Earth Bending in DnD? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Earth Bending in DnD?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ashern
Apr 17, 2010 16:52:46 Hey all, got asked a question by a less rules savvy friend about how to make earth bending with a 3.5 character... and I'm stumped. Other than making a caster who has some very specific spells, I'm not really familiar with classes that can control elements.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
#2
hellfirewarlock
Apr 17, 2010 17:20:59 Try sand shaper from sandstorm(pg.76), It's not earth bending exactily, but it might be close enogh for you. It's more of a sand bender.
#3
snakeman830
Apr 17, 2010 20:43:47 At 10th level, they can create a 4'*5'*1' wall of sand in literally no time at all. Cut the size in half and you can do it in -5 minutes :p
#4
Omen_of_Peace
Apr 19, 2010 7:29:42
The Stone Dragon discipline from Tome of Battle might have some interesting stuff (you could also reflavor some maneuvers from other disciplines). It's martial and not "casty" though, so he won't be making big earth walls but he can hinder nearby enemies with earth manipulations.
#5
syrkres
Apr 19, 2010 7:44:00 Not sure if you ever saw the Air Bender class by Jaerom Darkwind Over on DiceFreaks boards. But it seems pretty good from those who reviewed it I assume when you say Earth Bending you are refering to the Last Avatar).

Link to Post:
dicefreaks.superforums.org/viewtopic.php...

Hope this helps.

#6
ashern
Apr 19, 2010 8:58:51 Thanks guys!
#7
Balthanon
Apr 20, 2010 8:06:54

The Stone Dragon discipline from Tome of Battle might have some interesting stuff (you could also reflavor some maneuvers from other disciplines). It's martial and not "casty" though, so he won't be making big earth walls but he can hinder nearby enemies with earth manipulations.

With the Deepstone Sentinel prestige class, you can get pretty close making big earth walls-- big earth pillars anyway. I could see a combination of Cleric/Crusader/Ruby Knight Vindicator (reflavored) and Deepstone Sentinel working for something like this. It should be fairly easy to get at least 5th level spells (Wall of Stone) to add into the Deepstone Sentinel powers. Wizard or Sorcerer with Jade Phoenix Mage would also work potentially.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level | Class | Feats/Abilities | BAB | HP
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level 1: Cleric Spell Thematics
Level 2: Cleric
Level 3: Cleric Feat
Level 4: Cleric
Level 5: Crusader (Martial Spirit stance)
Level 6: R.K. Vindicator Stone Power
Level 7: R.K. Vindicator
Level 8: R.K. Vindicator
Level 9: R.K. Vindicator Feat
Level 10: R.K. Vindicator
Level 11: Crusader (Giant's Stance stance)
Level 12: D. Sentinel Feat
Level 13: D. Sentinel
Level 14: D. Sentinel
Level 15: D. Sentinel Feat
Level 16: D. Sentinel
Level 17: R.K. Vindicator (Balance on the Sky stance-- reflavor as stone steps forming)
Level 18: R.K. Vindicator Feat
Level 19: R.K. Vindicator
Level 20: R.K. Vindicator
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#8
phaedrusxy
Apr 20, 2010 13:36:29 I'm not sure what "Earth Bending" refers to, but the Earth Devotion feat is pretty awesome with a cleric dip to fuel more uses of it. It lets you avoid or create difficult terrain as an immediate action.
#9
syrkres
Apr 21, 2010 9:43:14 Just for reference Earth Bending (or Bending - Air/Earth/Water/Fire) comes from the the cartoon series "Avatar - The Last Air Bender" which they are making into a Movie (www.imdb.com/title/tt0938283/)

Bending is taking an element and being able to work it exclusively to others (an Earth Bender cannot work Air, etc) unless they are the Avatar.

So to do it in D&D you would have to have Earth descriptor on all your spells, a Energy Substitution like effect (I guess) for others or adapt spells to be Earth based spells.

With GM's help it could be done, Magic Missle, becomes Stone Missle and does Earth Damage.

As for creating a base class I think JD did the best job I have seen, I think a few other attemps have been made out there on the web. It's been a while since I searched, but pretty sure I at one point found a Water Bender.

