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Revised Genasi

More balanced Genasi for the world of Dungeons and Dragons 5e

Version 1.2.0

Primordial Heritage

Those who think of other planes at all consider them remote, distant realms, but planar influence can be felt throughout the world. It sometimes manifests in beings who, through an accident of birth, carry the power of the planes in their blood. The genasi are one such people, the offspring of genies and mortals.

The Elemental Planes are often inhospitable to natives of the Material Plane: crushing earth, searing flames, boundless skies, and endless seas make visiting these places dangerous for even a short time. The powerful genies, however, don’t face such troubles when venturing into the mortal world. They adapt well to the mingled elements of the Material Plane, and they sometimes visit—whether of their own volition or compelled by magic. Some genies can adopt mortal guise and travel incognito.

During these visits, a mortal might catch a genie’s eye. Friendship forms, romance blooms, and sometimes children result. These children are genasi: individuals with ties to two worlds, yet belonging to neither. Some genasi are born of mortal–genie unions, others have two genasi as parents, and a rare few have a genie further up their family tree, manifesting an elemental heritage that’s lain dormant for generations.

Occasionally, genasi result from exposure to a surge of elemental power, through phenomena such as an eruption from the Inner Planes or a planar convergence. Elemental energy saturates any creatures in the area and might alter their nature enough that their offspring with other mortals are born as genasi.

Heirs to Elemental Power

Genasi inherit something from both sides of their dual nature. They resemble humans but have unusual skin color (red, green, blue, or gray), and there is something odd about them. The elemental blood flowing through their veins manifests differently in each genasi, often as magical power.

Seen in silhouette, a genasi can usually pass for human. Those of earth or water descent tend to be heavier, while those of air or fire tend to be lighter. A given genasi might have some features reminiscent of the mortal parent (pointed ears from an elf, a stockier frame and thick hair from a dwarf, small hands and feet from a halfling, exceedingly large eyes from a gnome, and so on).

Genasi almost never have contact with their elemental parents. Genies seldom have interest in their mortal offspring, seeing them as accidents. Many feel nothing for their genasi children at all.

Some genasi live as outcasts, driven into exile for their unsettling appearance and strange magic, or assuming leadership of savage humanoids and weird cults in untamed lands. Others gain positions of great influence, especially where elemental beings are revered. A few genasi leave the Material Plane to find refuge in the households of their genie parents.


Wild and Confident

Genasi rarely lack confidence, seeing themselves as equal to almost any challenge in their path. This certainty might manifest as graceful self-assurance in one genasi and as arrogance in another. Such self- confidence can sometimes blind genasi to risk, and their great plans often get them and others into trouble.

Too much failure can chip away at even a genasi’s sense of self, so they constantly push themselves to improve, honing their talents and perfecting their craft.

Genasi Lands

As rare beings, genasi might go their entire lives without encountering another one of their kind. There are no great genasi cities or empires. Genasi seldom have communities of their own and typically adopt the cultures and societies into which they are born. The more strange their appearance, the harder time they have. Many genasi lose themselves in teeming cities, where their distinctiveness hardly raises an eyebrow in places accustomed to a variety of different people

Genasi names

Genasi use the naming conventions of the people among whom they were raised. They might later assume distinctive names to capture their heritage, such as Cinder, Gale, Storm, or Onyx.

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GENASI

Traits of the Genasi

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Additionally, you speak the elemental dialect language of the element you are associated with.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2

Age

Genasi mature at about the same rate as humans and reach adulthood in their late teens. They live somewhat longer than humans do, easily reaching into their second century.

Alignment

Varied and self-confident, many Genasi tend to follow the paths of their elemental heritage. Air genasi
trend toward chaotic, Earth toward lawful,
Water toward neutral, and Fire toward extremes.

Size

Genasi are as varied as their mortal parents,
exhibiting physical builds and characteristics
of them. Your size is medium.

Speed

Your walking speed is 30ft.

