• Welcome to the Heroscapers 2.0 site! We've still got some dust to clear and adjustments to make, including launching a new front page, but we hope you enjoy the improvements to the site. Please post your feedback and any issues you encounter in this thread.

The Book of Air Elemental

spiteofthedice

no baby bump - false alarm!
The Book of Air Elemental

Champions of the Forgotten Realms – Collection D1 – Fury of the Primordials


igdaubB.jpg
Spoiler Alert!

If you cannot see the Army Card graphic, check the Heroscapers Gallery for stats and special powers, plus "character biography" and other non-game unit info.

Character Bio (from Truth's front-page description) : The Air Elemental is a Jandar-summoned Common Hero that truly halts any forward movement up on the battlefield. While flying figures can fly over its SWIRLING VORTEX, they will feel the wrath of its AIR MASTERY power.

SWIRLING VORTEX
When an opponent’s small or medium figure moves into a space within 2 clear sight spaces of an Air Elemental you control, that figure must end its move there. Figures can never move through any figure affected by Swirling Vortex.

AIR MASTERY
Figures that have the Flying or Stealth Flying special power subtract 1 from their defence dice when attacked by an Air Elemental.

STEALTH FLYING
When counting spaces for an Air Elemental’s movement, ignore elevations. An Air Elemental may fly over water without stopping, pass over figures without becoming engaged, and fly over obstacles such as ruins. When an Air Elemental starts to fly, if it is engaged it will not take any leaving engagement attacks.
_________________________________________________________________
-Rulings and Clarifications-
SWIRLING VORTEX: & Flying Figures:
Q. Can a flying figure land next to the Air Elemental, unaffected by the AE's SWIRLING VORTEX?
A. Yes. Flying figures may also pass over figures affected by SWIRLING VORTEX, since they do not have to move through them.

SWIRLING VORTEX: & TELEPORT
Q. Can Tul-Bak-Ra land next to the Air Elemental using TELEPORT, unaffected by the AE's SWIRLING VORTEX?
A. Yes. AND, so can any figure making a move which is actually the "placement" of a figure. Erevan Sunshadow's FEY STEP comes to mind, as do the Shaolin Monks' STEALTH LEAP, Sgt. Drake Alexander's GRAPPLE ARM, the Water Elemental's WATER TUNNEL, the Marro Drudge's SWAMP WATER TUNNEL, and the Earth Elemental's UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT. I may be leaving some out, but if the ability says "place the figure," then it gets through the SWIRLING VORTEX. (Thanks to killercactus for the post that listed all those for me).

Shootin' the Breeze : Fliers standing in the SWIRLING VORTEX:
Q. Is a flying figure within 2 clear sight spaces of an Air Elemental considered affected by SWIRLING VORTEX, even though their flying move is not inhibited by S.V.?
A. Yes, meaning no figure may move through a flying figure standing within 2 clear sight spaces of an Air Elemental. That figure would still need to stop, and it cannot stop on the occupied space.

SWIRLING VORTEX = Park Your Carr
Q. The text of the GHOST WALK (see: Agent Carr's Army Card) and PHANTOM WALK (see: Isamu's Army Card) Special Abilities says: "May move through all figures." Does this mean a figure with one of these abilities can move through a figure affected by SWIRLING VORTEX?
A. No. The text of SWIRLING VORTEX creates an exception to the preeminence of the GHOST WALK and PHANTOM WALK Special Abilities. Like any other figure, a figure with one of these abilities would still be required to stop once it is within 2 spaces of the Air Elemental. If the space is occupied and it cannot stop, it cannot move through that space.
_________________________________________________________________
-Combinations and Synergies-

Synergy Benefits Received
- THE DEATH KNIGHTS OF VALKRILL: As Medium heroes with "Relentless" personalities, Air Elementals may benefit from the Death Knights of Valkrill's UNHOLY BONDING activation synergy.

- KHOSUMET THE DARKLORD: Relentless Assault
Having a relentless personality, the Air Elemental may benefit from Khosumet the Darklord’s RELENTLESS ASSAULT Attack bonus.

- KURROK THE ELEMENTALIST: Summon Elemental:
As an elemental, the Air Elemental may be revived by Kurrok's SUMMON ELEMENTALS resurrection synergy.

- KURROK THE ELEMENTALIST: Master of the Elements:
As an elemental, the Air Elemental may benefit from Kurrok's MASTER OF THE ELEMENTS activation synergy.

