HGd10PHB - Spectrum - Water

Water Spectrum - Hydromancy
The spectrum of water involves any control of the specific substance that only a few sages and modern technology know is made up of two pyrogen and one aerogen particles. Water is often seen as a healing element cleansing and purifying substances, and diluting acids and neutralizing toxins. However, water can be a powerful destroyer as well. The second densest of the primal elements of matter, water provides significant knockback when used aggressively, often doing more in the way of moving things than actually damaging them. Water spells tend to progress through levels of control like the other primal elements.

There are those who make a pact with the Realm of Water and use only water magic exclusively. Such a sorcerer is referred to as a Hydromancer. On Loar, this means they have access to a very wide range of water-based spells almost immediately, are much better at summoning water elementals, and can eventually reach a state called Incarnate, where they become a creature of living water for a time and therefore a creature of great power. However, they are limited only to water spells. The moment they cast a spell of any other kind, elemental or not, they lose their connection to the Realm of Water, all the bonuses, and the Incarnate state and become just a regular mage.

Water and Other Spectra
Water and water-based creatures are typically immune to water damage.

Water often does double-damage against fire-based objects or creatures or fire-based systems such as a Wall of Fire. Fire objects or creatures subject to this will have it in their descriptions. Water spells or constructs also automatically douse mundane candles, torches, and campfires they come in contact with as these things cannot resist the magical intensity of the water. Bonfires and larger or more intense fires can resist.

Ice spells, however, may only deal half damage against fire-based constructs depending on the spell or construct.

Water Aid Spells
Water Aid spells typically bring hydration, moisture to systems lacking it. They can also purify by dilution or dissolving and ionizing chemicals.

Water Attack Spells
Water spells that do damage or come into contact with a target tend to drench these targets and often do considerable knockback or move the target in other ways. Water can also be turned to ice or steam where the extreme temperature alone can damage, but the sharp edges of the crystal can cut pierce or a block can bludgeon.

Water Defense Spells
As a fluid physical substance, water provides rapid powerful defense against most attacks. While not as tough as Earth Defense spells, Water provides a lot of damage against a variety of attacks including some that Earth does nothing against. Creating a vapor cloud to defend against a toxic cloud of poison or a shield of ice against incoming projectiles are all within the waterwheelhouse of Water Defense spells.

Water Enchant Spells
Water is fluid and does not tend to hold enchantments well. The reason for this is that the water enchanted tends to mix with water not enchanted and the molecules soon dilute the enchantment into being impotent. There are a few spells that do not fall into other Purposes that would fit here, but they are few.

Water Illusion Spells
Water's ability to refract light can be used to create visual illusions, but like the Enchantment Purpose, there are only a few ways to create illusions using water, ice, and vapor with vapor being the most likely candidate.

Water Learn Spells
Water and ice are somewhat famous for their connection to scrying. Water is alleged by many to have memory as well and so gathering information from the ever-pervasive element is usually rather simple. Water is also good at sending communications back and forth along rivers or other connected bodies of liquid water.

Water Movement Spells
The movement of water from one place to another can be used for a variety of reasons. Movement spells typically do not have the speed or focus of attack, but causing an entire pond of water to rise up and release over an approaching group of fire elementals isn't going to make their day.

One of the most interesting uses of Water Movement is against living systems. A creature or character's body is likely made up substantially of water and that water can be controlled and moved if the creature's innate resistance is overcome.

Water Summon Spells
Water Summoning spells can be used to bring water into being where the quantity in the environment is not sufficient. Filling a bucket of water on the spot, watering a field, or even filling an underground reservoir all fall under this category. Summoning can be used to summon Water elementals such as Vapors, Spouts, and larger elementals. There are plenty of organic creatures that have ties to the element of Water which allow them to be summoned as well. See the Creature Codex under Elemental Connection to see if a creature is connected to the Water spectrum.

Water Transformation Spells
Water is a very specific substance and as such largely is not involved in transformation from or into other substances on its own. However, it does move between the three phases of mater easily. Most Water Transformation spells are therefore a shift between ice, water, and steam.

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 * Chapter 4 - Traits and Foibles
 * Chapter 5 - Physical Combat Skills 
 * Chapter 6 - Mystical Skills
 * Chapter 7 - Equipment
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 * Chapter 9 - Knowledge Social and Movement Skills
 * Chapter 10 - Optional Classes
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