Elements

"It's weak against Ice. Use Bufu."

In the Persona MUSH combat system, much like that of most of the Persona games, each sort of attack has an elemental property. These describe the nature of the attack and generally how its damage is derived: a slash with a spectral blade (or a real one) interacts differently with a character's defenses than does a sudden gust of supernatural wind.

There are fifteen regular elemental classifications on Persona MUSH, as well as two unusual classifications that fall somewhat outside the normal bounds of the system. These are Slash, Pierce, Strike, Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Nuclear, Ice, Elec, Gravity, Light, Dark, Nerve, and Mind for the regular elements, and Heal and Almighty for the others. These are explained in more detail later in the file. However, Personas (and Shadows, for the shadow-possessed) impart their own elemental affinities on the character using them, meaning that characters with such supernatural abilities will interact differently with these elements than would a normal human. These override the natural affinities of a human, which would typically be a simple Strength to Light-based attacks. Demons and roaming Shadows naturally have their own affinities, as well.

Typically, one can be either Strong to an element, Weak to an element, or Neutral against that element. In the absence of a special descriptor, neutrality is the assumption. These matter primarily in combat, but can occasionally have out of combat relevance in a minor way; someone with a Weakness to Water attacks, for instance, might find getting left out in the rain a more unpleasant prospect than others, and someone with a Fire Strength might be a little more comfortable in warmer temperatures. Elemental affinities are passive benefits: they apply regardless of whether one's Persona is currently summoned, taking the effect of the currently-slotted Persona or Shadow.

These do have combat effects, though the IC mechanism of precisely how one is strong or weak to a given element can vary. In the case of a fire weakness, this could be reflected by having a difficult time evading or being near fire, or simply being extremely flammable; a fire strength could mean that fire avoids the entity, or simply that it doesn't have much effect on it. Regardless of the why, a Weakness (Wkn) means that more damage is taken from attacks of that element, and that effects attached to attacks of that element are more likely to land. For a Strength (Str), the opposite is true: less damage, lower effect chances.

Elemental aspect for an attack is completely separate from whether the attack is Physical or Magical, though certain elements will tend to be associated with one or the other. Attacks only have one primary element, but their damage can be 'split' with another element through the split tags, meaning that each half of the attack will interact with elemental affinity separately. There are also abilities that can change one's elemental affinities during combat: a Break ability will remove any strength from that element temporarily, rendering the character Neutral. A Wall ability will impart a strength, rendering the character Strong against the element. You can view your own elemental affinities under +stats.

Though an individual attack may be physical or magical depending on how it is used, each element is classified according to typical conditions, for the sake of organization. There are Physical, Magical, and Special elements, plus Almighty and Heal. Each element's classification is noted in its description.

List of Elements

• Slash (SLS) - Application of force meant to cut, slice apart, or gash a target. Slash attacks are categorized further as typically 'Physical' attacks.

• Pierce (PRC) - Application of force over a very small area or meant to go through an enemy, such as stabbing or pointed projectiles. Pierce attacks are categorized further as typically 'Physical' attacks.

• Strike (STR) - Application of force over a broad area, or simple blunt force trauma. Strike attacks are categorized further as typically 'Physical' attacks.

• Fire (FIR) - Attacks based on combustion through heat. Generally, burning. Fire is classed as a Magical element.

• Water (WTR) - Attacks associated with liquid, especially but not only water itself. Water is classed as a Magical element.

• Wind (WND) - Attacks making use of rapidly displaced air or of sound. Wind is classed as a Magical element.

• Earth (EAR) - Earth attacks make use of rock, the ground more generally, or living 'planetary' force to deal damage. There's some overlap with the Physical-classed elements since rocks make good weapons themselves, but an attack should usually be one or the other. Earth is classed as Magical.

• Nuclear (NCL) - Attacks relying on combustion through intense pressure. Similar to (and associated with) Fire, but generally with less burning and more attempted obliteration. Nuclear is classed as Magical.

• Ice (ICE) - Attacks relying on a lack of or sudden absence of heat: snow, frozen things, and so forth, and also with an association of stasis. Associated with Water. Ice is classed as Magical.

• Elec (ELC) - Attacks based on electrical force, such as lightning bolts or other applications of such current. Associated with Wind (as part of storms), and classed as Magical.

• Gravity (GRV) - Attacks reliant upon crushing or movement through gravitational force, mass, and weight. Associated with Earth, and classed as Magical.

• Light (LGH) - Attacks based on the sacred or the divine, or on attempted exorcism. Possession of Light attacks need not imply 'goodness', however, simply association with some form of divinity or higher law in concept. Normal humans are resistant to these attacks in general because it's difficult to exorcise a human from the human realm. Classed as a Special element.

• Dark (DRK) - Attacks based on chaos, the unknown, or opposition to the sacred. Possession of Dark attacks need not imply evil; a night goddess, for instance, could have power over Darkness to represent both being and protecting humans from the terrors of the dark. Classed as a Special element.

• Nerve (NRV) - Attacks primarily targetting the body and its proper functioning, which may be psychic in nature, such as poisonous gases or waves of exhaustion. These can affect the mind, but typically somewhat indirectly. Associated with the Poison, Exhaustion, Enervation, and Charm ailments. Classed as a Special element.

• Mind (MND) - Psychic attacks or attacks primarily affecting the functioning of the mind itself, such as illusions or emotional assaults. Associated with the Rage, Fear, Panic, and Illusion ailments. Classed as a Special element.

• Heal (REC) - Abilities meant to bolster the target or restore function or capability in some fashion. Heal is not classified, elementally.

• Almighty (ALM) - Attacks that bypass elemental properties entirely, delivering raw force or effect regardless of one's affinities. These aren't always the most powerful attacks, but elemental properties offer no special defense or weakness to them. Almighty is not classified, elementally.

For examples, each of these elements has an associated Ability Group, save for Heal, which has the Recovery group and the Statbonus group. +ability/help or check Ability Lists to see!