How does kineticist work underwater?

[CorvusMask]

So this was question by player since they were making water using kineticist for mini campaign involving Ire of the Storm and Seers of the Drowned City so... Uh, yeah, I have no idea. Does anyone have any idea how it works?

[Milo v3]

Here are the relevant rules:

Quote:

Fire: Nonmagical fire (including alchemist's fire) does not burn underwater. Spells or spell-like effects with the fire descriptor are ineffective underwater unless the caster makes a caster level check (DC 20 + spell level). If the check succeeds, the spell creates a bubble of steam instead of its usual fiery effect, but otherwise the spell works as described. A supernatural fire effect is ineffective underwater unless its description states otherwise. The surface of a body of water blocks line of effect for any fire spell. If the caster has made the caster level check to make the fire spell usable underwater, the surface still blocks the spell's line of effect.

Quote:

Spellcasting Underwater: Casting spells while submerged can be difficult for those who cannot breathe underwater. A creature that cannot breathe water must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell underwater (this is in addition to the caster level check to successfully cast a fire spell underwater). Creatures that can breathe water are unaffected and can cast spells normally. Some spells might function differently underwater, subject to GM discretion.

[Imbicatus]

Just note, kinetic blast is a sla, not a spell. Magical fire still has the same weakness underwater, but you don't need to make a concentration check because you're not casting a spell.

[Scythia]

Like a great many things in Pf, I suspect the answer is "Not very well".

[crashcanuck]

I think OP was asking about a Hydrokineticist. I would treat water blast just as it is written, remember that water conveys pressure really well, so just think of it as the pressure wave of the blast moving through the water.

[CorvusMask]

crashcanuck wrote:

I think OP was asking about a Hydrokineticist. I would treat water blast just as it is written, remember that water conveys pressure really well, so just think of it as the pressure wave of the blast moving through the water.

Yeaaaah, was mostly asking about that, but rule answers were appreciated as well

[QuidEst]

Mark Seifter, designer of Kineticist, mentioned adding in a note that a water blast works unimpeded underwater in the next printing.

[Mark Seifter]

QuidEst wrote:

Mark Seifter, designer of Kineticist, mentioned adding in a note that a water blast works unimpeded underwater in the next printing.

Also, for what it's worth, since I was the one to write the expanded rules for underwater adventuring in Aquatic Adventures, I included it there (exactly like crashcanuck suggests, good thinking!). Not that the book is out yet, but it would be right up your alley if this is something common in your campaign!