Synergy Benefits Offered
NA
C3V and SoV Custom Synergies
Spoiler Alert!
_________________________________________________________________
-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-
_________________________________________________________________
-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

Power Rankings

Jexik: Air Elemental- The interdiction might come in handy. B-

OEAO: Air Elemental- A decent figure who is often stronger on paper than in gameplay. The problem is that he does not really help the two armies that synergies with him: Death Knights and Elementals. Death Knights already are fine vs melee, they don't want to invest points into figures that aren't helping their atrocious range matchups. Elementals outside Fire Elementals aren't really viable, and while splashing one of these in alongside Water and Earth Elementals is... ok, it's not good. B-

Cleon: Tier 4 (159/208)

dok (VC inclusive): B-

Master Index
Air Elemental Pre-Release Discussion
Air Elemental and restricted movement.
Air Element Wall Strategy (Image Heavy)
Elemental Poll
Kurrok the Elementalist rampant speculation thread
D1 army ideas

Unit Strategy Review
- TBA

air.jpg

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

These guys are going to destroy melee figures as swirling vortex only affects your opponents figures you could stop a squad of KoW from attacking your marro stingers ,who would then fire upon the knights.
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

I have a question. I was playing my friend today. I had Air Elemental and he had Raelin. Raelin was stopped by Vortex, then Air engaged. Next turn, Raelin began flying and moved over Air Elemental. Does Swirling Vortex stop her move when Raelin is over Air, or can she move 1 more space?
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

Here's a better picture

Spoiler Alert!


I was just testing out my family's new color printer's scanner.
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

The answer to this question may be obvious, but, well, it isn't to me because I'm asking it!​

"Figures can never move through any figure affected by Swirling Vortex."​

Are fliers considered as moving through figures, or over them?

Also, if a small or medium flier lands on a space within Swirling Vortex, is that figure considered affected by Swirling Vortex, even though it wasn't forced to stop?​
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

The wording in Flying says it passes over figures, so I just assume they can also pass over vortexed figures.

They are being affected if they are within 2 clear sight spaces and are medium or small. So while they aren't moving, yes they are affected by the vortex.
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

I agree with GreenLanturn. Another way to think of it is this: Even if the figure standing near the AirE is a flier, any non-flier passing by would still need to stop in the Vortex. They can't pass through the flier because they can't stop on that space.

And yes, fliers move over figures when they fly, not through them.

EDIT: Added the new clarification and reworded the first clarification to include the bolded text. Thanks guys.
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

These guys are going to destroy melee figures as swirling vortex only affects your opponents figures you could stop a squad of KoW from attacking your marro stingers ,who would then fire upon the knights.

it's important to note that swirling vortex does not stop you from moving again , ala gladiatrons, it just slows you down.

melee characrters without flight can still move, just one space at a time until they are "out of" swirling vortex.

At least thats how i interperet the wording of the ability
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

These guys are going to destroy melee figures as swirling vortex only affects your opponents figures you could stop a squad of KoW from attacking your marro stingers ,who would then fire upon the knights.

it's important to note that swirling vortex does not stop you from moving again , ala gladiatrons, it just slows you down.

melee characrters without flight can still move, just one space at a time until they are "out of" swirling vortex.

At least thats how i interperet the wording of the ability
Huh. I thought it meant you had to stop once, and then next turn you could walk freley.
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

These guys are going to destroy melee figures as swirling vortex only affects your opponents figures you could stop a squad of KoW from attacking your marro stingers ,who would then fire upon the knights.

it's important to note that swirling vortex does not stop you from moving again , ala gladiatrons, it just slows you down.

melee characrters without flight can still move, just one space at a time until they are "out of" swirling vortex.

At least thats how i interperet the wording of the ability
Huh. I thought it meant you had to stop once, and then next turn you could walk freley.

Nope. Ironically, it makes the spaces around the Air Elemental act like water, but for movement purposes only.
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

Here's a question:
OK, so the card says figures may never move through a figure affected by Swirling Vortex. But it also says only opponent's figures are affected. So what if one of my figures with the phantom walk power tries to move the the arrow grut affected by SW?
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

Here's a question:
OK, so the card says figures may never move through a figure affected by Swirling Vortex. But it also says only opponent's figures are affected. So what if one of my figures with the phantom walk power tries to move the the arrow grut affected by SW?
Swirling Vortex last sentence said:
Figures can never move through any figure affected by Swirling Vortex.
Yours or your opponent's.
After reading the card it does say opponent's figure, and any figure affected by swirling vortex. So your own figured are never affected.
Your figures are not affected, BUT they also cannot Phantom walk through a figure that is.
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

Easily the elemental that can be squeezed into almost any army, with a passive ability (meaning one that doesn't require order markers) that can shut down whole roads, they grind down fast mover armies and scurries. They make awesome glyph grabbers as well. Though the inability to stop flyers nerfs them a bit...and kinda doesn't make a whole lotta sense imo lol
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

Swirling Vortex question: if a melee figure moves toward an Air Elemental, then stops two spaces away from the AE, can that figure then move one more space on its next activation to become engaged with the AE?
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

Swirling Vortex question: if a melee figure moves toward an Air Elemental, then stops two spaces away from the AE, can that figure then move one more space on its next activation to become engaged with the AE?
Yes, the vortex restricts movement to one space at a time per turn when caught in it.
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

How are small/medium figures, being carried by other large/huge figures, affected by Swirling Vortex? For example, let's say that Brunak is moving past an opponent's air elemental, and he is carrying Raelin. Does Brunak have to drop Raelin within 2 spaces of the Air Elemental, or can she continue on the ride? It makes sense that she can continue on Brunak's back, as he is the one actually doing the moving, but I wanted to verify this.

