Author Topic: Mixed Element Spells - Possible with Evocation?  (Read 2197 times)

Offline CBIrish

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Mixed Element Spells - Possible with Evocation?
« on: October 03, 2010, 05:32:47 PM »
I checked through the book and didn't find anything on this so I thought I'd throw it out there to the experts.  I was thinking about some possible rotes and came up with a zone attack based on something I read in the Wheel of Time - Rolling Rings of Earth and Fire. 

Basically, it would cause the ground to be torn apart in an expanding wave of explosions, hitting the targets with both debris and heat/fire.  The alternative form is that the ground erupts, followed immediately by a wave of flame. 

My question is twofold: is it possible two have 2 elements in the same spell and how would you stat something like this out if it is?
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Offline MijRai

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Re: Mixed Element Spells - Possible with Evocation?
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2010, 05:51:54 PM »
Well, you can't have two different bonuses stacked up. Say in specialization, you have +2 Fire Power, and +1 Earth Power. You can't use both in the spell for a +3 Power. Otherwise, I'd say it is fine, since it is more flavor then anything else. One of my earlier characters had Water and Air together to make a small thunderstorm manuever. Basically, you are talking about DF Volcanomancy in this case, which we know exists. Just don't break the stacking rules, and I see no problem with it.
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Offline Ranma1558

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Re: Mixed Element Spells - Possible with Evocation?
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2010, 06:44:10 PM »
Can you use two elements to make a spell... strictly, no... but then again yes. If you're trying to toss molten rocks around you can, reasonably, say you've speed up the atoms in the rocks, caused them to shift around, creating a "fire" affect will never venturing outside the earth element (much like using earth to make lighting), letting you use your earth power and control for a fire spell. Or, if you wanted, you can take a turn, make a maneuver on one action, cause the earth to heat up boiling rocks making the temp aspect of Boiling earth (or something) then next turn make an earth attack with the free tag you can do it that way.

Offline Stormraven

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Re: Mixed Element Spells - Possible with Evocation?
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2010, 07:32:41 PM »
Well, in YS, the section on Evocation specifically mentions that Lightning would be both Earth and Air, so I figured it was a given, at least by implication.
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Offline TheMouse

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Re: Mixed Element Spells - Possible with Evocation?
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2010, 07:34:31 PM »
My reading of the rules as written is that you can't.

Thankfully, you don't really need to. The lines between elements are really blurry, and they tend to overlap quite a bit. It doesn't really matter if your weapon:5 evocation attack is made of molten rock, because you could easily justify it as either fire or earth.

Offline HobbitGuy1420

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Re: Mixed Element Spells - Possible with Evocation?
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2010, 07:42:53 PM »
I'd rule that you *could* make an evocation which blended the effects of multiple elements, but you could only use the specialization and/or focus bonuses from one.  The upside is that the effect would fulfill catches based on either element.

Offline babel2uk

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Re: Mixed Element Spells - Possible with Evocation?
« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2010, 08:00:26 PM »
The book says that you pick one element to form the basis of your Evocation. The section about Lightning is there to illustrate how different elements can accomplish the same effect, not as an example of blending two elements.