blessfrey gdd - elementalist

Scrapped idea. The model Elementalist was Ren or John David or whatever his most recent name was, a scrapped character. This job was blended into the disciple, particularly its Power over Nature attribute.

• has basic control of the basic elements, which theoretically comprise everything
• alternate paths by resolving elemental barriers - part the water, maintain air bubble to travel in water or space, put out fire, having superior DPS needed to down optional gatekeeper bosses
• generally doesn't fight with weapons or hands, generally thinks fireballs are the only self-defense needed
• The perk is Aether, and the attributes are fire - water - air - earth.

issues

I was trying to find a way to overcome how games label all supernatural effects as "magic" by making another mage then find+replace all-ing all instances of "magic" with "miracle."

There are a few issues here. A general "magic" class overlaps with Disciple, who also uses "magic." DPS-oriented magic is usually given to jobs with names derived from real world witchcraft of some sort - wizard, sorceror, mage, witchdoctor, shaman, necromancer. I don't mind representing these cultures in my game, but I want to be intentional about it.

Elementalist is from Guild Wars not only apparently neutral but also comes with a clear design direction. But that isn't actually true. Water, Fire, and other 'elements' are central to the symbolic language of the Bible, sure, but the elemental world view is derived from worldly philosophers and is connected to Pagan worldviews. If I want a Christian mage, I really need to look to the Bible and church history.

I enjoy the term "power over nature." I thought including it as an attribute of the Disciple gave the Disciple more variety, but we'll have to see if DPS + support is just too overwhelming OP for people. It may have to be split into the Elementalist 2.0, but for now, it's just a quarter of the Disciple job.