Skill Versatility

Due to the varied heritage of your ancestry, you
choose two skills to be proficient with. This is to
reflect the mortal half of your makeup, be it human,
elf, dwarf, or otherwise.


Elemental Empowerment

Because of your elemental heritage, you have a duality when it comes to damage from the element of your ancestry. You have resistance to your elemental type, as only your mortal half is damaged by the element, but your primordial half is empowered by it. Whenever you are damaged by this element from a magical source other than yourself, you become empowered. While empowered, if you hit with an attack, you can choose to deal d6 of the same element type. As you increase in power, so does your empowerment, with the damage dice following the progression in the table below.

Character Level Damage Dice
1 d6
4 2d6
6 3d6
8 4d6
10 5d6

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GENASI

Air Genasi

As an air genasi, you are descended from the djinn. As changeable as the weather, your moods shift from calm to wild and violent with little warning, but these storms rarely last long.

Air genasi typically have light blue skin, hair, and eyes. A faint but constant breeze accompanies them, tousling the hair and stirring the clothing. Some air genasi speak with breathy voices, marked by a faint echo. A few display odd patterns in their flesh or grow crystals from their scalps.

You tend to have an freedom loving wanderlust, and rarely put down roots where you stay. While your attitude toward life tends to be care-free, you also find yourself forming bonds with those of similar lifestyles. Air Genasi often find themselves in traveling caravans, merchant guilds, expedition companies or bardic troupes.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 1

Unending Breath

You can hold your breath indefinitely while you're not incapacitated, and have endless breath while breathing out or in. You breathe only as a habit, and not as a natural need for air. You have advantage on any saving throw against toxic or obscuring gases, smokes or mists.

Spirit of the Winds

You know the Gust cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast Fog Cloud, and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast Gust of Wind, and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your casting ability for these spells, and you do not need verbal or material components to cast them. If you have any spellcasting ability, you can cast these spells using your spell slots and spellcasting ability as normal.

Lightning Empowerment

Your elemental empowerment is to lightning damage. You have lightning resistance, and anytime you take magical lightning damage, you may roll your Elemental Empowerment dice.

Languages

In addition to Common and Primordial, you speak Auran, the dialect language of air and flight based creatures and the Djinni of the elemental plane of air.

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AIR GENASI

Earth Genasi

As an earth genasi, you are descended from the cruel and greedy dao, though you aren’t necessarily evil. You have inherited some measure of control over earth, reveling in superior strength and solid power. You tend to avoid rash decisions, pausing long enough to consider your options before taking action.

Elemental earth manifests differently from one individual to the next. Some earth genasi always have bits of dust falling from their bodies and mud clinging to their clothes, never getting clean no matter how often they bathe. Others are as shiny and polished as gemstones, with skin tones of deep brown or black, eyes sparkling like agates. Earth genasi can also have smooth metallic flesh, dull iron skin spotted with rust, a pebbled and rough hide, or even a coating of tiny embedded crystals. The most arresting have fissures in their flesh, from which faint light shines.

You tend to view your past as a foundation upon which to build something greater. All things naturally settle where they are, and so your life of adventure is to a higher calling than simply traveling for the novelty of it. Many earth genasi tend to join lawful orders or institutions which bring about law and order to those around them.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 1

Earth Walk

You can move across difficult terrain made of earth or stone without expending extra movement, and have advantage on any save which affects the earth around you, or would knock you prone.

Soul of the Earth

You know the Mold Earth cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast Earth Tremor once as a second level spell, and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast Earthbind once, and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells, and you do not need verbal or material components to cast them. If you have any spellcasting ability, you can cast these spells using your spell slots and spellcasting ability as normal.

Acid Empowerment

Your elemental empowerment is to acid damage. You have acid resistance, and anytime you take magical acid damage, you may roll your Elemental Empowerment dice.

Languages

In addition to Common and Primordial, you speak Terran, the dialect language of earth based creatures and the Dao of the elemental plane of earth.

