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In the Core Rulebook, it is stated on page 432 Fire spells are subject to specific rules when cast under water, but how about the other elemental spells? All it says is that "Some spells might function differently under water, subject to GM discretion". But are any guidelines presented anywhere? How does electricity function in water? Does acid dilute in water? Does frost freeze it up in solid blocks? I know it says GM discretion, but I'm playing PFSOP, so I have to know how it works in RAW.
By RAW only fire spells are effected. Anything else is up to the GM as a houserule.
In PFS GM's don't have the leeway to make things up like they would in a homegame so electricity, acid and other things don't get changed without a specific rules citation.
In PFS GM's don't have the leeway to make things up like they would in a homegame so electricity, acid and other things don't get changed without a specific rules citation.Even when the rules say "GM discretion"?
PFS GM's are held to what the book says. This is done because it would be unfair to players that played under different GM's who did not run things the same way. In order to try to make sure all players get a similar experience a lot of leeway is taken away. It is even frowned upon when they change the PFS adventures. An example is changing the written tactics of the NPC's.
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I have to say I'm inclined to disagree with you here. I'm well aware of the PFSOP rules when it comes to change the rules or the scenarios, but that doesn't mean that PFSOP GMs are not expected to interpret the rules. That's one of the GM duties. That's how the game is meant to be played.
In this specific case, if the GM is not to interpret the rules as to what spells function differently under water, then I guess spells like Obscuring Mist, Gust of Wind, Sleet Storm, Gaseous Form and Acid Fog would produce perfectly normal effects to. That would just be plain silly.
But that discussion wasn't the intend of this thread. I just wanted to know if there are any clarifications on this subject that I have missed, and it seems that there isn't. So, thank you for helping me out.
I don't know, I'd have to say that since the book says subject to GM discretion, it depends on the spell. Cold wouldn't really be a problem, some of the water would freeze and float to the surface, but it wouldn't really impact game play and the character targeted will still take cold damage. Acid would eventually dilute, but not fast enough to really matter. Remember, each round is approximately 6 seconds, and the spells are magical, and magic often defies physics. So spells like Acid arrow may or many not dilute as the acid is magic in nature. As for lightning, it wouldn't really shock for more damage, but they may gain a penalty on their reflex through as they have become easier to conduct to, if you want to apply physics.
Remember, magic is magic and things don't necessarily work as they do in the real world. Technically, lightning bolt travels at the speed of light, so there is no dodging it, but they still gain a reflex save. A fireball fills a 40ft diameter circle with a sudden blast of extremely hot flames, yet produces no concussive force, and people in the fire can, somehow, not get burned. Keep in mind, Fireball can melt metals with a low melting point like copper and gold, and both metals, especially gold, have an almost 2,000 degree F melting point. Considering Fireball is an instantaneous burst of heat, it's probably significantly higher in terms of temperature to melt it in a flash of fire.
In the real world, if the human body were exposed to a heat source that could instantaneously melt gold, their body would probably be charred ash.
How about an ice damage fireball if the target fails the save?
I have to say I'm inclined to disagree with you here. I'm well aware of the PFSOP rules when it comes to change the rules or the scenarios, but that doesn't mean that PFSOP GMs are not expected to interpret the rules. That's one of the GM duties. That's how the game is meant to be played.
In this specific case, if the GM is not to interpret the rules as to what spells function differently under water, then I guess spells like Obscuring Mist, Gust of Wind, Sleet Storm, Gaseous Form and Acid Fog would produce perfectly normal effects to. That would just be plain silly.
But that discussion wasn't the intend of this thread. I just wanted to know if there are any clarifications on this subject that I have missed, and it seems that there isn't. So, thank you for helping me out.
Interpreting rules, and adding rules are not the same thing. There is no rule about the other elements in the book, only a line saying a GM can add rules.