Elemental Guide - Reality's End


	Elemental Guide

Elements are basic building blocks that typify what a monster is. Every monster has at least one, and all spells and techniques have one as well. Human characters only have the element of Humanoid, which is essentially a non-elemental category.
Spells of certain elements are more or less effective when used against monsters of corresponding elements. Generally, you can follow a cyclical pattern. An element is strong when used against another when the arrow travels in that direction; the element is weak when when pointed to by another.
The first set contains the elements that are the most common elements to BD. They are Phenotypes. These are generalizations of a familiar's animal form. A creature that consists of only phenotypes is considered a Semi-Supernatural.

             Draconic
          -->        -->
     Equine               Bestial
         ^                  |
         |                  V
       Avian         Serpentine
               <--

Bestial monsters are any that include a broad range of mammilian characteristics not attributed as Equine.
Serpentine creatures include any with reptilian features not considered to be true dragons -- not just snakes.
Avian monsters are ones that carry the characteristics of birds: beaks, wings, feathers, or talons.
Equine phenotype is given to any monster with parts of a horse, mule, or donkey.
Draconic creatures are those that qualify as a full-fledged dragon, not a psuedo-dragon. Cultures with dragons typically made distinctions between what was draconic and what was simply large and reptilian.

The second cycle is not of an animal nature. The Elemental Forces encompass the powers of nature in their rawest forms. Unlike Phenotypes, a Force is less effective when used against a monster of a like Force. A creature that consists of only forces is considered an Elemental.

               Fire
          -->         -->
      Water                Ice
         ^                  |
         |                  V
     Thunder              Wind
          <--         <--
               Earth

There are more elements in the game as well. The two most rampant of these are Light and Dark.

      Light <---> Dark

They are more effective when used against a monster of the opposing element, and less effective when used on one of the same. That is, a Dark spell would be very powerful against a Light monster, but less than normal against another Dark.
Other elements include Poison, Spectral, Marine, Metallic, and Plant, all of which belong to no particular cycle. They simply serve as description. An attack of these elements is less effective when used against a monster of similar element.