Elements
Contents |
Elements Overview
In combat, an "element" describes how exactly you are dealing damage to your opponent. There is a significant difference between using a baseball bat or calling upon holy lights to smite an opponent, after all, and as such we have classifications for how one is exactly harming someone.
Persona MUSH has twelve different elements that characters may utilize in combat, ten of which are subject to being protected (or effective) against a given target. All this is dependent on the target's Persona/Shadow or lack thereof. Most Personas/Shadows possess weaknesses or resistances against various elements, but there are some exceptions. Civilians never possess weaknesses or resistances one way or another.
If a character is resistant to an element, they will take roughly 0.5 times less damage. If they are vulnerable to an element, they will take 1.5 more. In addition, if an ability has a chance of inflicting status, those who are resistant to the attack's element will have its chances of success upon being hit reduced. The opposite holds true as well. For example, someone who resists Ice has no chance of becoming afflicted with the Frozen effect, while those odds of receiving that effect are increased (although not a sure-hit) for someone who is weak against Ice. Attacks do not possess multiple elements, but a fire element attack may be classed, for example, as physical rather than magical.
It should be noted that one's reactions to an element can be adjusted through use of several abilities. Break effects will reset resistances, nulls, absorptions or reflects to neutral, while a wall effect will add a resistance. There is no effect for someone already resistant to that element. Someone already weak or neutral to an element, meanwhile, receives no further effect from an elemental break. Breaks and walls furthermore only exist for Fire, Ice, Wind, Elec and Earth.
Like the games, elements can also be rendered null (no damage), reflected (full damage back at the attacker), or absorbed (damage becomes health instead).
You can see your own resistances and vulnerabilities for your current Persona with +stats or +health, or by using +stats/#, such as 'M' or '1') to check any other you may have equipped. A resistance is marked by 'Str'. A vulnerability is marked by 'Wk'. Total immunity to an element is represented by 'Nul' and the absorption of an element is represented 'Drn'; these last convert that element directly to HP. A reflected element is represented by 'Rpl'; not only do these attacks do no damage but they are reflected back at the attacker.
The next page will go into short detail about the twelve elements, and how they are classified.
Elements List
Pierce (PRC)
Piercing attacks involve using means that attempt to run through the foe, such as stabbing or shooting. Almost all pierce attacks are physical in nature.
- EXAMPLES: Spears, arrows, guns.
Strike (STR)
Striking attacks involve using means where force (read: pain) is attributed evenly across the surface struck. Almost all strike attacks are physical in nature.
- EXAMPLES: Hand to hand, clubs, furniture.
Slash (SLS)
Slashing attacks involve using means to slice apart the enemy, or at least leave long gashes in their wake. Almost all slash attacks are physical in nature.
- EXAMPLES: Swords, axes, whips (not chains, chains would be Strike).
Fire (FIR)
Fire attacks involve the use of high temperatures in which to deal damage.
- EXAMPLES: Heat, flames, explosives, the Agi series of abilities.
Ice (ICE)
Ice and Water (ICE) - Ice attacks involve utilizing low temperatures in which to produce dangerous results. Water attacks inflict damage by use of liquid agents. Although 'water' is the catch-all term, just about any kind of liquid used in an assault counts under this.
- EXAMPLES: Cold, snow, ice, the Bufu series of abilities; water, rain, liquid chemicals, the Aqua series of abilities.
Wind (WND)
Wind attacks are those that stir or displace air at rapid enough speeds in which to deal harm.
- EXAMPLES: Storms, gasses, sound, the Garu series of abilities.
Electric (ELC)
Electric attacks use the phenomena of electrical charges in order to kill things dead.
- EXAMPLES: Tasers, lightning, static, the Zio series of abilities.
Earth (EAR)
Earth attacks use the very ground around you for sake of injuring your enemy. There can be some ambiguity between this and Strike attacks, but generally speaking the use and manipulation of the ground will go under this.
- EXAMPLES: Rocks, sand, earthquakes, the Magna series of abilities.
Light (LGH)
Light attacks utilize not just light, but also the notion of being sacred and divine as part of the assault. It must be noted that possession of Light abilities is not indicative of being good and just.
- EXAMPLES: Bright lights, "sacred" rituals, spirituality, the Hama series of abilities.
Dark (DRK)
Darkness attacks make use of not only its namesake, but the element of chaos and the unknown with it, often preying on fears of such. As noted with Light, possession of Dark abilities is not indicative of being evil and corrupt.
- EXAMPLES: Darkness, unknown, chaos, the Mudo series of abilities.
Almighty (No status abbreviation)
Almighty attacks are, in spite of the name, not specifically the very strongest. It is the catch-all classification for things that do not fit any of the above types, and are very rare for the largely inexplicable nature. The benefit is that one cannot be resistant to Almighty damage, though none can be vulnerable. Some attacks are partially Almighty in the damage they deal, in spite of its nature. Most passives abilities are tagged as Almighty.
- EXAMPLES: The Gry and Megido series of abilities.
Heal (No status abbreviation)
This is what recovery abilities are classified as. Instead of doing damage, they recover HP or remove negative status effects. Abilities marked with "Healing" in place of "Physical" or "Magical" are primed to never miss, and are used primarily for things of this nature. One cannot be naturally resistant or vulnerable to this type of attack.
- EXAMPLES: The Dia, -kaja, series of abilities.
