J2. Elemental Wizards :
The elemental wizard is a variety of specialist mage especially useful on Trell. These wizards scorn the "accepted" theories
of magical classification (the rigid school structure) in favor of a holistic, natural understanding of magic. The result
is elementalism.
Elementalism is not a school in itself; it is an area of specialization focusing on spells involving the four prime elements
of air, earth, fire, and water. These spells may be from any of the nine schools of magic. The fireball spell, for
example, belongs to the evocation school, but according to elementalists, it is also a spell of elemental fire. Please make
the time to discuss spell book access with DM, options will almost always be provided, when time allows.
Unlike other specialists, an elementalist does not specialize in a single school of magic, but may learn and cast spells
belonging to any school. Although this may seem to be a great advantage, elementalists suffer considerable penalties when
learning and casting spells that do not relate directly to the elements. The exception to this penalty is the spells of the
school of lesser divination, which every wizard may learn.
Each element has a diametrical opposite: air opposes earth, fire opposes water, and vice versa. Every elementalist must
choose one element as his specialty. He may learn and cast any spells relating to his chosen element and gains advantages
when doing so. He may also cast spells of the two elements, which do not oppose his specialty, for which he receives no bonuses
or penalties. Consequently, he may not learn or cast any spells associated with the element that opposes his element of specialty.
For example, a fire elementalist may cast spells relating to fire, air, or earth, but may not cast spells of elemental water.
A specialist is also prohibited from using magical items that duplicate spell effects of his oppositional element.
Water
|
Air -- opposes -- Earth
|
Fire
Although their repertoire of spells is small, elementalists are potent wizards, for they gain the following advantages
when involved with spells of their chosen element:
Elementalists receive a bonus of +25% when attempting to learn spells of their element and a bonus of +15% when learning
other elemental spells. They suffer a penalty of -25% when trying to learn spells that do not relate to the elements.
An elementalist may memorize one extra spell per level, providing that at least one of the memorized spells is from his
element of specialty.
Because elementalists have an enhanced understanding of spells within their element, they receive a +2 bonus when making
saving throws against those spells. Other creatures suffer a -2 penalty when making saves against an elementalist casting
spells from his specialty.
1/ day, an elementalist may choose to cast 1 memorized spell from his element of specialty as if he were d4 level(s) higher.
He must declare this prior to casting the spell.
When an elementalist attempts to create a new spell relating to his specialty element, the DM should count the new spell
as one level less (for determining difficulty).
Upon reaching 10th level, an elementalist does not need to concentrate when controlling elementals of his specialty element
summoned by the 5th-level spell conjure elemental. The normal 5% chance of the elemental turning upon its summoner
remains in effect.
At 15th level, there is no chance of a summoned elemental turning upon an elementalist if the creature is of the wizard's
specialty element. A complete listing of 2nd Edition elemental spells arranged by each element can be found in
Appendix 1(TOM).
