Mist Elemental - Thoughts and Discussion

[VoxRationis]

I'm playing a wizard from a noble house with a sort of thematic tie to mists (owing to their prevalence around the family demesne). I discussed with my DM the possibility of coming up with some sort of mist elemental to summon with the conjure elemental spell (although it would have been nice if a mist elemental had been published with Tome of Foes). In some respects, it should be pretty simple; one can model it as the average of air and water elementals in terms of hit points, ability scores, and the like. However, I'm somewhat perplexed as to what abilities it should possess to make it feel properly special and in keeping with mist. I can't really see such a creature battering things to death, so some sort of whirlwind ability a la the air elemental, or even the bludgeoning default attacks of the parent creatures, seem somewhat out of place. I was thinking about making it do cold damage, but mist never really gets that cold—a few points a round might be appropriate, but not enough to make it on par with the other elementals. Perhaps a constriction attack? Movement is tricky, too. Should it fly? It definitely shouldn't have a swim speed. Mist is generally close to the ground, so I could envision giving it a walking speed but adding a note saying it ignores certain terrain obstacles.

What do you think? What sort of active abilities and attack types should a mist elemental have?

[Evoker]

Suggestions:
Some abilities off of Water elemental? Mist is water droplets suspended in air. Possibly change the Whirlwind effect to Whelm from the water elemental. Still deals Bludgeoning, but Has that constriction effect you wanted.
Give it the ability to cast Fog Cloud at first level some number of times per day

[Requilac]

This is D&D, so you need to consider the symbolic aspects of mist just as much as the physical ones. Mist distorts the senses and makes it difficult to sense one’s world around then clearly. Thusly, it is heavily associated with the unknown, uncertainty, mystery, loneliness, ominousness, illusions and distortion. It is frequently related to the occult too and even Dracula (from the book, I have no idea what he did in the movie) had a tendency to create mist.

So maybe instead of a sort of constriction ability, have it be able to surround a foe and Blind them (as per the Blinded condition). And due to mist frequently being associated with negative energy and occultism, necrotic damage could make thematic sense. Poison or acid damage could also be cool. I also really like the idea of having it have a walking speed but ignoring physical obstacles.

I think the best way to treat a mist elemental is really advertising the gaseous form. So maybe it can follow swarm rules and the elemental can walk into another creature’s space and can only damage them in that space.

To me, a mist elemental curling around a person’s body and making them lose contact with their senses as it sucks the life force out of them is much cooler than a mist elemental somehow constricting and bludgeoning someone.

[VoxRationis]

This is D&D, so you need to consider the symbolic aspects of mist just as much as the physical ones. Mist distorts the senses and makes it difficult to sense one’s world around then clearly. Thusly, it is heavily associated with the unknown, uncertainty, mystery, loneliness, ominousness, illusions and distortion. It is frequently related to the occult too and even Dracula (from the book, I have no idea what he did in the movie) had a tendency to create mist.

So maybe instead of a sort of constriction ability, have it be able to surround a foe and Blind them (as per the Blinded condition). And due to mist frequently being associated with negative energy and occultism, necrotic damage could make thematic sense. Poison or acid damage could also be cool. I also really like the idea of having it have a walking speed but ignoring physical obstacles.

I think the best way to treat a mist elemental is really advertising the gaseous form. So maybe it can follow swarm rules and the elemental can walk into another creature’s space and can only damage them in that space.

To me, a mist elemental curling around a person’s body and making them lose contact with their senses as it sucks the life force out of them is much cooler than a mist elemental somehow constricting and bludgeoning someone.

I am inclined to agree. I'd like it to have some sort of active ability, though, something to do more than just "move into opponent's space."

It's a shame this isn't for 3.5. Having some sort of save vs. shaken effect would have been quite appropriate. By comparison, the frightened effect doesn't really work as well when the source of the fear surrounds the target.

[Requilac]

I am inclined to agree. I'd like it to have some sort of active ability, though, something to do more than just "move into opponent's space."

It's a shame this isn't for 3.5. Having some sort of save vs. shaken effect would have been quite appropriate. By comparison, the frightened effect doesn't really work as well when the source of the fear surrounds the target.

I tried my best attempt at statting the mist elemental out in the homebrewery link below. It appears to be a little bit weaker than the other elementals, but when it comes to homebrew player options I tend to think underpowered things are more likely to be accepted than overpowered ones.

http://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/HySstqxqk7

[VoxRationis]

Is that why it has two fewer "hit dice" than any other elemental?

Why is the necrotic damage so high? The others all use 2d8 or 2d6 for their natural attacks.

[Requilac]

Is that why it has two fewer "hit dice" than any other elemental?

Why is the necrotic damage so high? The others all use 2d8 or 2d6 for their natural attacks.

I was just basing the damage and hit dice off of a creature of that CR (Page 274 of the DMG). I can decrease the damage and increase the hit points if you would like. Currently though it is an almost perfect example of a CR 5 monster*, like all the other elementals.

*It's technically dealing slightly less damage than a CR 5 creature should (3 less to be exact)

[VoxRationis]

See, I hadn't even thought about those sort of tables. I was just comparing it to the other elementals, since the four MM ones seem to have a common "chassis" to their stats.

[Requilac]

See, I hadn't even thought about those sort of tables. I was just comparing it to the other elementals, since the four MM ones seem to have a common "chassis" to their stats.

Alright, I recalculated some of the stats. It should be much closer to the other elementals now. The health was definetely raised by a decent amount. I made some miscalculations which I just now fixed.

[VoxRationis]

My DM thinks that looks great!

[Requilac]

My DM thinks that looks great!

Glad to see that I could be of help! I hope your future is foggy and unclear from now on... I mean, best of luck.