I think the hardest part would be to come up with the "Avatar" which combines all types of Bending within a 20 level progression. But that discussion probably belongs over Classes/PrC.
#10
cru
Apr 21, 2010 9:46:59 There's this oriental caster class that specializes in elements, shugenja? Maybe. Anyway, I'd simply play a druid a pick related spells. Perhaps taking elemental companion.
#11
zeffienes
Apr 21, 2010 9:49:52 Psionics could help too. I'd imagine Telekinetic Thrust would be pretty true to the idea of tossing large boulders around.
#12
Omen_of_Peace
Apr 22, 2010 4:48:29 There was also a fairly extensive homebrew project for all types of Bending by people on the Giant in the Playground boards, based on seeds. The forum search there (or Google) might lead you to it.
#13
TifRhal
Apr 22, 2010 4:57:46 www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t... has some home-brewed stuff. I would love to see this updated to this forums.
#14
phaedrusxy
Apr 22, 2010 9:19:42 There is also a set of elemenal mage homebrewed classes at www.brilliantgameologists.com, with a playtesting game going on here: brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.p...
#15
Omen_of_Peace
Apr 23, 2010 4:51:01
This is what I had in mind (the GitP thread linked above is how it started out, but I think it's outdated). IIRC it's complex but fairly balanced - I haven't looked at it in a long while.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ashern Apr 17, 2010 16:52:46	Hey all, got asked a question by a less rules savvy friend about how to make earth bending with a 3.5 character... and I'm stumped. Other than making a caster who has some very specific spells, I'm not really familiar with classes that can control elements. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
#2 hellfirewarlock Apr 17, 2010 17:20:59	Try sand shaper from sandstorm(pg.76), It's not earth bending exactily, but it might be close enogh for you. It's more of a sand bender.
#3 snakeman830 Apr 17, 2010 20:43:47	At 10th level, they can create a 4'5'1' wall of sand in literally no time at all. Cut the size in half and you can do it in -5 minutes :p
#4 Omen_of_Peace Apr 19, 2010 7:29:42	The Stone Dragon discipline from Tome of Battle might have some interesting stuff (you could also reflavor some maneuvers from other disciplines). It's martial and not "casty" though, so he won't be making big earth walls but he can hinder nearby enemies with earth manipulations.
#5 syrkres Apr 19, 2010 7:44:00	Not sure if you ever saw the Air Bender class by Jaerom Darkwind Over on DiceFreaks boards. But it seems pretty good from those who reviewed it I assume when you say Earth Bending you are refering to the Last Avatar). Link to Post: dicefreaks.superforums.org/viewtopic.php... Hope this helps.
#6 ashern Apr 19, 2010 8:58:51	Thanks guys!
#7 Balthanon Apr 20, 2010 8:06:54	The Stone Dragon discipline from Tome of Battle might have some interesting stuff (you could also reflavor some maneuvers from other disciplines). It's martial and not "casty" though, so he won't be making big earth walls but he can hinder nearby enemies with earth manipulations. With the Deepstone Sentinel prestige class, you can get pretty close making big earth walls-- big earth pillars anyway. I could see a combination of Cleric/Crusader/Ruby Knight Vindicator (reflavored) and Deepstone Sentinel working for something like this. It should be fairly easy to get at least 5th level spells (Wall of Stone) to add into the Deepstone Sentinel powers. Wizard or Sorcerer with Jade Phoenix Mage would also work potentially. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Level \| Class \| Feats/Abilities \| BAB \| HP --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Level 1: Cleric Spell Thematics Level 2: Cleric Level 3: Cleric Feat Level 4: Cleric Level 5: Crusader (Martial Spirit stance) Level 6: R.K. Vindicator Stone Power Level 7: R.K. Vindicator Level 8: R.K. Vindicator Level 9: R.K. Vindicator Feat Level 10: R.K. Vindicator Level 11: Crusader (Giant's Stance stance) Level 12: D. Sentinel Feat Level 13: D. Sentinel Level 14: D. Sentinel Level 15: D. Sentinel Feat Level 16: D. Sentinel Level 17: R.K. Vindicator (Balance on the Sky stance-- reflavor as stone steps forming) Level 18: R.K. Vindicator Feat Level 19: R.K. Vindicator Level 20: R.K. Vindicator ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#8 phaedrusxy Apr 20, 2010 13:36:29	I'm not sure what "Earth Bending" refers to, but the Earth Devotion feat is pretty awesome with a cleric dip to fuel more uses of it. It lets you avoid or create difficult terrain as an immediate action.
#9 syrkres Apr 21, 2010 9:43:14	Just for reference Earth Bending (or Bending - Air/Earth/Water/Fire) comes from the the cartoon series "Avatar - The Last Air Bender" which they are making into a Movie (www.imdb.com/title/tt0938283/) Bending is taking an element and being able to work it exclusively to others (an Earth Bender cannot work Air, etc) unless they are the Avatar. So to do it in D&D you would have to have Earth descriptor on all your spells, a Energy Substitution like effect (I guess) for others or adapt spells to be Earth based spells. With GM's help it could be done, Magic Missle, becomes Stone Missle and does Earth Damage. As for creating a base class I think JD did the best job I have seen, I think a few other attemps have been made out there on the web. It's been a while since I searched, but pretty sure I at one point found a Water Bender. I think the hardest part would be to come up with the "Avatar" which combines all types of Bending within a 20 level progression. But that discussion probably belongs over Classes/PrC.
#10 cru Apr 21, 2010 9:46:59	There's this oriental caster class that specializes in elements, shugenja? Maybe. Anyway, I'd simply play a druid a pick related spells. Perhaps taking elemental companion.
#11 zeffienes Apr 21, 2010 9:49:52	Psionics could help too. I'd imagine Telekinetic Thrust would be pretty true to the idea of tossing large boulders around.
#12 Omen_of_Peace Apr 22, 2010 4:48:29	There was also a fairly extensive homebrew project for all types of Bending by people on the Giant in the Playground boards, based on seeds. The forum search there (or Google) might lead you to it.
#13 TifRhal Apr 22, 2010 4:57:46	www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t... has some home-brewed stuff. I would love to see this updated to this forums.
#14 phaedrusxy Apr 22, 2010 9:19:42	There is also a set of elemenal mage homebrewed classes at www.brilliantgameologists.com, with a playtesting game going on here: brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.p...
#15 Omen_of_Peace Apr 23, 2010 4:51:01	This is what I had in mind (the GitP thread linked above is how it started out, but I think it's outdated). IIRC it's complex but fairly balanced - I haven't looked at it in a long while.