeye]

It's really simple which energy fits for Earth:

Sonic!

Just think of earthquakes. It's the only energy the ground you're standing on can create on its own.

And Acid really shouldn't be an Energy. It's based on chemical damage, not physical.

 

[Jdvn1]

It's really simple which energy fits for Earth:

Sonic!

Just think of earthquakes. It's the only energy the ground you're standing on can create on its own.

And Acid really shouldn't be an Energy. It's based on chemical damage, not physical.

Hm, I can see that.

 

[Sonofapreacherman]

There are no stories I can think of that seem to allow that to follow.

Blue dragons (with their lightning breath weapon) are earth based.

 

[Jdvn1]

Blue dragons (with their lightning breath weapon) are earth based.

Bronze dragons (water) also breathe lightning.

I think dragons make a bad example.

 

[Sonofapreacherman]

Well, if you can rationalize a fluid-based earth elemental, then I don't think you'll have much problem with the elemental savant as presented.

Personally, I like my fantasy magic to start from a base of science and then break the rules from there (not the other way around).

I try not to treat "fantasy" as an excuse for all things fantastical.