Hello,
I'm pretty sure I know the answer to all of these, but I'd like confirmation regarding questions about taking the form of an Small Air Elemental using Elemental Body I, and about its whirlwind ability.
Small Air Elementals have the whirlwind ability.
1) Is becoming a whirlwind a standard action?
2) Is returning from a whirlwind a free action?
3) Does activating whirlwind provoke an AoO?
There is no listed limit on how often the Small Air Elemental can use its whirlwind ability.
4) Does that mean it can use it at will?
5) Does that mean it remain in that form indefinitely?
The whirlwind ability says "A creature that comes in contact with the whirlwind must succeed on a Reflex save (DC 10 + 1/2 the monster’s HD + the monster’s Strength modifier)".
6) Is the HD of a Small Air Elemental used (2) or is the character level used?
7) Is the Str of a Small Air Elemental used (12) or is the character's strength used?
Air Elementals have Weapon Finesse.
8) Assuming the character doesn't have Weapon Finesse, does that character use his Dex or his Str to determine whether the slam attack hits?
Two more:
"A creature that comes in contact with the whirlwind must succeed on a Reflex save or take damage as if it were hit by the whirlwind creature’s slam attack."
9) What happens when a whirlwind is hit by a sword?
10) What happens when a whirlwind is hit by an arrow?
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universal monster rules p306 Whirlwind (Su)
Su is a standard action unless it says otherwise. Standard action it is.
Ends automatically at the end of its duration - not sure what action it is if you want to end it prematurely? Possibly standard as per dismissal - possible free?
Supernatural ability so does not provoke
Can enter whirlwind form whenever it could take a standard action
Elemental body says it uses elemental size to determine whirlwind effect
Can remain in whirlwind form for 1 round for every 2 HD of elemental, so small elemental = 1 round
Save DC HD modifier would only apply to a small elemental
Strength modifier of the small elemental's strength
Whirlwind form doesn't affect damage dealt to it. It still uses elemental traits. Though if it is touched down it has concealment or total concealment beyond 5ft.
Whirlwinds can only engulf creatures as small as or smaller than themselves. So small whirlwind = not a lot, certainly not a standard human/elf/dwarf.
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Two more:
"A creature that comes in contact with the whirlwind must succeed on a Reflex save or take damage as if it were hit by the whirlwind creature’s slam attack."
9) What happens when a whirlwind is hit by a sword?
10) What happens when a whirlwind is hit by an arrow?
There are no rules for damaging weapons by a slam or for a whirlwind acting like wind wall. One assumes by the time the whirlwind whips at the weapon it has already done its damage. And logically speaking (not that it counts for much) a wind slam is not point damage.
In any case small elemental slam max damage = 5 hit points - not enough to damage an arrow (hardness 5) or a sword (hardness 10) - except on a critical. Though by RAW ammunition is destroyed after hitting its target.
Strength modifier of the small elemental's strength
Elemental Shape specifically modifies your strength, and your strength is used for your attacks in this form, so I think your strength is used for this attack's save.
How do you justify your answer?
Save DC HD modifier would only apply to a small elemental
I think you misspoke, because this makes no sense -- the HD modifier is not conditional, and it applies to the whirlwind attack -- and doesn't answer the question. Could you please clarify?
There are no rules for damaging weapons by a slam
I guess I wasn't clear enough because the question wasn't about damaging the weapon.
Whirlwind can slam and pick up creatures it touches. Does touching a creature's weapon count as touching a creature, or must it touch its flesh?
There are no rules for a whirlwind acting like wind wall
Whirlwind carries away entire creatures like a tornado, which is very much like Wind Wall. It's just very light on details (and gives a save) whereas Wind Wall is very heavy on details (and doesn't give a save).
One assumes by the time the whirlwind whips at the weapon it has already done its damage.
No, weapon damage is done on contact, and the whirlwind damage is done on contact. Damage would be simultaneous.
Whirlwinds can only engulf creatures as small as or smaller than themselves. So small whirlwind = not a lot, certainly not a standard human/elf/dwarf.
The whirlwind of a small elemental is between 10' and 20' tall, and has the following diameter at various heights:
5' in diameter at the base.
5' in diameter at 5'
5' in diameter at 10'
7' in diameter at 15' (it it chooses to be this tall)
10' in diameter at 20' (it it chooses to be this tall)
It could actually engulf two medium sized creatures!
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Strength modifier of the small elemental's strengthElemental Shape specifically modifies your strength, and your strength is used for your attacks in this form, so I think your strength is used for this attack's save.
How do you justify your answer?
The spell says "Elemental abilities based on size, such as burn, vortex, and whirlwind, use the size of the elemental you transform into to determine their effect."
That says to me: for all aspects of a whirlwind treat it as if it was a small air elemental.
I think your interpretation may be RAI but the specific RAW of this spell seems clear.
Save DC HD modifier would only apply to a small elementalI think you misspoke, because this makes no sense -- the HD modifier is not conditional, and it applies to the whirlwind attack -- and doesn't answer the question. Could you please clarify?
Save DC = 10 + half the monsters HD + str bonus. It is conditional on HD
You are a small air elemental with 2 hit dice for the effects of whirlwind.
Note the fire elementals burn saving throw DC uses "racial HD". ie you wouldn't have any without the spell rule.
