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obviously, playing a genie right from the start of the campign is not possible, but since PCs are going to die in HotB, new characters of high levels can easily be maid. I can certanly think of at least one of my players wishing to play a genie in LoF. do you think it could work well with the campign? furthermore, since I avert reading the campign outline and avoid spoilering to myself the next advetures I do not know- will a genie PC gratley alter a plot element?
- thanks!
I seriously looked at them for an option in our campaign. The best I came up with was the half-genie template in one of the Tomes of Horror. I'd have come up with some sort of backstory that tied the PCs in with the overarching plot, but then my players got enthusiastic about playing undead and this fell by the wayside.
I'd be more prone to make this all-or-nothing, though. Having a single genie in the group could be weirdly unbalancing in terms of spotlight time (which is the only kind of balance that tends to bother me).
I seriously looked at them for an option in our campaign. The best I came up with was the half-genie template in one of the Tomes of Horror. I'd have come up with some sort of backstory that tied the PCs in with the overarching plot, but then my players got enthusiastic about playing undead and this fell by the wayside.
I'd be more prone to make this all-or-nothing, though. Having a single genie in the group could be weirdly unbalancing in terms of spotlight time (which is the only kind of balance that tends to bother me).
Perhaps the Djinni, Efreeti or Janni Bloodlines might be appropriate? Or for something more generic, use the various elemental bloodlines.
I would suggest taking a look that genesai from Forgotten Realms. They are LA +1 I believe, so on par with tieflings and aasimar, but have an elemental heritage.
Sean Mahoney
I get the feeling that playing a straight-up genie would leave one vulnerable to all sorts of complications during LoF, what with genie politics, genie binders, etc.
Sure that would be the point, no? In my Rise of the Runlords campaign the PCs are giantkin goblins. In my Curse of the Crimson Throne campaign the PCs are all Korvosan nobility. Playing a party of undead in LoF is kind of breaking the trend, and all being genies (or genie-kin) would have tied a lot more closely into the plot. As it is I'm struggling a little to make their heritage fit in with the APs story arch.
Complications of this sort are very fun, in other words. :)
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I was thinking of more severe complications really, stuff that could flat out take a character out of the game because of a genie-society faux-pas or failing a save vs. jammed in a bottle for millenia type stuff.
But that's just how I personally see genies though: great power, but tons of rules upon rules waiting to trip you up.
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I was thinking of more severe complications really, stuff that could flat out take a character out of the game because of a genie-society faux-pas or failing a save vs. jammed in a bottle for millenia type stuff.
But that's just how I personally see genies though: great power, but tons of rules upon rules waiting to trip you up.
but a teeny tiny living space
Sounds like an entry point to me: I would love to play a genie sorcerer stuck in one of the other PC's ring...
Tons of role play potential there.
obviously, playing a genie right from the start of the campign is not possible, but since PCs are going to die in HotB, new characters of high levels can easily be maid. I can certanly think of at least one of my players wishing to play a genie in LoF. do you think it could work well with the campign? furthermore, since I avert reading the campign outline and avoid spoilering to myself the next advetures I do not know- will a genie PC gratley alter a plot element?
- thanks!
I personally think it will be one of those things that alters the feel of the campaign. If the PCs are just as other-worldly as the NPCs, where's the sense of wonder or the "it's us lowly mortals against powerful magical forces of the universe" feel in the campaign?
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I personally think it will be one of those things that alters the feel of the campaign. If the PCs are just as other-worldly as the NPCs, where's the sense of wonder or the "it's us lowly mortals against powerful magical forces of the universe" feel in the campaign?obviously, playing a genie right from the start of the campign is not possible, but since PCs are going to die in HotB, new characters of high levels can easily be maid. I can certanly think of at least one of my players wishing to play a genie in LoF. do you think it could work well with the campign? furthermore, since I avert reading the campign outline and avoid spoilering to myself the next advetures I do not know- will a genie PC gratley alter a plot element?
- thanks!
