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When an air elemental changes into a whirlwind, does its size change? For example, a small air elemental using Whirlwind can become a column of air 5 ft. at it's base with a height maximum of 20 ft. (PFB, 121). Since a Whirlwind's width is half it's height at it's peak, does this change it's size to Large?
This is only important because a Whirlwind special attack can only damage a creature one or more sizes smaller. If the size doesn't change, then an air elemental doesn't pose a threat with it's Whirlwind special attack until it is Large against a Medium creature.
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When an air elemental changes into a whirlwind, does its size change? For example, a small air elemental using Whirlwind can become a column of air 5 ft. at it's base with a height maximum of 20 ft. (PFB, 121). Since a Whirlwind's width is half it's height at it's peak, does this change it's size to Large?
This is only important because a Whirlwind special attack can only damage a creature one or more sizes smaller. If the size doesn't change, then an air elemental doesn't pose a threat with it's Whirlwind special attack until it is Large against a Medium creature.
Or against a Halfing ot Gnome.
I'd say it doesn't change the size as the power doesn't specifically say it does and changing size affects so many things that I'd expect that to be explicitly referenced.
Creative Director
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When an air elemental changes into a whirlwind, does its size change? For example, a small air elemental using Whirlwind can become a column of air 5 ft. at it's base with a height maximum of 20 ft. (PFB, 121). Since a Whirlwind's width is half it's height at it's peak, does this change it's size to Large?
This is only important because a Whirlwind special attack can only damage a creature one or more sizes smaller. If the size doesn't change, then an air elemental doesn't pose a threat with it's Whirlwind special attack until it is Large against a Medium creature.
An elemental's size doesn't change when it whirlwinds up. And yes, that does mean that Medium creatures shouldn't be worried until they fight Large monsters. Their small companions and Tiny familiars, though... watch out!
While we are on the subject of whirlwind attack, one of the PCs in my game on saturday summoned a Large air elemental (CR 5), which has a speed of 100 ft., whirlwind is DC 18, and slam damage is 1d8+4. He used it to mow down several foes in a way that had everyone at the table rather increduluous (including the player who summoned the AE). By running back and forth across a line of three or four foes, the AE was able to hit each foe at least 4 or 5 times with its 100 ft. speed, forcing them to make DC 18 Ref saves to avoid being caught and a 2nd save to avoid 1d8+4 dmg on each pass.
Now imagine the same tactic used against a single foe, with the AE passing into and out of the foe's square ten times in one round (which it can do with 100 ft. speed), purposely dropping the foe (a free action) any time it gets caught in the ww in favor of forcing the foe to make a new save vs. the slam damage on every pass. If the foe makes its Ref save on half of the passes, that's still an average of 42 dmg per round. If the foe fails all of the saves, thats an average of 85 dmg per round, with the potential to do as much as 120 dmg in 1 round. Does that seem broken for a CR 5 monster?
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Necroing this thread (sorry) because I was wondering if the two reflex saves are dependant on each other.
If an air elemental in whirlwind form enters an enemy's square, the enemy gets a reflex save to avoid damage. Does he then still have to make a reflex save to avoid being picked up, or is the second reflex save only applicable if he is damaged?
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While we are on the subject of whirlwind attack, one of the PCs in my game on saturday summoned a Large air elemental (CR 5), which has a speed of 100 ft., whirlwind is DC 18, and slam damage is 1d8+4. He used it to mow down several foes in a way that had everyone at the table rather increduluous (including the player who summoned the AE). By running back and forth across a line of three or four foes, the AE was able to hit each foe at least 4 or 5 times with its 100 ft. speed, forcing them to make DC 18 Ref saves to avoid being caught and a 2nd save to avoid 1d8+4 dmg on each pass.
Now imagine the same tactic used against a single foe, with the AE passing into and out of the foe's square ten times in one round (which it can do with 100 ft. speed), purposely dropping the foe (a free action) any time it gets caught in the ww in favor of forcing the foe to make a new save vs. the slam damage on every pass. If the foe makes its Ref save on half of the passes, that's still an average of 42 dmg per round. If the foe fails all of the saves, thats an average of 85 dmg per round, with the potential to do as much as 120 dmg in 1 round. Does that seem broken for a CR 5 monster?
I'm more interested in a response on this, i had never thought of that and it seems awesome...and OP.