An elemental speaks, and it can take a humanoid shape, so somatic and verbal components will work fine.
Material and (divine) focus components might be an issue, I'd have to see the polymorph rules on which creature types cause equipment to meld. Even if that stuff does meld, you could take it off, change, put it back on (ah, the stupidity of 3E's Wild Shape errata all over again!) and be fine. May or may not need to be mildly flame resistant to do so, though.
I think insaneogeddon is under the impression that elementals cannot speak. Elementals have a language and since there is no text to the contrary they are capable of speech.
Regarding Somatic components:
The descriptions on elementals are that they can take a variety of shapes and appearances. Since they can do that they can form themselves into humanoids with hands and use somatic components.
Material components are a problem:
As per the rules on polymorph equipment merges with you when you take an elemental form. Thus, no material components if you were wearing it when you changed. Even keeping material components handy after the change might be difficult for the fire and water types.
When you cast a polymorph spell that changes you into a creature of the animal, dragon, elemental, magical beast, plant, or vermin type, all of your gear melds into your body.
I would consider taking Eschew Materials for anyone who plans on spending a significant amount of time as an Air, Fire, or Water elemental. For oracles this is not a problem since most divine spells do not have material components and they do not require a divine focus.
Edit: Damn ninja! :)
- Gauss
Wait, oracles don't require a divine focus?
I guess the class never mentions them using one, but I thought all divine spellcasters needed to use a DF of some sort when the spel lists DF as a component.
That would certainly help if true.
Unlike a cleric, an oracle need not prepare her spells in advance. She can cast any spell she knows at any time, assuming she has not yet used up her spells per day for that spell level. Oracles do not need to provide a divine focus to cast spells that list divine focus (DF) as part of the components.
- Gauss
Heh, completely missed that line!
:) Easy to miss.
- Gauss
Elemetals don't breath and none of them seem to know any languages nor is there any mention anymore of them speaking.
http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/monsters/elemental.html
"Air Elemental
Languages Auran"
"Earth Elemental
Languages Terran"
"Fire Elemental
Languages Ignan"
"Water Elemental
Languages Aquan"
A list of creature types that do not breathe: Constructs, Undead, and the subtype Elementals.
A partial list of creatures that do not breathe that have languages:
Constructs: Homunculus (cannot speak), Retriever (cannot speak)
Undead: Devourer, Ghost, Ghoul, Lich, Mummy, Spectre, Vampire
Elementals: Air Elemental, Earth Elemental, Fire Elemental, Water Elemental, Invisible Stalker
Only in the case of the constructs I listed is there a line that states they have a language but cannot speak. Every other creature that I listed has a language, cannot breathe, and does not have the statement they cannot speak. Thus, they can speak.
- Gauss
Note that only Life Oracle's Energy Body actually turns you into an Elemental by TYPE,
which means you gain some more immunities vs. the Elemental Body spells.
Elemental Body only gives you immunity to bleed, crits, and sneak attacks(/precision)
while Energy Body/Elemental Type also gives immunity to flanking, paralysis, poison, sleep, stunning, and doesn't' need to eat/drink/breathe.
(the EB spells don't grant the no-breathing thing)
The EB spells do grant stat bonuses, sensory perception, movement modes, Nat Armor, DR, and special abilities (burn, whirlwind, etc) that (Life) Energy Body doesn't.
Life Energy Body doesn't say it's a Polymorph effect though, which means it's compatable (stacks) with any Polymorph effect you want to use, including Elemental Body spells (not normally Oracle spells, but you can use UMD or maybe you are a Mystic Theurge with Sorceror casting).