D&D 3E/3.5 [3E/Pathfinder] Race: The Expomental

[Silversun]

Here's a racial brew I just completed based off the Genasi. No fluff for them yet, just mechanics. Any input would be keen. I'm aiming for them to be LA +0 (mostly in a Pathfinder rules world).

The new name of the race is a combination of exponent (a person or thing that is a representative, advocate, type, or symbol of something) and elemental.


Expomental Racial Traits

• +2 Con, +2 Cha, -2 Wis: Gen are hardy, personable and attentive but are quick to act without thinking and are hot tempered.
• Medium Size: As medium creatures, Gen have no special bonuses or penalties based on their size.
• Gen base speed is 30 feet.
• Low-Light Vision: Gen can see twice as far as a human can in starlight, moonlight, torchlight and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
• Elemental Focus: Gen gain that become spellcasters cast spells of the elemental type based on their heritage (air, earth, fire or water) at +1 caster level.
• Elemental Heritage: Gen pick one element associated with their background at character creation. The element chosen gives them two additional racial traits associated with the element type.
• Automatic Languages: Common and an elemental language (aquan, auran, ignan or terran) that is of the type of the element based on the Gen’s heritage.
• Humanoid: Gen are humanoids with the human subtype. See Races of Destiny, page 150 for more information on what this means.
• Favored Class: Any

Air Expomental

• Electrical Tolerance: Air gen gain a +1 racial bonus to save against spells with the electricity descriptor. This bonus increases by +1 at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter. In addition the gen gains Electricity Resistance 3.
• Survivor: Air gen gain a +4 racial bonus to all Survival checks in cold environments.

Earth Expomental

• Acid Tolerance: Earth gen gain a +1 racial bonus to save against spells with the acid descriptor. This bonus increases by +1 at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter. In addition the gen gains Acid Resistance 3.
• Survivor: Earth gen gain a +4 racial bonus to all Survival checks in subterranean environments.

Fire Expomental

• Heat Tolerance: Fire gen gain a +1 racial bonus on all Will and Fortitude saves due to heat conditions and spells saves with the fire descriptor. This bonus increases by +1 at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter. In addition the gen can exist comfortably in temperatures up to 120^o F without having to make Fortitude saves. See Heat Dangers in the DMG, page 303 & Sandstorm, page 12.
• Survivor: Fire gen gain a +4 racial bonus to all Survival checks in hot environments.

Water Expomental

• Cold Tolerance: Water gen gain a +1 racial bonus on all Will and Fortitude saves due to cold conditions and spells saves with the cold descriptor. This bonus increases by +1 at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter. In addition the gen can exist comfortably in temperatures between 0^o F to 90^o F without having to make Fortitude saves. See Cold Dangers in the DMG, page 302 & Frostburn, page 8.
• Survivor: Water gen gain a +4 racial bonus to all Survival checks in and around aquatic environments.

 

[Arkhandus]

Definitely too strong for 3.x, but I'll have to re-check how much Pathfinder boosted races before I can make a good analysis of the Gens' strength in PF. However, three things:

1, you accidentally put the Water Gen's traits in both its own spot and where the Air Gen's traits were supposed to be,

2, you made the Earth Gen's racial traits definitely too powerful, especially compared to the other Gens (whose racial traits will only occasionally help, and only so much, whereas the Earth Gen's DR will apply almost all the time and more usefully than the others' traits), so I would suggest a simple copy of the Cold Tolerance as Acid Tolerance with the secondary benefit of AT being something like Acid Resistance 3,

and 3, you should know that Gen are a set of minor elemental genies in Al-Qadim (aka Zakhara, the Land of Fate), one of the official D&D settings, who serve sha'irs as familiars and spell-fetchers from the elemental planes. Ergo Gen is probably not the best name to use, since it's already used for an official D&D creature that is not Open Game Content. At least, not a wise name choice if you ever published this Gen race of yours. For other purposes, of course, it's fine.

 

[Silversun]

Definitely too strong for 3.x, but I'll have to re-check how much Pathfinder boosted races before I can make a good analysis of the Gens' strength in PF.

Thanmks. If I ever allow 'em in a 3E game, I'll make 'em LA +1.

1, you accidentally put the Water Gen's traits in both its own spot and where the Air Gen's traits were supposed to be,

Originally, it was set to be the same as the Water gen's I just forgot to change the name. But as per your suggestion with the Erth Gen, I liked the idea and ported it over tothe Air Expomental, giving them Electricity Tolerance. Seems appropriate.

2, you made the Earth Gen's racial traits definitely too powerful, especially compared to the other Gens (whose racial traits will only occasionally help, and only so much, whereas the Earth Gen's DR will apply almost all the time and more usefully than the others' traits), so I would suggest a simple copy of the Cold Tolerance as Acid Tolerance with the secondary benefit of AT being something like Acid Resistance 3,

Thanks. I was worried about the Damage Reduction was too useful compared to the others. Good idea for the change. I included it in the update. Ported the idea over to Air Expomental as well, giving them Electrical Tolerance.

and 3, you should know that Gen are a set of minor elemental genies in Al-Qadim (aka Zakhara, the Land of Fate), one of the official D&D settings, who serve sha'irs as familiars and spell-fetchers from the elemental planes. Ergo Gen is probably not the best name to use, since it's already used for an official D&D creature that is not Open Game Content. At least, not a wise name choice if you ever published this Gen race of yours. For other purposes, of course, it's fine.

The name seemed familiar, I just couldn't place it; thanks for the reminder. I renamed them Expomental, a combination of exponent and elemental. I think it has a nice ring to it.