Lower List / Core Rules update for Jan. 15th

The following changes are being made to the core rules of the game:

Mithril Armor no longer converts body damage to normal damage. Instead, it gains an additional +1 soak, for a total of +2. The other properties of Mithril are unchanged.

The damage type "Elemental" is being dropped. In its place, the damage type "Primal" is being added, at the same level as Magic and Divine. The Druid spell Nature's Wrath and the Psion skill Pyrokinesis / Cryokinesis will be changed to do Primal damage in place of Magic (while still allowing the selection of Element). The Wild Mage spell Wild Blade will now do Primal damage, instead of a chosen element. Primal damage can not be achieved by combining element types.

All armor starts the game at full AP. Any enhancements (Balancing, etc.) will still need to be done In-Game.

The skill Armor Efficiency has been added to the Smith list at a cost of 4 build.

The skill Detect Poison has been added to the Physician list at a cost of 2 Build.

Would the primal change be made on the heroic lists as well?

Could we get a clarification on the distinction between Detect Poison and the first-rank Physician Poison ability?

Jeremy, yes, it will.

Cory - the skill Detect Poison is already in existence, it's just been added to the Physician list. (It's currently on Alchemist and Assassin.) The Lore lets you know all about them, but not specifically detect them (i.e. - you know that aresnic causes a burning sensation when consumed, but not how to detect it before you consume it). Detect Poison specifically lets you determine if poison is present in food, drink, or on a blade.

Cheers Geoff - I'd seen Lore: Poison used to detect if someone had been poisoned or not, hence the confusion. Thanks!

Is primal damage defended against the same as elemental damage? (Elemental shield, shield of nature, etc.) If not what does defend against it?

In terms of Mithril getting +2 soak....do we edit our own item cards for the armor? or do we have to have a smith or marshal do it?

Just for clarity's sake, a proper call for Nature's Wrath would be "100 Primal Ice", then?

Things that defend against Elemental damage do NOT defend against Primal, although if an attack does Primal Fire or Primal Ice, things that stop the Fire or Ice would still work. Nothing specifically defends against Primal, in the same way nothing specifically defends against Magic or Divine damage at this time. For clarification - the combined type "Elemental" is what is being replaced with Primal - the individual elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water) and the things that stop them are unaffected.

"100 Primal Ice" is correct.

Connor, you can bring them to a Marshal to either issue a new card, or update the current one. I'd suggest updating the current one, as there is an Armor change (along with body and damage) in the pipeline, and it's likely all armor cards will need to be rewritten when it comes out.

I feel I should point out, there are things like Ignore Magic and Prayer Shield which are both catch all arcane and divine spell defenses respectively, but there is no catch all for druidics.

Tim, you are correct. That has nothing to do with these rules, though.

Not too long ago ( I think it was mixed with the master warrior rewrite) I remember reading that berserker would get master florentine on its list. Is this still happening?

It already did, yes. The Rulebook will be updated this weekend, I was just waiting for this last batch of changes to come out.

Since elemental damage has been reworked in effect, are the plans to replace the 4 "summon elemental" spells with something useable still in the offing?

Ok, so if a sensei, that now swings primal damage, what do they call damage-wise? Do I have the option of choosing the element and changing that element on a whim? Do i call 5 primal? 5 primal damage? 5 primal ice, 5 primal fire? 5 Primal Roar? Can i literally just swing at someone and course through the different elements until i see that something effects them noticeably more than something else, or just for fun?

1) We have had discussions about replacing summoning, but they were separate from the primal damage switch.

2) We will change Sensei to Primal damage, you will call 5 Primal

"The skill Armor Efficiency has been added to the Smith list at a cost of 4 build."

Will this require Puncture Armor as a pre-req (as it does for Dragoon)?

No Pre-Req for Smiths.

To clarify: "Elemental damage covers Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Ice, and Lightning damage. It is not its own damage type. Effects that key off Elemental damage work against all four elemental damage types."