Kineticist Move Earth... ah...wow


Rules Discussion


Okay, so Move Earth states that you can move a 5 foot cube of earth or stone within 30 feet, 5 feet in any direction... Does this include up? Like into the air? Can you maintain this round to round without dropping it? Because if so... Wow.

A 5 foot cube of dense stone is 125 cubic feet... That would weight around 20,000 - 22,000 lbs (I'm not converting that to kilo's, sorry). Even 125 cubic feet of dirt would be like 10,000 lbs.

If a 20,000 lb rock is dropped on an Orc, does it make a sound?

Liberty's Edge

It's not telekinesis so I would assume that you are moving earth, not lifting and flying earth... otherwise what is to stop you from creating your own (albeit slow) flying platform?


I'm wondering the same thing. The language should maybe be cleaned up to make it clear one way or the other.

Considering that you can launch and aim chunks of earth (even redirecting them in mid flight) it's not super unreasonable that you can (slowly) move large amounts.

Even if you can't levitate stone/dirt, the ability to move that much material is impressive. You could hollow out a cliff side and build a base inside over a weekend.


Dexion1619 wrote:


Even if you can't levitate stone/dirt, the ability to move that much material is impressive. You could hollow out a cliff side and build a base inside over a weekend.

There will be few high level earth kineticists, because the usual vita will read like:

Lev 1 kineticist
...
monster slaying, XP gathering

Hitting lev 6

Got hired by Dwarven Low King XY as chief engineer, payment 100 GP per day (*)

lived happily ever after and had absolutely no reason to go monster hunting again

(* Move earth kineticist probably as good at digging tunnels and mining as about 500 skilled miners; the latter would earn 500 gp per day, so 100 is a good deal for the Low King and for the level 6 kineticist)


Kinda hoping Mark will chime in on this. All joking aside, its important to know. I actually think you are meant to be able to lift the material, which explains the 5 foot movement rate (Good luck dropping that on anything but a building). Also, a better idea of what level of control you have when shaping the material would be helpful, or is it always a "Cube" of material (Are GeoKinetics really good at minecraft?). Can I "Push" a 5' cube of earth down, effectively making a hole under a creature (Reflex DC20 to avoid)? That could actually be really helpful (You're ally could full attack from higher ground, then 5' step back. Opponent would then have to climb out, wasting a move action. And if they don't for some reason, make the pit deeper on you're next turn)

I know that there is no way they can cover every possible use of the ability, but establishing some clear guidelines would be helpful. Also, adding the ability to "Lock" the Element in place for burn, like Water manipulator, could be interesting if you can lift it. 15 foot river? Move a chunk of earth to float over the center, letting you're allies make easy 5 foot jumps to clear it, then lock the earth in place to make the jumps yourself.


Using it to create a flying platform was the first thing I thought of when I saw the talent so I assumed it was intended. It requires a standard action so you can't use it in-combat for that purpose; out of combat, however, you're removing climb checks from the game, which would at least help to explain why you have to wait until the Wizard can Fly to be able to do this.


Well thats how a lot of geokinesis superheros travel. Remember Terra from the Judas Contract storyline in Teen Titans.

Liberty's Edge

Arachnofiend wrote:
Using it to create a flying platform was the first thing I thought of when I saw the talent so I assumed it was intended.

I actually did NOT think that was the intent because honestly, in keeping with the theme, I assumed there would be some sort of intentional non earthglide movement power for the set. Or maybe that is just wishful thinking on my part.

I basically assumed this ability was meant to work like the Move Earth spell. Also, it calls out making raised platforms or stairs up a cliff, which would be extraneous if you could just make an earthworks(tm) elevator. Plus it comes at the same level as Earth Climb.


The fact is, most people in the game setting are going to be low level, a lot of people would indeed retire and use their powers to make money...the same is true for about any other class. Face it...most people are not going to keep risking their life once they have another way to get good pay. High level adventurers need a motivation OTHER than wealth to continue.


You need to be 6th level to get this ability, so some monster hunting is required lol.

Well, Stairs are useful for everyone in the party, and Earth Climb is WAY faster than this.


I see no reason why you should stop rock man from flying on a block of dirt at 1/6th a mile per hour. If that slab of dirt falls on an orc then it is the orc's fault.


Hey, that's 0.568 MPH, thank you very much!

1/6 MPH... Not some type of slow poke over here.... <grumble> j/k

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