the elements of this age?
- Thread starter Driddle
- Start date
Jeremy Ackerman-Yost
Explorer
I think you're misinterpreting the concept of "elements." Essentially, they are that which is indivisible. Once upon a time, it was thought by some that all things were composed of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. Or Metal, Wood, Wind, Fire, and Water. And probably other combinations with which I'm not familiar.
Later on, alchemists/chemists discovered that there was energy and matter and that matter had elements like Hydrogen, Oxygen, Iron, Lead, etc. Of course, this was substantially less spiritually fulfilling, though there was still some romance to it.
Now we know a fair bit about Atoms, Protons, Electrons, Quarks, and on down. Very little spiritual relevance, IMO. Though some would disagree with me. The "Strange Quark" entertains me, but that's about it, really.
But what you seem to be seeking is a new layer to the spiritual elements. Sort of the indivisible factors in our everyday life rather than the scientific minutae. For that, I think the original elements are still viable. I could babble on about "archetypes" and Man vs. Nature, but my pedantic nature has already been appeased in this post. I just think that the original 4 or 5 get to the human psyche fairly effectively. Certainly, our environment has changed, but the "new" things are really just variations or elaborations on the old. Keep the original 4 (or 5), but create a set of man-manipulated pseudo-elements derived from the originals. Plastic and petroleum would be Earth-based. Electricity and various other energies would be Fire-based. Etc. I think the most interesting aspect of our modern environment is that we can now manipulate and alter the Elements, for good and ill.
Later on, alchemists/chemists discovered that there was energy and matter and that matter had elements like Hydrogen, Oxygen, Iron, Lead, etc. Of course, this was substantially less spiritually fulfilling, though there was still some romance to it.
Now we know a fair bit about Atoms, Protons, Electrons, Quarks, and on down. Very little spiritual relevance, IMO. Though some would disagree with me. The "Strange Quark" entertains me, but that's about it, really.
But what you seem to be seeking is a new layer to the spiritual elements. Sort of the indivisible factors in our everyday life rather than the scientific minutae. For that, I think the original elements are still viable. I could babble on about "archetypes" and Man vs. Nature, but my pedantic nature has already been appeased in this post. I just think that the original 4 or 5 get to the human psyche fairly effectively. Certainly, our environment has changed, but the "new" things are really just variations or elaborations on the old. Keep the original 4 (or 5), but create a set of man-manipulated pseudo-elements derived from the originals. Plastic and petroleum would be Earth-based. Electricity and various other energies would be Fire-based. Etc. I think the most interesting aspect of our modern environment is that we can now manipulate and alter the Elements, for good and ill.
Ferret
Explorer
I want a stab at this, you can't burst my bubble Canis!
Synthetic- A caster with this sphere would control metals, and shift skyscrapers to blind people with reflections.
Organic- A caster with this sphere would control nature and raise huge tree to block attacks.
Blood- Would control creatures and people, and use spells on people like charms etc.
Spiritual- I put this here 'cos I can't think what else makes up our modern life.
Synthetic- A caster with this sphere would control metals, and shift skyscrapers to blind people with reflections.
Organic- A caster with this sphere would control nature and raise huge tree to block attacks.
Blood- Would control creatures and people, and use spells on people like charms etc.
Spiritual- I put this here 'cos I can't think what else makes up our modern life.
Altamont Ravenard
Explorer
What? no one mentions Money?
AR
AR
the Jester
Legend
I would say, for modern urban elements in a somewhat gritty future:
Concrete replaces earth.
Electromagnetism replaces fire.
Smog replaces air.
Petroleum replaces water. (This includes plastics.)
Neither money nor metal are elements because they weren't elements in the 'classic four' take on the elements in dnd, but they both certainly had a big influence on life. Therefore, I treat them the same way in this system- non-elemental.
Concrete replaces earth.
Electromagnetism replaces fire.
Smog replaces air.
Petroleum replaces water. (This includes plastics.)
Neither money nor metal are elements because they weren't elements in the 'classic four' take on the elements in dnd, but they both certainly had a big influence on life. Therefore, I treat them the same way in this system- non-elemental.
