Genasi

[SkillFocuspwn]

Now! Long ago, there was a conversation in #EfU that involved Genasi, and their lame "bonuses". It didn't simply cover the fact that Fire Genasi sucked, DMs and players alike puzzled over their random -2 charisma, seemingly as their only downside, and quite obviously there just so they -have- a downside.

My suggestion is a change to all Genasi. As it is, they're pretty bland, just powerhouses in certain classes and awful at sorceror / bard. Their mechanical changes are not at all cool.

As an example, Fire Genasi are passionate, fiery, fearless and argumentative. In my eyes, that does not explain a +2 to intelligence and a -2 to charisma. If anything, I believe they should have a bonus to charisma.

As the argument went, it was equally argued, by everyone there, including DMs, that they should none of them should have the -2 charisma and I agree.

I've always imagined them being awesome Sorcerors, Shamans of primal natural fury, and while I know that doesn't mean they need to have it changed, I just think it would suit better to give them a cooler feel than what they have now.

So! My suggestion is a complete revamp of the mechanical changes to Genasi, to lose their generic -2 charisma and give them actual penalties that apply to what they are, whether it's -2 charisma still or not!

[Goldfishpie]

I suppose being very argumentative, fiery (stubborn?) aren't in FR realm considered as positive character traits and thusly it should explain their negative Charisma status. In addition, one might consider that it should represent how "alien" they are in a human society, their inability to assimilate and how people would consider them to look weird/freakish, etc. Charisma isn't only how "pretty" a character is, it is also their effect on other people and a Genasi, no matter how shiny they look, would probably make most peasents uneasy.
 
 It's still possible to play a powerful sorcerer/bard/cleric whatever with the negative Charisma status, just makes it more of a challange and maybe less of a "powerhouse".
 
Just my thoughts.

[SkillFocuspwn]

Why do Aasimar get +2 charisma, when it states all over the place that they're considered alien and bizarre? Charisma isn't about people looking at you and thinking you're weird, it's about your personal power, which I believe Genasi would have a lot of.

Also, this isn't so much against anything specific, it's just the fact that all 4 Genasi just have x bonus, and -2 charisma to go against it, which just isn't cool.

[Goldfishpie]

Likely because Aasamirs, with their hot-line to the good gods have a more positive personal power than a genasi, which are a spawn from some elemental plane.

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

I am for removing the Charisma penalty.

[Equinox]

Tbh i see both points, and i would argue that earth genasi still need the -2 cha because of their appearance and obvious boosts to other atributes.

Fire gensai however, should be given +2 cha imo.

[Blake the Boar]

What's the point here? Making them confortably mechanicly playable for you? Because canon wise, Genasi are supposed to have low charisma, each one for their reasons. Air Genasi for instance are arrogant; Fire, suborn; And so on. Well, for those who think a -2 charisma would keep you from playing a sorcerer or bard, I've heard of Iqua Eshiq, the water genasi sorcerer. The player didn't seem to complain about the -2 cha + LA dificulty of gaining levels. So, if you really want to play something, the mechanics should only be a detail. Try to adapt at the mechanic difficulties before trying to change the rules of the game.

[Caddies]

Beefing up genasi would be cool, but I'm guessing would be extremely low priority.

[Nihm]

I'd like to see some spell/day abilities for genasi.  With non-caster DCs, they'd be useful and flavorful without being overpowered.  For example a fire genasi might get burning hands (5) once/day, and fireball (5) once/day at a higher level.

[BrittanyPanthas]

I'd be for burning hands or low level combust, but not fireball.

[Gippy]

I'd be down with fireball.

[Nihm]

Fireball isn't overpowered if it is a moderate caster level.  As a spell/day it wouldn't have a high DC either.  Think of the fireballs that Imps cast - they don't do much damage, but they are pretty flavorful.

[SkillFocuspwn]

I did not mean get rid of the -2 cha so I could play a Sorc, I simply meant that it seems to me quite lame that all 4 of them simply have that as their negative, albeit Earth Genasi having another.

I simply believe it to be generic, and make the subraces seem like rank-and-file pick a buff and whether you want to be on fire or blue and live with the -2 to charisma.

[FleetingHeart]

I'd be down with a low level searing light >.> or just fire damage on unarmed attacks, for fire genasi.

[Finktank]

Spells/day for Genasi would be really cool. *gives thumbs up*