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EARTH GENASI

Fire Genasi

As a fire genasi, you have inherited the volatile mood and keen mind of the Efreet. You tend to be impatient and make snap judgments. Rather than hide your distinctive appearance, you exult in it.

Nearly all fire genasi are feverishly hot, and often have flaming red, coal-black, or ash-gray skin tones. The more human-looking have fiery red hair that writhes under extreme emotion, while more exotic specimens sport actual flames dancing on their heads. Fire genasi voices might sound like crackling flames, and their eyes flare when angered. Some are accompanied by the faint scent of brimstone.

Your life is passionate and extreme. The fire inside you must find something to burn for, so everything you set out to do will be done with fervor and tenacity. Your loyalties are fierce, your hatred of your enemies merciless, and victories only quench your hunger for success temporarily before you find yourself on your next quest. Many fire Genasi find success as mercenaries, adventurers, performers and artists.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 1

Heatvision

You have Darkvision to a radius of 60ft. Your heritage
makes your vision unusual: you can choose to see heat sources around you as bright color against a grey background. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks to spot creatures within your darkvision radius.

Heart of Fire

You know the Produce Flame cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast Burning Hands once as a second level spell, and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast Pyrotechnics once and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells, and you do not need verbal or material components in order to cast them. If you have any spellcasting ability, you can cast these spells using your spell slots and spellcasting ability as normal.

Fire Empowerment

Your elemental empowerment is to fire damage. You have fire resistance, and anytime you take magical fire damage, you may roll your Elemental Empowerment dice.

Languages

In addition to Common and Primordial, you speak Ignan, the dialect language of fire based creatures and Efreeti of the elemental plane of fire.

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FIRE GENASI

Water Genasi

The lapping of waves, the spray of sea foam on the wind, the ocean depths—all of these things call to your heart. Though you are descended from the wayward Marid, you wander freely and take pride in your independence, though others might consider you selfish.

Most water genasi look as if they just finished bathing, with beads of moisture collecting on
their skin and hair. They smell of fresh rain and
clean water. Blue or green skin is common,
and most have somewhat large eyes,
blue-black in color. A water genasi’s hair
might float freely, swaying and waving as if
underwater. Some have voices with under-
tones reminiscent of whale song or
trickling streams.

Water Genasi trend toward flexibility, and
find success wherever they go. They excel
where a generalist is required, and rarely have
deficiencies in any skill or endeavor. In their later
years, many Water Genasi find employ as skilled
advisers or wizened sages, and the wise would be well to listen to the teachings of a far traveled Water Genasi

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by 1

Amphibious

You can breathe underwater and have a swim speed equal to your walking speed. You have advantage on any save to any water based effect which would move you against your will.

Anima of Water

You know the Shape Water cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast Create or Destroy Water once as a second level spell, and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast Snillic's Snowball Swarm as a third level spell once, and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Your spellcasting ability for these spells is Constitution and you do not need verbal or material components to cast them. If you have any spellcasting ability, you can cast these spells using your spell slots and spellcasting ability as normal.

Cold Empowerment

Your elemental empowerment is to cold damage. You have cold resistance, and anytime you take magical cold damage, you may roll your Elemental Empowerment dice.

Languages

You speak Aquan, the dialect language of water based sea creatures and the Marid of the elemental plane of water.

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WATER GENASI


Credits

Homebrew by Commander Fayne

All rights reserved except which are copyright of their respective holders.

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Page Art Credit
  • Cover Page Credit: "Slick" by Nikki Dawes
  • Pg 1 - "Cindra" by Aleksey Iromonik Konyshev
  • Pg 2 - "Genesis Reactor" by Tyler Bradley
  • Pg 3 - "Aefris Bleakhollow" by Kaithzer Morejón
  • Pg 4 - "Earth Genasi Sorcerer" by Šimon Paplhám
  • Pg 5 - "Hellfire" by Leo Val
  • Pg 6 - "Leiola" by Leo Val
  • Pg 7 - "Sunset" by Anna Grinenko