Aether elemental telekinetic throw... limits on range?

[eyelessgame]

"Telekinetic Throw" for the aether elemental is listed as having "a maximum range of 480 feet" and can telekinese up to 50 pounds per HD. Does this mean that a Medium Aether elemental can telekinese a target of up to 200 pounds 240 feet straight up, so long as they fail the saving throw? Will the target then drop 240 feet and take that damage? Obviously I can houserule this but am I missing some other limit on telekinetic throw?

[Melkiador]

A creature would need to fail a save but yes, this is possible. I wouldn’t be surprised if the dm halved the distance when moving straight up because flying works like that.

[Azothath]

→Aether Elemental CR:1-11
The damage for the telekinetic throw is listed under attacks and the save is listed a bit later.
For a small elemental it's: Ranged telekinetic throw +5 (1d8+2) at (Fort 12).

So No, it does set damage. The range defines the radius that the power can operate in not the distance of the throw.

see Telekinesis:T5 where violent thrust sets several operational rules, then maybe Martial Telekinesis:T4
I'll also note aether elementals are only on the ethereal plane unless magic brings them to the material plane.

[Belafon]

10 years ago when an Aether Elemental popped up in a PFS scenario I asked the following on the GM thread (only posting the questions about the Elemental's Throw here):

Quote:

3. What is the effect of the Aether Elementals' Telekinetic Throw if the creature fails the Fortitude save to avoid being thrown but the elemental misses with the attack roll?

a. The thrown creature either doesn't move or "boomerangs" back and takes no damage.
b. The thrown creature takes damage as normal (but the target doesn't).
c. Neither creature takes damage but the thrown creature ends up end a different location than the one it started in.

If b or c is true then does the thrown creature:
- i. End up adjacent to the intended target,
- ii. End up 480 feet away, or
- iii. Some other final destination?

3(follow-up). Can the elemental throw a creature without a target (480 feet away)?

We never got answers to any of those.

For ease of GMing (and to avoid tempting myself with unfair tactics), I decided that the thrown creature had to be thrown at something, and that if the elemental missed the throwee ended up adjacent to the target. Which yes, means the throwee could be targeted at something in the air and then take falling damage after the hit/miss. No real rules answer, that was just what I chose to do.

[Azothath]

it would have been helpful for the Aether Elemental to reference Telekinesis spell or define the mechanics. Thus IMO you are stuck with the implication from the spell as that was "known" at the time and the spell specifics are somewhat muddled. It means GM arbitration is going to be needed.

It reads that targeted object(s)/creature(s) are thrown against another creature/object/square(floor)/point in space(aka "any target") within 10*CL(or HD) feet using the to hit and damage. Movement only occurs if the target object/creature is thrown to another location as opposed to objects thrown AT the target creature.
With the elemental the damage is defined. That should limit the sensible distance of throws.

Telekinesis - Violent Thrust:

Alternatively, the spell energy can be spent in a single round. You can hurl one object or creature per caster level (maximum 15) that are within range and all within 10 feet of each other toward any target within 10 feet per level of all the objects. You can hurl up to a total weight of 25 pounds per caster level (maximum 375 pounds at 15th level).

You must succeed on attack rolls (one per creature or object thrown) to hit the target with the items, using your base attack bonus + your Intelligence modifier (if a wizard) or Charisma modifier (if a sorcerer). Weapons cause standard damage (with no Strength bonus; note that arrows or bolts deal damage as daggers of their size when used in this manner). Other objects cause damage ranging from 1 point per 25 pounds (for less dangerous objects) to 1d6 points of damage per 25 pounds (for hard, dense objects). Objects and creatures that miss their target land in a square adjacent to the target.

Creatures who fall within the weight capacity of the spell can be hurled, but they are allowed Will saves (and spell resistance) to negate the effect, as are those whose held possessions are targeted by the spell.

If a telekinesed creature is hurled against a solid surface, it takes damage as if it had fallen 10 feet (1d6 points).
= = =

ADVICE
normally simplistic horizontal distance thrown= (initial velocity m/s)^2*sin(2*angle to ground) / 9.81 m/s^2 {ignores aerodynamics}
Projectile motion
a simple method is to set distance(ft) = 1.67*damage for medium sized creatures based on falling damage.

[Belafon]

Honestly, using Telekinetic Throw to cause falling damage is pretty unfair, and I wouldn't advise doing it. The range isn't based on the CR of the elemental, it's fixed at 480'. A CR5 Large Aether Elemental can throw up to 400 lbs, which means pretty much any PC with gear. If it threw straight up, that would be 20d6 of falling damage. Which is going to kill pretty much any PC up to at least 8th level. And that's assuming you don't assign the throw damage. (Since the throwee didn't actually hit anything on the way up.) No CR5 should have a save-or-die at-will ability.

I'm remembering now that the scenario I was posting about took place in the ethereal plane (no gravity) so it wasn't actually possible to fall.

[Azothath]

If you review the telekinesis spell its range is Long, so that's not unexpected. Sadly the wording can lead you to think the elemental can throw something 100s of lbs 480 ft. It's just poor wording in the creature description.

Ofcourse you could read it that way but it is going to force the creature out of its CR. The low damage also argues against this interpretation.

It should have been an at range slam attack with a bull rush CM check on the Material with 3* distance on the Ethereal. ɛô¿ôɜ  I don't write these things... their "rules guy" is now a contractor