Re: Elemental Wheel and PMB

From: Roderick and Ellen Robertson <rjremr_at_...>
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 10:02:45 -0700


I'm not sure if Greg will chime in on this question, but from my conversations with him...

> Is Elemental Wheel "Fire over Darkness over Earth over Air over Water
over
> Fire" ?

Yep. HW page 239.

> Of course, going this way is a sure road towards Godlearnerism, IMO, as
you
> cannot 'map' all the possible interactions between natural phenomenons
using
> only this guideline. A lot of myths are also there to explain the world in
a
> different and contradictory way. And even the fundamental nature of the
> Elemental Progression (IIRC, it's described in the rules as being
something that
> 'transcends' normal magical boundaries) may bow down before myth, if myth
> contradicts it.

You need a big advantage to overcome your "Elemental enemy". In 1-1 contests, Water will beat Fire every time. What counts as an "advantage" is up to you & the narrator, or up to the writer for fiction authors. Things like the Firebergs (Fire conquering Water) are notable *because* they don't follow the natural laws (well, and because they are these huge burning masses that endanger the shipping lanes...)

> Or is the Elemental Wheel so fundamental that water, by its very nature,
kills
> fire ?

It is Fundamental Nature. This isn't something unique to one of the magical systems; an Air Priest will beat a Water Sorcerer and be beaten by an Earth Shaman, all other things being equal.
Its just one of the basic facts of Glorantha.

RR

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