Air Genasi & Underwater Spellcasting...

[Raflar]

We just started a new campaign all on the ocean (and under). My one player is an "Air Genasi Wizard". I was looking up the rules for underwater casting in 'Legends and Lairs - Seafarers Handbook' and it stated that a person could only cast if they could breath water or had an air bubble around them (not an exact quote as the book is not in front of me)

Air Genasi don't breath. Should she be allowed to cast underwater anyway? Or should the rules still apply since her vocal chords are not used to being used underwater?

 

[green slime]

You can make sounds underwater on a breath of air... try it. The trouble is for humans is twofold:
1) getting a new breath of air while underwater, and
2) being intelligible.

The first problem has been solved by the excellent ability of the Air Genasi to never run out of breath.

Now while shouting at your buddy to get his attention so he can see the big flounder you poked a stick at is not generally a problem underwater, I would be hesitant to use the same method to invoke mystical words of power that called lightning from nothingness... (Also; If your doesn't know where you are, your buddy will have a difficult time locating you, as sound travels MUCH faster through water, removing the possibility of defining the direction of the sound.)

There are several problems when casting spells underwater. Spell components tend to get wet... Live spiders, bat guano and diamond dust tend to not take to water as some of our feathered friends. Not to mention the fact that touch spells may discharge immediately (sort of up to DM whim whether the water causes this or not).

I wouldn't allow the character to cast spells underwater unhindered. I would say they would be just as hindered as a human, as they must be able to pronounce the words correctly, something that the water distorts. But then I would not allow spell casting in conjunction with water breathing either.

It has nothing to do with vocal chords being used to being underwater. It is the sound itself which is distorted by the medium.

I guess I just miss the old spell airy water...

 

[Larcen]

... 1) getting a new breath of air while underwater,...

... The first problem has been solved by the excellent ability of the Air Genasi to never run out of breath. ...

Your interpretation of the Air Genasi's breathing ability brings up an interesting question:

If an Air Genasi never runs out of breath (air) can they feed this air to others to prevent them from drowning (or breathing noxious vapors outside of the water), such as through a tube or mouth to mouth?

I personally never thought of this ability to mean an endless supply of air being produced from within the genasi's body. I always just took it to mean that the genasi doesn't need to breath to stay alive. Their stored air supply (which they don't need) should still be limited by what could fit in their lungs, IMHO. So I guess if the genasi never inhales he will eventually run out of air to talk with, like when underwater.

 

[LGodamus]

an air genasi's ability doesn't provide unlimited air , it negates it's need to breathe.......which is not a bubble of air or the ability to breathe water...so they cannot cast underwater without some further sort of assistance