I dont know if this has been discussed before - I'm not so good at searching through the post. My apologies. My 3.5 book says that a cleric can BOTH turn as a good cleric creatures of the opposite element AND command creatures of its domain type. Thus ex- Fire Domain: Turn Water creatures as a good cleric turns undead and command Fire creatures as an evil cleric commands undead. Is there any erata on this? It seem anti-theme that a good cleric could do both. is this an oversight?
Cleric Air/Earth/Fire/Water Domains
- Thread starter bubba99
- Start date
Nonlethal Force
First Post
Yes, you are correct. Elemental creatures are essential neutral (for the most part). Don't think of rebuking them as an evil act. Think of rebuking them as bolstering them (making them stronger). In a sense, rebuking undead is like casting bless on your party. Well, in purpose only - suppose. It is making them better able to resist being turned by a cleric of a different persuasion.
If you think of rebuking as taking over every thought they ever have and negating their free-will, then it is a bit on the evil side. But bolstering/rebuking elementals doesn't have to be that way.
As a cleric of a fire domain, you are basically saying that water creatures can be made to fear your might whereas fire creatures can respect it and draw strength from it.
If you think of rebuking as taking over every thought they ever have and negating their free-will, then it is a bit on the evil side. But bolstering/rebuking elementals doesn't have to be that way.
As a cleric of a fire domain, you are basically saying that water creatures can be made to fear your might whereas fire creatures can respect it and draw strength from it.
Knight Otu
First Post
Nonlethal Force, I think you're mixing the mechanics of bolster and rebuke into a single mechanic there. 
Anyway, the elemental domains do allow three distinct actions. One, cause an opposed-elemental creature to flee or even be destroyed. Two cause an aligned-elemental creature to bow in respect or even follow your command. Three (and probably least important), bolster aligned-elemental creatures against the first two uses of the same or the opposed elemental domain. That is intended, and I see neither a rules problem that requires errata nor a flavor problem in a fire cleric evaporating a water elemental or controlling a fire elemental. A good-aligned character might be unwilling to use the rebuke ability if he sees it as slavery, but it is little different from using a summoning spell or a mind-control spell. Neither is inherently good or evil, and IIRC, the abilities do not use positive or negative energy.
Anyway, the elemental domains do allow three distinct actions. One, cause an opposed-elemental creature to flee or even be destroyed. Two cause an aligned-elemental creature to bow in respect or even follow your command. Three (and probably least important), bolster aligned-elemental creatures against the first two uses of the same or the opposed elemental domain. That is intended, and I see neither a rules problem that requires errata nor a flavor problem in a fire cleric evaporating a water elemental or controlling a fire elemental. A good-aligned character might be unwilling to use the rebuke ability if he sees it as slavery, but it is little different from using a summoning spell or a mind-control spell. Neither is inherently good or evil, and IIRC, the abilities do not use positive or negative energy.
atomn
Explorer
Corsair said:Also note that they don't say elementals. They say "creatures". Like that Red Dragon over there which happens to be a [Fire] dragon.
Wow, I always read that incorrectly, thinking it meant only elementals. That's much more useful than I ever thought it was. Thanks for the enlightenment Corsair!!
