Genasi
Encyclopedia
Genasi are creatures in the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
.
races for the Planescape
setting in the Planewalker's Handbook (1996).
The air genasi, the earth genasi, the fire genasi, and the water genasi appeared in the third edition for the Forgotten Realms
setting in Monsters of Faerûn
(2001), under the "planetouched
" entry. The four genasi types appeared as player character races in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
(2001), Dragon
#293 (March 2002), and Races of Faerûn
(2003). The dust para-genasi, the ice para-genasi, the magma para-genasi, the ooze para-genasi, the smoke para-genasi, the steam para-genasi appeared in Dragon #297 (July 2002).
In 4th edition, genasi appear in Monster Manual 2 (2009) and in Forgotten Realms Players' Guide as a player race. Their role in the default Dungeons & Dragons setting is detailed in Ecology of the Genasi in Dragon #367, and Abyssal Genasi are introduced in Dragon #380.
(mortal creatures who have in their veins some blood of creatures from an alternate plane
), who in their case are humans with an elemental
in their ancestry.
The most common genasi by far are the ones who are related to the four classical element
s - air
, earth
, fire
and water
- though para-elemental genasi also exist. Genasi resemble humans only with one or two unusual features which correspond to their element, such as wispy hair for Air Genasi or red skin for Fire Genasi. Genasi also have special abilities which correspond to their element.
In the Planescape
campaign setting
, Genasi are available as a race for player characters. Genasi are also featured as a character race in the Forgotten Realms
campaign setting.
In 4th edition, Genasi are a single race rather than a group of related races. Genasi have five elemental manifestations corresponding to the four classical elements and lightning: Earthsoul, Stormsoul, Firesoul, Watersoul and Windsoul. Each manifestation provides a passive defensive bonus and a racial power. One manifestation must be chosen during character creation, and additional manifestations may be acquired through feats, allowing the player to switch manifestations between encounters, and the Elemental Tempest paragon path allows Genasi to use two manifestations simultaneously.
Abyssal genasi are genasi whose elemental nature has been twisted by the Abyss, introduced in Dragon #380. Their corrupted manifestations are inversions of four of the regular elements genasi manifest. These manifestations are Cindersoul, Causticsoul, Plaguesoul, and Voidsoul.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
.
Publication history
The air genasi, the earth genasi, the fire genasi, and the water genasi first appeared in second edition as player characterPlayer character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
races for the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
setting in the Planewalker's Handbook (1996).
The air genasi, the earth genasi, the fire genasi, and the water genasi appeared in the third edition for the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
setting in Monsters of Faerûn
Monsters of Faerûn
Monstrous Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn is a supplement for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons.-Contents:It features about 150 pages of monsters unique to the Forgotten Realms campaign setting...
(2001), under the "planetouched
Planetouched
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the planetouched are mortal creatures whose ancestors were extraplanar creatures such as celestials, fiends, or elementals.Planetouched are considered native outsiders.-Publication history:...
" entry. The four genasi types appeared as player character races in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting is a role-playing game sourcebook first published in 1987, detailing the Forgotten Realms setting, containing information on characters, locations, and history as well as setting-specific rules for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
(2001), Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#293 (March 2002), and Races of Faerûn
Races of Faerûn
Races of Faerûn is an optional supplemental sourcebook for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons.-Contents:...
(2003). The dust para-genasi, the ice para-genasi, the magma para-genasi, the ooze para-genasi, the smoke para-genasi, the steam para-genasi appeared in Dragon #297 (July 2002).
In 4th edition, genasi appear in Monster Manual 2 (2009) and in Forgotten Realms Players' Guide as a player race. Their role in the default Dungeons & Dragons setting is detailed in Ecology of the Genasi in Dragon #367, and Abyssal Genasi are introduced in Dragon #380.
Description
Genasi are planetouchedPlanetouched
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the planetouched are mortal creatures whose ancestors were extraplanar creatures such as celestials, fiends, or elementals.Planetouched are considered native outsiders.-Publication history:...
(mortal creatures who have in their veins some blood of creatures from an alternate plane
Plane (Dungeons & Dragons)
The planes of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game constitutes the multiverse in which the game takes place.In the earliest versions of Dungeons & Dragons, the concept of the Inner, Ethereal, Prime Material, Astral and Outer Planes was introduced; at the time there were only four Inner Planes...
), who in their case are humans with an elemental
Elemental (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, an elemental is a type of creature. Elemental creatures are composed of one of the four classical elementals of air, earth, fire, or water.-Publication history:...
in their ancestry.
The most common genasi by far are the ones who are related to the four classical element
Classical element
Many philosophies and worldviews have a set of classical elements believed to reflect the simplest essential parts and principles of which anything consists or upon which the constitution and fundamental powers of anything are based. Most frequently, classical elements refer to ancient beliefs...
s - air
Air (classical element)
Air is often seen as a universal power or pure substance. Its supposed fundamental importance to life can be seen in words such as aspire, inspire, perspire and spirit, all derived from the Latin spirare.-Greek and Roman tradition:...
, earth
Earth (classical element)
Earth, home and origin of humanity, has often been worshipped in its own right with its own unique spiritual tradition.-European tradition:Earth is one of the four classical elements in ancient Greek philosophy and science. It was commonly associated with qualities of heaviness, matter and the...
, fire
Fire (classical element)
Fire has been an important part of all cultures and religions from pre-history to modern day and was vital to the development of civilization. It has been regarded in many different contexts throughout history, but especially as a metaphysical constant of the world.-Greek and Roman tradition:Fire...
and water
Water (classical element)
Water is one of the elements in ancient Greek philosophy, in the Asian Indian system Panchamahabhuta, and in the Chinese cosmological and physiological system Wu Xing...
- though para-elemental genasi also exist. Genasi resemble humans only with one or two unusual features which correspond to their element, such as wispy hair for Air Genasi or red skin for Fire Genasi. Genasi also have special abilities which correspond to their element.
In the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, Genasi are available as a race for player characters. Genasi are also featured as a character race in the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting.
In 4th edition, Genasi are a single race rather than a group of related races. Genasi have five elemental manifestations corresponding to the four classical elements and lightning: Earthsoul, Stormsoul, Firesoul, Watersoul and Windsoul. Each manifestation provides a passive defensive bonus and a racial power. One manifestation must be chosen during character creation, and additional manifestations may be acquired through feats, allowing the player to switch manifestations between encounters, and the Elemental Tempest paragon path allows Genasi to use two manifestations simultaneously.
Abyssal genasi are genasi whose elemental nature has been twisted by the Abyss, introduced in Dragon #380. Their corrupted manifestations are inversions of four of the regular elements genasi manifest. These manifestations are Cindersoul, Causticsoul, Plaguesoul, and Voidsoul.