Level Up (A5E) The Genasi in A5e. A Wish list

[Corinnguard]

If and when the Genasi are brought into A5e, they are definitely going to be another gift for those with the Planetouched heritage. But unlike the Aasimar and the Tiefling, the Genasi will come bearing many more gifts than those two. One for each element (para-element and quasi-element too?). All of them certainly will have an Elemental Legacy, some kind of Elemental Resistance and come speaking their own Elemental Language.

The big question here is what will those gifts look like. For Elemental Legacy, I could see the Genasi having the elemental equivalent of the Mage Hand cantrip at 1st level. When they reach 5th level, maybe an elemental version of Telekinesis? Who says that they can't bend with the best of them? Seriously though, I would like to see them having advantage with any spell that belongs to one of the Elemental schools of magic or a spell that is associated with one of the four elements. As for Elemental Resistance, there is Lightning (or Thunder), Acid, Fire and Cold Resistance. But I could also see them shrugging off the effects of any spell or effect related to their element as well.

Once again, I do hope that they'll make their debut in any upcoming Gate Pass Gazette issue.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

CONSTANT ADVANTAGE with an ELEMENTAL SCHOOL. depending on the spell that sounds either worthless (shape water) or absolutely busted (any spell with an attack roll). an expertise die to checks/attack rolls made with those spells would probably be more appropriate, and would be mathematically less crazy (+3 on average from 1d4 vs +5 on average from advantage). although i'd probably prefer an expertise die on saving throws AGAINST spells related to my element if i played a genasi. that way they wouldn't be super caster heavy.

 

[Morrus]

Once again, I do hope that they'll make their debut in any upcoming Gate Pass Gazette issue.

I think that's pretty likely.

 

[Corinnguard]

Another possibility with regards to making saving throws against spells related to your element is adding your proficiency bonus to that save. So it becomes progressively harder for an enemy spellcaster or a monster that has an elemental ability to harm you with your own element.

An expertise die to checks/attack rolls involving spells that are connected to your element does sound better than having a constant advantage with spells from a particular elemental school. As not all spells are created equal. Hmm...what about adding your proficiency bonus to any spell that comes from a particular school?

 

[xiphumor]

Hot take here, but I’d actually prefer to have non-magical Genasi. I want them to physically embody their elements and then have cultures reflect if they develop that connection magically or martially.

 

[xiphumor]

Also, I suspect that there will be design difficulties with making Tieflings and Fire Genasi meaningfully distinct from each other. Fire Genasi clearly need fire resistance, which only leaves replacing Infernal Legacy as something to make them distinct. You can swap out those spells, sure, but then you haven’t really given players anything new to play with.

 

[WarDriveWorley]

Personally I would love to see genasi being able to infuse either spells or weapon/unarmed strikes with some form of elemental empowerment. Not specifically just damage, but some elemental effect based off the parent element

 

[Micah Sweet]

Hot take here, but I’d actually prefer to have non-magical Genasi. I want them to physically embody their elements and then have cultures reflect if they develop that connection magically or martially.

Elemental cultures could be cool. After all, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.