D&D 5E Would a Sha'ir be a sorcerer or a warlock?

[Paraxis]

I think chainlocks are the ones that get pets. I could see an invocation that lets you change a spell known at the end of a short rest, representing the gen fetching a new spell.

+1 to this.
If I remember right the Sha-ir can even get spells from other lists, this sounds about just perfect in balance.

Requirements: Chain Pact
Benefit: One of your spell slots is flexible after a short or long rest you can exchange it for any spell off any spell list of your spell slot max level or lower.

Adapt mephits to be the genie servants and I think you got a great Sha-ir.

 

[occam]

Before the PHB came out, and warlock features were just rumors and hints, I was thinking that the warlock with a gen familiar would be the best fit for a sha'ir. After seeing the warlock, I changed my mind. For one, the gen is an integral part of the sha'ir theme, but a warlock doesn't get a familiar until 3rd level. They have two levels of gen-less spellcasting before that, which doesn't fit the sha'ir as described in Al-Qadim.

In addition, warlock spellcasting is far too limited. What helped define the sha'ir was spellcasting flexibility; the warlock goes hard in the opposite direction. Warlock invocations also don't match up to how a sha'ir acquires spells.

Of the existing classes, the wizard is probably the best fit, but I'm tempted to design a new (wizard-like) class.

 

[Plaguescarred]

Since Sorcerers tap theit magic into themselves and Sha'irs get their spell delivered to them from a Gen familiar, i think Sha'irs fits better as a Genie Pack Warlock.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

To be the extremely odd man out, I plan on implementing them as bards, here's why:

1. The relationship of Sha'irs to Genies was very specific. They were not your patrons nor were they your ancestors. Rather you used the ancient accords established by the lawgiver, you charisma, and your trained ability to see through genie trickery to negotiate privileges from them including your familiar and then your spells. Which fits with Bard or Wizard and better with Bard cause of the Charisma bit.

2. Historically, Sha'irs were closer to Bards than anything else.

3. In Play, one of the major advantages of Sha'irs was the flexible spell list that borrowed from different spell sources. Of the 5e classes the Bard most closely parallels that component in its own list and, in fact, has a sub-class that includes list-pillaging as a feature.

4. Bards could use a tutelary spirit/divine muse/familiar based sub-class with a heaping healthy dose of tricking/bargaining powerful spirits into service. Beyond Sha'irs that's a fairly common trope for performers and bards in folk-lore and fantasy generally.

5. Sha'irs always seemed a little cannier and more schooled in life than other arcane casters and the 5e bard reflects that. Also, it sits in the 5e leader space, and I think boom-oriented with a minor in leader is a good Sha'ir space.

The only real problem I see is that the bard picks sub-classes at 3rd level - though that annoys me about the bard sub-classes generally since I can't really see 'lucking' your way into being a skald over a lore-master in the same way you might develop an affinity for either the nature or vigilante aspects of being a Ranger.

 

[AmerginLiath]

Warlock Genie Pact, hands down.

With the suggestion (if not outright promise) of new elemental-themed subclasses for classes with next year's Elemental Evil AP, I actually wonder if we could see a "genie pact" for the warlock based off the sha'ir – since it looks as if Forgotten Realms is being used, after all, and it's unlikely than Al-Qadim will have any individual releases in the current schedule or geopolitical climate, so tying those interesting mechanics into the elemental storyline in the Adventurer's Guide as a way to explore the genies amidst the other aspects of the elemental planes would strike me as the best avenue for them.

 

[Wolfskin]

With the suggestion (if not outright promise) of new elemental-themed subclasses for classes with next year's Elemental Evil AP, I actually wonder if we could see a "genie pact" for the warlock based off the sha'ir

That would be extremely cool, I hope every class gets something new and cool to play with!

 

[Eric V]

What if the Sha'ir has a gen right away, but it can only do non-spell fetching stuff after 3rd level (effectively Chain Pact)?

I see the "spells known" of the warlock to be the spells the gen knows how to find. Someone above (Joe Liker?) suggested having one slot available for flexible casting and that could really work, though for me, it was always more about the genie related stuff as opposed to the flexible spell casting; with the huge delays, I never found it that flexible in practice.

It's the invocations I am most anxious to come up with.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

Let me tell you right now--they are very unlikely to allow a new subclass to change their known spell list daily, much less based on short rests or minutes.

A 5e conversion would take the idea and feel of what the sha'ir is, and then find a way to represent that concept in 5e. It would not attempt to mimic oddball 2e mechanics.

It also is going to aim for simplicity where possible. So if you want to guess what they might do, you'll need to come from that background, because I can guarantee that's how the designers are going to do it.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Bards have a class feature that lets them snatch other class's spells already, too (College of Lore), so Bard is an interesting and compelling choice.

I think the fiction fits most tightly with a Warlock, and Warlocks are pretty gishy in 5e, hybrid spellcaster/artillery. Letting a Sha'ir warlock pick one non-warlock spell from someone else's list once per day would probably be fine. Heck, it wouldn't even need to be chain pact -- though it could be. A blade-pact Sha'ir would wield have their gen fetching a weapon from the world of genies, and a tome-pact Sha'ir would gather extra spells from their gen.

 

[Ketser]

Well i have not played 2e or Al-Quadim, but it feels that a genie pact warlock would be thematically the best fit.

First... we probably want to see a bit more warlock patrons and genies can fill that part very well. The dealing with gen and genies and bargaining for spells can be well reflected in their patron features. There gen can be present, but not suable as familliar, actually ven other pact boons canbe the gen. Like the gen turning himself into a weapon or a tome/gemstone/crystal filled with arcane power.

Second - The Gen can be a general thing, not only a warlock one. The Chain pact grants one for free, but other casters can also get it if they have access like with imps, pseuodragons or others. The get a bargained spell can be a gen familliar thing, although a bit more complicated one than other abilities granted by their respective familiars.