Elemental Themes

Raelifin · September 25, 2006, 12:08:34 PM

I've noticed that the traditional 4-part Greek elemental system is almost always used for the settings around here. Every now and then I'll see void thrown in (Japanese) or even wood and metal in place of air (Chinese). Phaedoras uses a 4-part system with Fire, Water, Wind and Plant (earth). Nothing unique there.

However, as I was browsing a thread on the WotC boards, I came upon a mention of a setting where the elemental system included:

You can see how my interest was instantly piqued and I felt I had a very good grasp on the tone and feel of the setting. Even though the system is nothing more that Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Life, it conveys more about the setting than a whole paragraph. I'm realizing that as the "building blocks for reality" elements have AMAZING power to dictate the theme of the world. Does anyone use an alternate element system or have any thoughts on elements as a definition of tone?

Darkxarth · September 25, 2006, 12:45:20 PM

The Elemental System I'm trying to use is:

*Fire *Water *Earth *Air *Wood *Metal *BoneIt's not exactly revolutionary, it still has the basic Fire, Water, Earth, and Air, but I thought that Wood, Metal, and Bone rounded them off nicely.

I do like the Ash, Steam, Lightning, Iron, and Blood elements, though, and I think I've seen the thread you're referring to.

Lmns Crn · September 25, 2006, 01:09:47 PM

Quote from: RaelifinHowever, as I was browsing a thread on the WotC boards, I came upon a mention of a setting where the elemental system included:
Ash
*Steam
*Lightning
*Iron
*Blood

That's Dystopia. :cloud9:

I love love love the element system for that setting.

Epic Meepo · September 25, 2006, 02:32:44 PM

And by Dystopia, Luminous means this Dystopia right here at the CBG!

Ishmayl-Retired · September 25, 2006, 04:32:35 PM

Quote from: Luminous Crayon
Quote from: RaelifinHowever, as I was browsing a thread on the WotC boards, I came upon a mention of a setting where the elemental system included:
Ash
*Steam
*Lightning
*Iron
*Blood
That's Dystopia. :cloud9:

I love love love the element system for that setting.

LC, don't make me come over there and show you how to link to smilies!!

Dystopia is one of my favorite settings 'round these parts. That elements system is just another example of how amazing the setting is, and how well SA uses language to help you visualize his unique setting.

Xeviat · September 25, 2006, 06:01:12 PM

Over the years, I'm becoming more and more interested in paraelements. My setting, as many know, utilizes a traditional elemental system, based after the Japanese/Wiccan/Greek ideas of elements (Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Void/Aether). But Paraelements are what happens when you mix elements. In my setting, you might get the following:

Fire + Air = Lightning
Air + Water = Ice
Water + Earth = Acid
Earth + Fire = Metal

Also, I divide Void into three aspects: Void, Light, and Darkness.

But, the elements of the world extend to every part of it. I've added 3 new ability scores (Agility, Perception, and Void), so that each element has a mental and a physical ability score it is tied to (except Void, which only has one).

But then again, my setting isn't attempting to be different functionally, it is attempting to be different through presentation. Traditional works better for my setting, but even still, I've taken the elementalism of my world and applied it to everything (dwarves, elves, goblins, and orcs are each tied to an element for instance).

I do like the ash, steam, lightning, iron, and blood. It makes the setting seem much more ... industrial. I haven't read Dystopia recently, so I'm unsure if that's the intention.

SA · September 26, 2006, 12:03:21 AM

Someone(s) loves me me!

Yays!

The alterations to the elemental system are essentially industrialised versions of the classic elements, but they aren't the fundamental structure of existence. Like the elements that came before them (earth, fire, etc.), they are more a reflection of the changing understandings of the people, rather than a statement of the substance of reality.

Raelifin · September 26, 2006, 12:21:09 AM

There's no magic or magical beasts associated with the elements? (Sorry for my ignorance of Dystopia.)

SA · September 26, 2006, 01:12:04 AM

Technically, the people of the Obsidian Empire could be called earth elementals, the surst of Naovine could be called ice elementals and the infernals of the Conflagrate could be called fire elementals. However, these creatures are more accurately representations of the previous elements rather than the modern ones. Besides which, they aren't elemental - simply inorganic.

Lmns Crn · September 26, 2006, 07:01:24 AM

So you did remove the eliavolde after all?

SA · September 26, 2006, 07:52:51 AM

Actually, no. I just neglected to mention them...

The eliavolde are now more enigmatic and disturbing than before (not cute like in the original incarnation), more like summonable spirits or demons than actual living creatures.

Err... for those who have no idea what I'm talking about, the eliavolde embody the modern elements.

Hibou · September 26, 2006, 08:25:30 AM

Based on some thoughts on the human body and what actually makes it function as well as basic principles of physics, recently I've been thinking about making a system that looks more like:

Lightning (Electricity, Fire)
Water
Metal
Void
Wind (Air + Cold)
Motion (Sound + Gravity)

My setting Vilydunn while on WotC featured a magic element system that looked like:

Life
Light
Death
Shadow
Dream
Prism

This system featured a more unusual explanation for elemental magiks like fire and electricity.

And to top it all off, like Xeviat I'm growing more and more interested in using paraelements. The Greek four are just too cliche.

SDragon · September 26, 2006, 09:42:36 PM

Xiluh actually uses the pantheon as its elemental system, with the basis being in the wiccan five-part earth/water/air/fire/spirit.

Numinous · September 26, 2006, 09:53:35 PM

I generally prefer the basic, greek 4. Addign afifth element usually results in the "oh noes!! the fifth element!!" secenario, which I find cliche. Quasi-elements are awesome though. My personal classification system which I have been using for a long time has been the elements set on a compass rose.

Air=W Fire=S Water=N Earth=E

Earth+Fire=Metal
Air+Water=Ice
Earth+Water=Plant(Life)
Fire+Air=Lightning

Just in case anybody cared...

Epic Meepo · September 27, 2006, 12:32:17 AM

You might think I'm joking, but I once considered basing the elements in my campaign on an abridged version of the Periodic Table. I was primarily motivated by a desire to include new metallic dragon species, though I was also intrigued by the idea of "cursed" items that were actually just ordinary items made from radioactive materials.

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Elemental Themes

Raelifin

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Lmns Crn

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Ishmayl-Retired

Xeviat

SA

Raelifin

SA

Lmns Crn

SA

Hibou

SDragon

Numinous

Epic Meepo