What are the forces?
The forces are a collection of technological and mystical marvels that one might mistakenly call “magic”. They can encompass anything from a elementalist conjuring up flames from out of nowhere to a paladin mending another’s wounds with a prayer to a nuclear reaction so potent that it would be impossible to create on Earth. The following table list each of the more well known energy and elemental forces of Solaris RPG.

How are they important?
In the same way that one can swing a sword, a character on Solaris has the ability to manifest both energy and elemental-based force attacks. He also can gain access to a plethora of abilities and special moves that can manipulate the world around him in ways other than for just purely damaging means.

What is the difference between energy-based and elemental-based?
There are sixteen distinct forces of Solaris (and even other pseudo-forces) and an inhabitant of Solaris will be able to gain proficiency in several. These sixteen can be put into categories and sub-categories, but the first way to separate them is into eight “energies” and eight “elements”. Energy-based attacks and elemental-based attacks are calculated using different character attributes and are often subject to different damage multipliers based on job class. Even those who dedicate themselves to the forces and deny the martial arts of the physical world will pick to specialize in one or the other.

According to lore, while both the energies and the elements have vastly similar qualities, their main distinction comes from their source. Energies are generally believed to be derived by technology; a combination of a character’s inner power source and a reaction caused by nanobots constantly in motion in the air. Elements are generally believed to be derived by nature; more like forces that already exist being moved and utilized rather than created.

How can I use them in battle?
As explained in the Battle Rules, a character may make an attack or use an ability in a turn and this one attack can be an energy or elemental attack. Your character will essentially summon and throw a ball of force at his opponent and, upon contact, will deal damage like any attack would. Also, abilities often times utilize forces, even if it isn’t to deal damage, like using energies to heal wounds or using elements to change weather.

Are force attacks better than physical attacks?
The answer to that depends on the situation and the opponent. The main benefits of force attacks are that they can be used at a range and that they cannot be blocked or parried by normal shields and weapons. However, physical attacks can be amplified by the use of medium (i.e. the weapon being used) whereas force attacks don’t have such a boon. In general, a character must specialize in the physical, energy, or elemental arts and this choice will effect which is best for that character.

If I choose to be a physical classified job class, that means I can ignore the forces?
No and no. First of all, you should definitely know how they work for when you have to face a caster in combat. But furthermore, even if your damage output might not be very high with force attacks, it doesn’t mean that the character can’t learn abilities that can aid in a utility role. Many elements lend themselves to having capabilities that have purposes auxiliary to damage-dealing, such as the incapacitating effects of ice or the amplifying effects of water. And energy attacks carry some devastating effects that can hinder your opponent’s capabilities. It only takes a little bit of time and training to learn the absolute basics of your favored energy or element, which can tip the scales in a fight against another physical job class who has chosen to only learn the law of the blade.