Canthin |
So I'm thinking of proposing the following archetype to my DM to see if he will let me play it, but I'm not sure if it is too much or not enough. I also can't seem to get the wording of Elemental Balance right. It doesn't seem complicated until I start trying to explain how it works, then it sounds complicated :)
Elementalist (maybe Primal Elementalist)
Elemental Knowledge (Ex)
An Elementalist adds Knowledge (Planes) to their list of class skills. (This counts as the skills added based on chosen element).
Instead of specializing in one element, an Elementalist has roots in each of the four prime elements (Air, Earth, Fire, and Water). An Elementalist chooses one simple blast from each element at 1st level. At 7th level the Elementalist gains the composite blasts based on their selection of simple blasts.
This replaces Elemental Focus, Expanded Element, the Infusion gained at 1st level, and alters class skills.
Elemental Balance (Su)
The four elements must be kept in balance in order to harness their power safely. For every Infusion or Wild Talent you posses that exceeds any of the other elements by more than one, you start the day with one burn for each point you are out of balance. Examples: You have an Earth Infusion, and a Fire and Air Wild Talent at level 4. If the Infusion you choose at 5th is any element other than Water, you will have 1 burn every morning (because you need 1 Water to be in balance). If you had 4 Fire, 3 Air and 0 in the other two, that would be 6 burn (you would need 3 Water, and 3 Earth to be in balance). A Universal talent/infusion counts as any element you choose when making this calculation (so you could have 2 Fire, and 3 universal and not take any burn, counting each universal as a different element). An Elementalist must choose a balancing talent/infusion if the total burn they would receive every day exceeds the total burn they can accept in a day (3+CON)
You cannot use Internal Buffer if you are out of balance.
This alters Burn and Internal Buffer.
Elemental Resistance (Su)
At 2nd level, an Elementalist gains +2 resistance to Acid, Cold, Electricity, and Fire. At 6th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, the resistance increases by 2 to a total of +10 resistance at 18th level. By accepting 1 point of burn, you can increase this resistance by 2 until the next time your burn is removed. The maximum resistance you can gain is 20. This resistance stacks with any resistance you already possess.
This replaces Elemental Defence.
Everything else seems to fit with the Elementalist theme (Elemental Overload, Metakinesis, etc.) Anything else I could/should change before submitting?
JAMRenaissance |
It may be easier on Elemental Balance to require that the infusions/wild talents balance, with the ability to "trade out" at certain levels in the same manner one would trade out a spell as long as you maintain the balance. For the purposes of this, universal talents do not count for or against you.
So, taking, say, an Earth infusion at first level means you cannot take another Earth talent/infusion until you get fire, water, and air talents/infusions. You can still take as many Universal ones as desired.
Canthin |
Elemental Balance seems overcomplicated.
I think Elemental Knowledge probably gives too many blasts. Perhaps limit the number of composite blasts, or give them out over levels.
Elemental Resistance is kind of weak.
Thinking maybe just remove Composite blasts completely. Depending on which combination of blasts you take, you would only get 2 or 3 anyway, but if you remove them completely, something minor could be added in their place.
Elemental Resistance is a little weak, but resistance to all elements is pretty handy, and I didn't want it to be too good. There isn't anything else I could think to add to it that wouldn't make it stand out as "winner" against the other Defenses.
I'm not sure how to fix the Elemental Balance issue. I don't want to pidgin-hole the Elementalist into ONLY taking powers that balance, but I wanted there to be some down side if they didn't keep it close.
Can you think of anything else that "Jack-of-all-elements, master-of-none" would have?
QuidEst |
Elemental Balance doesn't function sensibly as written. Too many infusions and wild talents list multiple element types.
My approach: At first, give them a single basic blast of the four types and treat all four main elements as secondary (but can always take at least first-level talents). At second, they trade their elemental defense for a second blast and never qualify for Expanded Defense. At fourth (when they would normally qualify for second-level talents), they get the third basic blast. At seventh, they get a basic blast from the fourth element and one composite blast. At 15th, they get all composite blasts they qualify for. Maybe throw in metal and blue flame.
You'd probably need to include something to allow them to count any element as primary for talents that reference it (e.g. Elemental Whispers).
Canthin |
What about choosing either Physical or Energy at level 1 and your blast is that type, but can be any of the 4 elements for damage type. And then at 7th, when a normal Kineticist gains a second blast, you get the other type. This makes it kind of weird though since you could have an Earth "energy" blast. Or should it just be 3 damage types with energy (Electricity, Fire, Cold) and 3 physical (Earth, Air, Water)? And still remove Composite blasts maybe?
Infusions could be used with any compatible type (physical or energy) but with any element. (So you could use Bowling Infusion with any physical blasts, not just Earth for instance).
Maybe get rid of Elemental Balance and treat any talent (not infusion) as 1 level higher (so you need to be 2 levels higher than a normal Kineticist to pick it) unless it is Universal, then you can choose it at the normal level. Not as "rough" as all elements being secondary (needing to be 4 levels higher).
QuidEst |
What about choosing either Physical or Energy at level 1 and your blast is that type, but can be any of the 4 elements for damage type. And then at 7th, when a normal Kineticist gains a second blast, you get the other type. This makes it kind of weird though since you could have an Earth "energy" blast. Or should it just be 3 damage types with energy (Electricity, Fire, Cold) and 3 physical (Earth, Air, Water)? And still remove Composite blasts maybe?
Infusions could be used with any compatible type (physical or energy) but with any element. (So you could use Bowling Infusion with any physical blasts, not just Earth for instance).
Maybe get rid of Elemental Balance and treat any talent (not infusion) as 1 level higher (so you need to be 2 levels higher than a normal Kineticist to pick it) unless it is Universal, then you can choose it at the normal level. Not as "rough" as all elements being secondary (needing to be 4 levels higher).
You're able to cherry-pick the best stuff from four elements. There needs to be a pretty steep cost, otherwise your level 20 total utility is way stronger than any other Kineticist, and you've got tons of different blast types to cover every situation.
Canthin |
You're able to cherry-pick the best stuff from four elements. There needs to be a pretty steep cost, otherwise your level 20 total utility is way stronger than any other Kineticist, and you've got tons of different blast types to cover every situation.
Not sure I agree with you about blasts. You wouldn't have any Composite Blasts like a normal Kineticist would, the only benefit you have is slight flexibility on damage type (a normal Kineticist could have 3 different simple blasts and several Composites [that deal double damage] at 15th level which is technically more blasts than an Elementalist). As for cherry-picking talents, I'm not sure. At 1 level higher, it would be harder to take some of the ones with prerequisites without going "heavy" on one particular element (the original reason behind Elemental Balance). Maybe make Utility Talents available at 3 (instead of 2) and then one every 3 levels (instead of every 2)?
I definitely am not trying to make an archetype that is "more powerful" than a normal Kineticist, just wanted a "multi-element" theme.