Whirlwind can slam and pick up creatures it touches. Does touching a creature's weapon count as touching a creature, or must it touch its flesh?
I would treat it the same as "burn" with a fire elemental - only affects natural weapons or unarmed attacks.
Whirlwinds can only engulf creatures as small as or smaller than themselves. So small whirlwind = not a lot, certainly not a standard human/elf/dwarf.The whirlwind of a small elemental is between 10' and 20' tall, and has the following diameter at various heights:
5' in diameter at the base.
5' in diameter at 5'
5' in diameter at 10'
7' in diameter at 15' (it it chooses to be this tall)
10' in diameter at 20' (it it chooses to be this tall)It could actually engulf two medium sized creatures
Agreed. Not sure where I got that from - I could swear it said creature size when I read it in the book rather than the PRD.
I assume you have read the polymorph rules in the magic chapter as there are some important restrictions in there.
Thanks.
You never become an elemental. You remain your original creature type (humanoid). You base the DC off of your hit dice and off of your modified Str.
Elemental Body I says that elemental abilities based off of size use the SIZE of the elemental you transform into, to determine effect; not "the hit dice or creature type of a small elemental in the Bestiary."
If a creature strikes a creature that is whirlwinding, then by definition, it "comes into contact" with the whirlwind, and must make a reflex save, or be caught up in the whirlwind, assuming it's small enough to get sucked up.
Per RAW, you could whirlwind for one round for every two caster levels you possess, in the class that you used to cast elemental body 1 (or druid levels, if you wildshaped). The rules don't state how long you have to wait to re-enter whirlwind mode, so we can extrapolate that you'd cease whirlwinding, ejecting any sucked-up critters. I'd rule that they'd get ejected into prone positions, but that's me. That aside, if you wanted to suck them back up, you'd have to re-whirlwind, re-establish contact, and they'd have to re-fail their reflex save.
As for getting hit with weapons/arrows, you can still get hit. Concealment may apply, however.
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The DCs for all of your elemental/creature abilities (such as poison or breath weapon) are equal to the spell's DC. Reread the polymorph rules! It's quite specific.
Therefore, the DC for your whirlwind ability while using elemental body I is 14 + your primary casting ability modifier + feats and other modifiers.
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You never become an elemental. You remain your original creature type (humanoid). You base the DC off of your hit dice and off of your modified Str.
Elemental Body I says that elemental abilities based off of size use the SIZE of the elemental you transform into, to determine effect; not "the hit dice or creature type of a small elemental in the Bestiary."
The spell is specific and mentions this also applies to Burn. As I pointed out Burn uses racial HD in the save DC which you don't have when polymorphed unless this spell qualification kicks in.
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The DCs for all of your elemental/creature abilities (such as poison or breath weapon) are equal to the spell's DC. Reread the polymorph rules! It's quite specific.
Err no, polymorph rules are general. The spell is specific. Specific overcomes general. The spell clearly says you use the elemental size for elemental special abilities (only).
The DCs for all of your elemental/creature abilities (such as poison or breath weapon) are equal to the spell's DC. Reread the polymorph rules! It's quite specific.Err no, polymorph rules are general. The spell is specific. Specific overcomes general. The spell clearly says you use the elemental size for elemental special abilities (only).
It says you use the size, not their stats. In other words, you gain the whirlwind abilities of a small elemental, which define what you can pick up, the formula for how long you can do it, the formula for DC, etc. No creature has an ability which says "The DC for this is 15". What they do say is "The target has to make a DC 15 Fortitude save. This DC is Strength based." You use the standard special ability DC formula (10 + half HD + stat mod + racial modifiers) for all abilities.
That being said, this is where the polymorph rules kick in and replace the standard formula.
The DCs for all of your elemental/creature abilities (such as poison or breath weapon) are equal to the spell's DC. Reread the polymorph rules! It's quite specific.Err no, polymorph rules are general. The spell is specific. Specific overcomes general. The spell clearly says you use the elemental size for elemental special abilities (only).
Unless of course you are completely wrong. The passage you quoted just informs you that a small elemental has a small funnel, can only suck in certain sized creatures, etc. It has nothing to do with the DC formula.
The DCs for all of your elemental/creature abilities (such as poison or breath weapon) are equal to the spell's DC. Reread the polymorph rules! It's quite specific.
Therefore, the DC for your whirlwind ability while using elemental body I is 14 + your primary casting ability modifier + feats and other modifiers.
I stand corrected on that one. Interestingly, this is better for my druid's DC for opponents to resist his whirlwind, than I had it before. Thanks for that tidbit. :)
The spell is specific and mentions this also applies to Burn. As I pointed out Burn uses racial HD in the save DC which you don't have when polymorphed unless this spell qualification kicks in.You never become an elemental. You remain your original creature type (humanoid). You base the DC off of your hit dice and off of your modified Str.
Elemental Body I says that elemental abilities based off of size use the SIZE of the elemental you transform into, to determine effect; not "the hit dice or creature type of a small elemental in the Bestiary."
To be specific, the only variable that the size of the elemental affects is as follows:
Burn - dice of damge done - 1d4, 1d6, up to 2d8, etc, based on the size of the fire elemental you become.
Vortex - size of vortex and how many creatures it can hold (see whirlwind)
Whirlwind - size of WW and how many critters it can suck up.