Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-3190872-20121225192722/@comment-1272757-20121227230528

Taking a slight break from my break, so I can give some insight on the concepts behind some of the elements. Some, so far being only Pulse.

Pulse's name comes from the concept of an electromagnetic pulse (electricity), and the pulse from a heartbeat (nature). It also comes from the fact that electricity can do more than just stop a heartbeat, but also restart one.

In terms of the concept behind its actual abilities, I wanted to give an advanced Electricity nature something unique. Something you don't see everyday. Nature is most often an element of either poison or healing, and since poison is an actual element here, I went with healing. So Pulse is a primarily passive element that combines Nature's already prominent healing prowess with the untapped potential Electricity has in the area of healing. I would be lying if I said DCUO's use of Electricity as a healing-class power had nothing to do with the idea. So, that's why Pulse has the name it does; because it's meant to be a healing power that stands out from the injury or physical impairment other advanced electricity elements cause.

On a side note, when Xi first talked to me about giving the advanced elements an overhaul, an idea ended up coming to me concerning Tundra. It's a little complicated, so bear with me:

Tundra would at first glance seem like normal ice, albeit much more limited. It can't be shot or created; it can only be generated by the user coming into phyical contact with something, which the ice would then freeze over at a slow pace (or not so slow, depending on power and skill). However, Tundra would be invasive and parasitic; anything the ice freezes comes under the originator's full control. Plants, objects, and with enough power even machines and complex organisms are brought under the user's dominion. It isn't just normal ice, which is fragile and static. Quite the opposite, anything frozen would be able to bend, move, or change at the user's commmand, including growing ice-based spikes or other such objects. The landscape would become the user's dominion to control at will.

So, how do those sound?