Eldritch

[undeadsteak]

Ive always wondered, what exactly is eldritch? i know its magical damage, but what does it do when it hits somone? Fracture there soul or something? Or simply hurt like magic missiles do?

[Eternal Serf]

I always took it as a physical manifestation of mental energy. Sort of like 'mind bullets' or the black lightning that the Emperor used in Return of the Jedi. Hard to say really in 3.5 terms, at least for me.

[GodBeastX]

Eldritch the word means, wierd, unearthly, strange, eerie, etc. So the idea is that it's an abnormal blast of energy It's a very generic term really. Since it's doing physical damage I would say it's not blasting the mind.

[Ithildin]

Likely hurt like magic missiles just comes out in a single stream of power instead of bursts of it like missiles do.. unless you change the blast shape of course

[undeadsteak]

Ah, all right...

[Dragoncleric]

Now if only I could cast my Eldritch blast into the darkness...
Ok, ok. I can hear the moans, even now.

So right, like a few have said above, it just refers to the blast's 'power source' Eldtritch usually refering to what godbeast said as far as demons/devils go. Warlocks and Witches have always been thought to been fonts for this type of power from (hell/hades/underworld etc), so it also has a historical signifigance in the word's root meaning. It's not just a fantasy useage.

[BladeofMystra]

If I remember correctly - Ed Greenwood coined this term when he created "Mystra's Chosen" calling their power "Eldritch Fire"..

Caveated with the following notes:

1. It's been years since I read the books concerning Mystra's Chosen.

2. Despite my interest in Mystra - I'm not a big fan of Ed Greenwood's books.

The term in reference to FR and magical energy could predate Greenwood - but I suspect he was probably the first to approach that manner of releasing magical energy.

All in all i could be way off base :P

[wangxiuming]

I thought Mystra's Chosen use "Silver Fire."

[Lothoir]

Aye, it's Silver Fire.