Yes, it would certainly alter the feel of the campaign, but I don’t think it will damage the sense of wonder if one of the PC’s is a genie of some sort- quite the contrary. IIRC, Aladdin fights an efreet at a certain time of his adventures. Still, his jinn allies aid him much. The fact that he is teeming with creatures he cannot truly understand only strengthens the sense of great things happening around him. It would be the same with LoF, I think. The only problem is, as some people already noted, that the genie are a complicated race, and getting them into the campaign will require lots of work and ideas. Re-reading the “truths and tales of genies” in PF 21 only reassured my nervousness about trying.
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Sounds like an entry point to me: I would love to play a genie sorcerer stuck in one of the other PC's ring...
Tons of role play potential there.
wow... you know, this is a great idea. I am not sure how much it will suit my player... but when the time comes I will certanly discuss the option with him. thanks a lot!
Yes, it would certainly alter the feel of the campaign, but I don’t think it will damage the sense of wonder if one of the PC’s is a genie of some sort- quite the contrary. IIRC, Aladdin fights an efreet at a certain time of his adventures. Still, his jinn allies aid him much. The fact that he is teeming with creatures he cannot truly understand only strengthens the sense of great things happening around him. It would be the same with LoF, I think. The only problem is, as some people already noted, that the genie are a complicated race, and getting them into the campaign will require lots of work and ideas. Re-reading the “truths and tales of genies” in PF 21 only reassured my nervousness about trying.
My hesitation also comes from reading the whole plot outline. I know you'd rather not do that, but it helps put the PC's role in perspective and may help you make a better informed decision.
James Jacobs mentioned something similar in Second Darkness, how they strongly encouraged players not to make Drow PCs for that Adventure Path. I would say the same thing could be said here, even if the character being made is a Djinni or Jann. Now, further up in the thread, I love the idea of a character who is descended from geniekind.
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But that's just how I personally see genies though: great power, but tons of rules upon rules waiting to trip you up.I believe you might have confused the terms "Genie" and "a character that tries to take advantage of the grappling rules" :)
I do like to imagine it can get that bad sometimes though!
Djinn : Hey, nice party. Uh...you mind if I use the bathroo...
Efreet: How dare you insult me by not going before coming to my home? You have only been here an hour and already you wish to defile my throne! You have insulted my honor and are thus my slave for a year!
Djinn: Wha? Aw dammit!
Shaitan: You there! You have claimed the one betrothed to my beloved daughter as property! Therefore you must take his place at my daughter's side!
Efreet: Dammit!
Djinn: Hold on! Because you have broken our previous arrangement, you owe me 500,000 gold pieces as reperation for this slight to my honor!
Shaitan: Dammit!
Efreet: As you are now my property, your belongings are now mine as well.
Djinn: Dammit!
Shaitan: So how about that man-dowry?
Efreet: Dammit!
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Djinn : Hey, nice party. Uh...you mind if I use the bathroo...
Efreet: How dare you insult me by not going before coming to my home? You have only been here an hour and already you wish to defile my throne! You have insulted my honor and are thus my slave for a year!
Djinn: Wha? Aw dammit!
Shaitan: You there! You have claimed the one betrothed to my beloved daughter as property! Therefore you must take his place at my daughter's side!
Efreet: Dammit!
Djinn: Hold on! Because you have broken our previous arrangement, you owe me 500,000 gold pieces as reperation for this slight to my honor!
Shaitan: Dammit!
Efreet: As you are now my property, your belongings are now mine as well.
Djinn: Dammit!
Shaitan: So how about that man-dowry?
Efreet: Dammit!
That made me LOL.
My take has been (and this is just my NSHO) that genies are extremely rank-conscious and hierarchical. What I mean is, that "normal" expected behaviour for a genie (of any type) is to lord it over (perceived) inferior beings while kowtowing to (perceived) superiors. Furthermore, this doesn't (normally) cause any hard feelings among them; this is just how genie society operates -- everyone knows their place, and they get to stick it to the littler guys while taking it from the big guys.
So, for example, a genie that encounters mortal adventurers might start out very arrogant and dismissive (ESPECIALLY if the mortals don't appear to be showing the proper respect he feels he's due), but as soon as the party demonstrates that they're actually around 17th level and could kick his ass in 3 rounds, he suddenly becomes humble and obsequious. Oops, my bad, no hard feelings, right effendi?