| Frog_The_Bandit |
So recent character building has reminded me of some questions that I had regarding some Kineticist abilities.
1.) In Elemental Apotheosis it states that you gain any speeds listed in Elemental Form. All of these have land speeds, but notably Earth, Water, and Wood have land speeds of 20 feet. Does that mean that Kineticists of those elements who ordinarily have a higher land speed suddenly become slower?
2.) The wording in Elemental Transformation seems to imply that it is meant to wholly replace your Kinetic Aura when you use the feat. Is this correct, or do you maintain the benefits of activating your Kinetic Aura just without sharing it to those around you who may typically benefit from it? (To clarify, would or wouldn’t a Kineticist activating Elemental Transformation be able to use Impulses and gain benefits from their Critical Blast, Elemental Resistance, and Skill Junction?)
3.) If the answer to the previous question is yes, then why is Elemental Transformation only useable once per day?
| Errenor |
1) No. 'Gain', not 'replace'. Also, it's too bad to be true and no reasonable GM would rule like that.
2) Yes. 'Rather', 'instead' and "You're affected by an elemental form spell" are rather clear, you only gain effects of the spell, that's all.
3) Because it's a slotted (non-cantrip) spell effect. You almost never gain slotted spell effects unlimited per day in this game. Unless you are a kineticist and the effect doesn't call a spell by name :)
| FreneticKineticAscetic |
Elemental Transformation is a bit of a trap, sadly. Its very clear that you can’t use impulses in a battle form
“Impulses are magical, and though they aren't spells, some things that affect spells also affect impulses. Abilities that restrict you from casting spells (such as being polymorphed into a battle form) or protect against spells (such as a spell that protects against other spells or a creature's bonus to saves against spells) also apply to impulses.”
There are benefits - minor ac and temp hp, relevant speeds for certain elements, and boosts to acrobatics or athletics. However, you give up all impulses, your damage is sometimes tanked (air goes from 3d6 with range 60ft and the option of melee blasts or 2 action blasts to 1d4+9, melee only) and it’s once per day. Elemental form also only heightens to 7th level, so the bonuses become less valuable past level 13. It has its uses, but turning off your entire build for a once per day minor boost is usually pretty bad.
If you want the feel of taking on the physical form of your element, there are options. From a pure roleplay standpoint, you can always reflavor the earth, metal, or wood armors. For a real bonus, Furnace Form for fire and Alloy Flesh and Steel for metal are non- battle form polymorphs with better benefits and unlimited uses in exchange for being Sustained, which is mostly mitigated by Effortless Impulse. Assume Earths Mantle and Rebirth in Living Stone* are an earth stance and non-battle form polymorph effect that are quite good, and Cyclonic Ascent and Crowned in Tempest’s Fury for air aren’t a full polymorph but are good and flavorful.
*recently received an errata making it much more playable, which hasn’t made it to AoN yet
Also, I have to disagree with Errenor’s third point, there are plenty of kineticist impulses that refer to a slotted spell and have unlimited daily uses. Off the top of my head:
Furnace Form - Fiery Body
Alloy Flesh and Steel - Ferrous Form
Architect of Flame - Wall of Flame
Rock Rampart - Wall of Stone
Barrier of Boreal Frost - Wall of Ice
Body of Air - Vapor Form
Plate in Treasure - Clad in Metal
Hedge Maze - Wall of Shrubs (pre-errata)
The once per day usage of Elemental Transformation isn’t really based in anything and feels completely out of character for the kineticist. Once per day and losing all your impulses, aura, and junctions is very incongruous to the class whose whole concept is unlimited impulses per day in exchange for a very limited list.
EDIT: looking through all the elemental form attacks, some of them offer respectable damage. I’d still say that giving up your entire build for a once per day effect is too weak, but it’s not always unusable.
| Frog_The_Bandit |
Elemental Transformation is a bit of a trap, sadly. Its very clear that you can’t use impulses in a battle form
Ya, it had two restrictions already (single gate kineticists only and OPD), so it seemed strange that it would also effectively lock you out of your class. Just doesn’t seem to make sense and kinda feels bad cause it seems like such a cool combo of flavor and mechanics.
If it had those restrictions and still let you use your Kineticist stuff, I feel like that’d make sense as it would then be a powerful enough ability to warrant them.| FreneticKineticAscetic |
FreneticKineticAscetic wrote:Elemental Transformation is a bit of a trap, sadly. Its very clear that you can’t use impulses in a battle formYa, it had two restrictions already (single gate kineticists only and OPD), so it seemed strange that it would also effectively lock you out of your class. Just doesn’t seem to make sense and kinda feels bad cause it seems like such a cool combo of flavor and mechanics.
If it had those restrictions and still let you use your Kineticist stuff, I feel like that’d make sense as it would then be a powerful enough ability to warrant them.
Agreed. Removing either the once per day or the no impulses element would feel much better to me. If it was one per day with impulses, it would be a big splashy move to pull out against the biggest threats, which is fun and flavorful. If it was no impulses, unlimited uses, it could be a cool build around for mono element kineticists focused on utility or out of combat impulses. As it is I just don’t think it’s worth it, especially since it stops scaling.
| Errenor |
Also, I have to disagree with Errenor’s third point, there are plenty of kineticist impulses that refer to a slotted spell and have unlimited daily uses. Off the top of my head:
Fair. Even if some of them give not pure but modified spell effects making them not the same effect. I guess I have no idea apart from valuing speeds, darkvision, skills and temp hp.