Vacuum Genasi Suck!

[Larcen]

The con bonus is nice. Grease once a day is okay, but it is based off of the Cha score, and the -2 to cha hurts this. If your Cha is lower then 11, you can't use this ability and the DC is only 11+Cha modifier. The +2 on saves verse Acid really doesn't come up that often. Yesterday was the first time when we fought a Fiendish Green Dragon which should have killed us, but that's another story.

Edit: I forgot the Nightvision 60ft, which is a decent ability.

Well, despite the fact that I can easily see why the designers did it, I honestly think NONE of the ECL+x races are worth losing levels to, especially when they get to the mid and higher experience levels. Way too costly then.

Which is exactly why I was explaining to Xarlen that the reason for taking these races should be a desire to roleplay them for their coolness factor and it should have nothing to do with the numbers.

I mean, everytime I think of an Air Genasi, I ALMOST want to take the level hit.....

 

[Crothian]

Which is exactly why I was explaining to Xarlen that the reason for taking these races should be a desire to roleplay them for their coolness factor and it should have nothing to do with the numbers.

And that's why I'm playing it. There's a little theme to the character, Para Ooze Gensai, Cleric with Slime Domain, next level I'm taking the Oozemaster Prestige Class.

I was just commenting on the balance issue. I'm not going to the DM or anything asking for the race to be redifined as ecl +0. This is the first ecl+X race I've ever played or had played in a party. I'm not really happy with the balance. We have one other ecl+X PC as well.

 

[Xarlen]

I realize the coolness factor/RP aspect is there. Right on.

But I'm looking from a rules apsect, too. Look at the Core races. They're (Roughly) balanced, so shouldn't the Genasi be equal? Sure, you can take a Core race for RP stuff, but you still want the benefits to match other PC races.

Me, I think the Dust para-genasi is the most powerful. Breathless, +4 dex and +2 Int. Just Begs to for archer, or spellcaster (Even if the +1 ECL hurts spellcasters). The Breathless ability doesn't hurt at all, and the Dustcloud effect is a great Defense.

Not to mention they're all grim and dreary. Makes for a perfect neutral necromancer, who's simply morbid, but fun.

I would've liked a better bang for Ice (Since I just like Ice). Cansin are cool, aswell (+2 to two Mental stats, lots of interesting RP aspect with their randomness). Magma, I would think, would be best as tanks due to their plusses for abilities, not to mention their +1 for Fire effects.

Though Smoke, nor Steam really grab me. Anaxi just look funky.

 

[Larcen]

And that's why I'm playing it. There's a little theme to the character, Para Ooze Gensai, Cleric with Slime Domain, next level I'm taking the Oozemaster Prestige Class.

See, now THAT's Cool....and maybe even worth the ECL+1 hit. I like!

I was just commenting on the balance issue. I'm not going to the DM or anything asking for the race to be redifined as ecl +0. This is the first ecl+X race I've ever played or had played in a party. I'm not really happy with the balance. We have one other ecl+X PC as well.

Well maybe your DM, knowing your frustration, can set up more situations where the abilities you gain from the ECL+1 would shine more. I like that solution because he woulnd't have to give you anything extra to make up for the "loss". The green dragon encounter was a good start. Is he thinking along those lines then?

 

[TroyXavier]

I've been wanting to try Axanis. A few of the paragenasi look fun too.

 

[Acmite]

We just (re-)started our current campaign and I'm trying out a Smoke Para-Genasi Druid. We're starting at level 5 (4+1 for me) but we haven't really had a full session yet.

The +1 ECL hurts for a primary spellcaster, but I thought it would be fun to play. I'm not sure how well it will work out, but if this thread is still around when I have a better idea, I'll let you know.

One of the other guys is trying out a Cansin Rogue. From what little we've seen, she seems a hoot!

 

[Crothian]

See, now THAT's Cool....and maybe even worth the ECL+1 hit. I like!

I put a lot of work into this character. You can see it all here:


http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18268

Well maybe your DM, knowing your frustration, can set up more situations where the abilities you gain from the ECL+1 would shine more. I like that solution because he woulnd't have to give you anything extra to make up for the "loss". The green dragon encounter was a good start. Is he thinking along those lines then?

We weren't supposed to fight the dragon. I'm not sure what we were supposed to do, but we are a level 6 party and that thing is CR 10, plus it had 6 serpent men minions (I'm not sure exactly what they were). We won because the DM used a program to print out the Dragon's stats and the program was wrong. The breathe weapon was listed as 5d6 instead of 10d6. The SR was 30, so no one could beat it with out a nat 20. It only had DR 5/+1, but only one of our characters has a magical weapon.

 

[Xarlen]

I'm looking to try and incorperate some into my game.

Likely try and hook the party wizard up with a Cansin wizard (I think the reverse in personalities could mesh). I just dig the picture of the Cansin I guess.

And, the Dust guy.

Since the players are hunting down portals, I was thinking of using one of the suggested ways to incorperate them, but also I was hoping for others to share their info.

 

[ForceUser]

I'm playing an ooze para gensai and I really don't think it's worth the ecl +1. They get +4 con, -2 cha, grease 1/day, +2 save verse acid attacks. Not very impressive for one level lost.

Dude, +4 Con is huge. Huge. That in and of itself is worth +1 ECL. The Grease 1/day and save vs acid is just bonus.

Let's say you make a 28-point buy character - an ooze para genasi wizard. You drop a 14 into Con, not unreasonable with 28 points. Add racial modifier - 18 Con. Add toad familiar - 20 Con. At first level, you have a wizard with a 20 Con. As a wizard you lose 2 hit points average for being +1 ECL, and you gain 95 hit points just from your Con modifier over the course of your pre-epic career. And by 10th level you've probably got a +2 Con item, bringing your little wizard to a whopping 22 Con.

Just crunching some numbers, which many players do. If it weren't for the +1 ECL, the racial Con modifier would make the race too good.

 

[Crothian]

Dude, +4 Con is huge. Huge.

It's nice, but not all that. HPs are important, and in a game where characters see lots of combat it becomes even better. My character does have a 21 con. I have a great concentration check and almost as many HPs as the fighter who is one level higher. But I don't think it's worth the ecl +1. Things on paper look different from actualy game play.