Thanks,
Filthy
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

How are small/medium figures, being carried by other large/huge figures, affected by Swirling Vortex? For example, let's say that Brunak is moving past an opponent's air elemental, and he is carrying Raelin. Does Brunak have to drop Raelin within 2 spaces of the Air Elemental, or can she continue on the ride? It makes sense that she can continue on Brunak's back, as he is the one actually doing the moving, but I wanted to verify this.

Thanks,
Filthy
She gets placed adjacent to Brunak after Brunak is done moving. Raelin isn't actually moving at all, she is just getting placed. Swirling vortex would not limit where Brunak can place Raelin.
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

Okay, thi came up in my game last night. One of my warforged soldiers moved within two spaces of an air elemental and in the process engaged DW7k, who was engaged to the air elemental. Can I tactical switch with DW7k?
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

Okay, thi came up in my game last night. One of my warforged soldiers moved within two spaces of an air elemental and in the process engaged DW7k, who was engaged to the air elemental. Can I tactical switch with DW7k?

I would assume so. My reasoning is that Swirling Vortex takes effect once per movement phase for each figure. Although the WFS took his -normal- move phase into the vortex, that does not mean he still cannot take another movement phase(however, it must have have come from another source such as a power or glyph). This second -special- movement phase does not correlate to the original time the Vortex stopped the WFS.
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

Good question. The swirling vortex power is different from the Gladiatrons' cyberclaw in that it says "must end its move there" not "may not move." Since the tactical switch is after a normal move I would say it could still do it with swirling vortex in effect, but still not move with cyberclaw. My :2cents: - others can chime in.
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

"SWIRLING VORTEX
When an opponent’s small or medium figure moves into a space within 2 clear sight spaces of an Air Elemental you control, that figure must end its move there. Figures can never move through any figure affected by Swirling Vortex.
"

I take the first sentence as the definition of what is 'affected' by Swirling Vortex...so the following situation bothers me (it has to do with the words in bold and underlined above):

You move your Air Elemental such that the Vortex is placed upon one or more opponent's figures. Now, by the strict reading of the card, these figures DID NOT 'move into a space' to be affected...so, can the opponent subsequently move, say, Large figures through these "newly-affected" figures? I assume not...am I correct in the assumption that all of the opponent's figures in the Vortex are treated the same whether they moved into it or whether it was placed upon them?

Of course, there is no easy or good way to track which figures moved into the Vortex vs. which had it placed upon them...but I am disturbed by this situation in which 'do what the card means' trumps 'do what the card says'.

Lastly, if anyone can think of clearer wording, I'd be interested in hearing it (for example, for usage on custom cards). Thanks!
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

Affected would be any figure within the two spaces I do believe. Whether they moved there or the Vortex was moved to them.
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

"SWIRLING VORTEX
When an opponent’s small or medium figure moves into a space within 2 clear sight spaces of an Air Elemental you control, that figure must end its move there. Figures can never move through any figure affected by Swirling Vortex.
"

I take the first sentence as the definition of what is 'affected' by Swirling Vortex...so the following situation bothers me (it has to do with the words in bold and underlined above):

You move your Air Elemental such that the Vortex is placed upon one or more opponent's figures. Now, by the strict reading of the card, these figures DID NOT 'move into a space' to be affected...so, can the opponent subsequently move, say, Large figures through these "newly-affected" figures? I assume not...am I correct in the assumption that all of the opponent's figures in the Vortex are treated the same whether they moved into it or whether it was placed upon them?

Of course, there is no easy or good way to track which figures moved into the Vortex vs. which had it placed upon them...but I am disturbed by this situation in which 'do what the card means' trumps 'do what the card says'.

Lastly, if anyone can think of clearer wording, I'd be interested in hearing it (for example, for usage on custom cards). Thanks!

I would say that those figures have not yet been affected by Swirling Vortex, and so a Large or Huge figure (but obviously not a Small or Medium) could move through those figures until they took another step within the range of the power. I agree that it does make it necessary to track those instances where this happens, but it's not such a big deal. Personally, I would always stop at least 3 spaces from a melee figure if the power works as I've supposed.
 
Re: The Book of the Air Elemental

How do these fare with the Nakitas?

I figure a base of 3 Air Elementals and the Nakitas could form a very impressive defense.

The Nakitas would provide ranged protection to the Elementals, while the elementals provide melee protection to the Nakitas. This totals out to 210 points, but that means you can have a strong hero or squads behind them all.
 
Back
Top