@Baldur looked it up, and they don't have an experience penalty in either Warriors of Heaven or The Planeswalker's Handbook. Warriors of Heaven doesn't discuss them directly, but gives lists of Aasimar traits the same way that the Planeswalker's Handbook gives Tiefling traits (i.e. appearances and whatnot.)
In that case it's probably a gameplay mechanic that Neverwinter Nights 2 implemented, as I recall that Planetouched subraces (Genasi, Aasimar, Tiefling) all had an experience gain reduction, again, no doubt for the sake of balance.
Actually, that does bring up another thing. Why not just create a Planetouched race, with those subraces then? Like the prime four elemental Genasi, and then Tiefling and Aasimar?
I don't see why you couldn't. But I'd name it something else. "Planetouched" sounds sort of 3e-ish, and I think some 2e people might balk at that. But Haer'dalis is already in the game as a Tiefling, and they'd have to change that as well. I don't know how popular Genasi were/are. I only brought up Aasimar because they have a Tiefling, and this would balance it out. In all the games I've GM'ed, I had one player who wanted to play an Air Genasi, and he was a wizard. As I recall, Genasi have classes they can't be. Air can be a Fighter, Wizard or Cleric (and that's it), Earth- Fighter, Paladin (stone champions only), Wizard or Cleric, Fire- Fighter or Wizard, Water- Fighter, Wizard, Cleric, Thief, Bard. It's rather ironic, given Haer'dalis, that Tieflings can't be Bards (at least in the Planescape books!).
Unfortunately I don't know much about Genasi much before 4e, but I would love to introduce a "planetouched" race, with those subraces. It is all new content (bar the fact Haer'dalis is a tiefling already)
Actually, reading over that page some more. I DID find the thing I was thinking of when I referred to the experience penalty. It's a LEVEL restriction, it turns out. See on that page where it mentions that Tieflings and Aasimar (and others such as Genasi) cannot exceed a certain level in each class at a time.
As for Genasi themselves.. they basically are the same as Tieflings and Aasimar, with their otherworldly parentage, only instead of the Outer Planes it's the Inner Planes. Some are born through the union of an elemental and a mortal outright, or some have a grandparent or further-back ancestor. Some are even the result of a pregnant female spending too much time in the Elemental Planes and as a result the plane has 'affected' the offspring.
The most commonly known, of course, are the Prime Elementals (Fire, Earth, Air, Water), but there's also the ones for the Quasi/Para-Elemental Planes too: http://users.erols.com/aburner/planescape/
@Baldur I knew that. I meant "popular" in a more global way. In my campaigns, I have only ever had one player who wanted to play one- I just don't know how many other people who would play Baldur's Gate would want to play one was what I meant, whereas it seems that more people seem to know about Tieflings/Aasimar than Genasi.
@LadyRhian Well, it's true that most know about Tieflings/Aasimar, but I'd say it's just because people are always hyped for the (in my opinion completely overdone and boring) 'omg I'm part angel/demon' characterization. It's the same with all the 'chaotic good drow rebel' character types. Personally, I've loved the Genasi since the day I read about 'em. The Quasi/Para ones especially.
@Baldur I didn't think Genasi were born outside their Planes? (well until 4e when worlds collided) and when I mentioned I was more thinking for moddable NPC's more than CHARNAME. Also is it in 2e where Genasi are descendents are Genies? because then my point is null and void about Genasi haha.
@IchigoRXC Well, the various types of Genies count as elementals (djinni from the Plane of Air, efreeti from the Plane of Fire), so yeah, that's an example of a union that'd give birth to a Genasi.
I think being a aasimar would simply be out of the question with your father being who he is. I know there are evil aasimar but its like good drow they are very rare. I think theres really no need to add anymore races to the game.
@luluscade Despite being Bhaalspawn, CHARNAME doesn't have to be evil. Aasimar is merely good outsider in your ancestry. Bhaal didn't have to have sex with a Solar or Planetar or anything. Just another Aasimar. I know there was an in-joke with a Bhaalspawn who was bunny rabbit, or something like that. I WISH I was joking.
But then you would have to wonder how common Tieflings and Aasimar are in the prime material plane. Not saying that Bhaal would never have been able to find one, just saying that I doubt that he was making a list of the different kinds of women he need to mate with. Besides Heir'Dalis and his troupe, you never actually meet any planetouched beings in Amn and along the sword coast.
Oh of course, I know... I'm more just asking the question though... rather than making an assumption about whether or not they are there or what have you. If the general public that wants to buy this game can say that, YES there are a decent amount of them around that it makes sense that the PC should be able to choose to be Aasimar or Tiefling, then I say go for it... but I don't know how common they either are or should be on the prime material
Oh of course, I know... I'm more just asking the question though... rather than making an assumption about whether or not they are there or what have you. If the general public that wants to buy this game can say that, YES there are a decent amount of them around that it makes sense that the PC should be able to choose to be Aasimar or Tiefling, then I say go for it... but I don't know how common they either are or should be on the prime material
I think it should more be based on the idea, why not? If they exist then why couldn't you be one. I am not saying the developers should implement them, but they should at least make it so people can, then people who want them can have them. Choice is the ultimate experience in gaming, it is loved in so many ways.
It's not like Bhaal just grabbed whatever came his way anyway - Bhaal knocked up dragons and fire giants, for cryin' out loud. I'm sure he coulda grabbed a wandering aasimar/tiefling along the way.
@Xavioria They're not really *common*, but they do exist. Again, Haer'dalis. And I think Bhaal would get a boner (so to speak) over the thought of corrupting an Aasimar into becoming the new Lord of Murder... or just to evil.
Well, i feel a little uncomfortable allowing Aasimars and not allowing drows.
As the drow problem, an aasimar would need a rewrite of the content, they don't have a direct impact on the main story at least (as the drows) but to simply put them for a power build upgrade would be too lame. The problem with AD&D is that non-human races normally tend to be a lot better than humans, unlike 3e, where special races have the level adjustment and humans have thousands of feats to balance them.
I must confess that i would love the aasimar option, also an tiefling option and a cambion option (if they're just the devils half-breed counterpart as i think), but what i want from baldur's gate is lore, roleplay and storylines, not overpowered characters, the old BG has enough mods that already do that.
If possible based on the copyrights assignment, an adaptation on bhaalspawn saga that make exotic races receptible on the game would be awersome. Otherwise, let the races as they are atm, cos the modders surelly gonna take care of this and they're not binded by any copyright assignment.
@kamulzin It depends on the Aasimar. Not all of them look very outré and weird. Some of them just have a slight glow to their skin, or golden eyes (like Haer'dalis has blue hair) or silver hair and gold eyes, which wouldn't look that strange amd/or be noticeable from a distance.
And honestly, I don't think that people are going to know what an Aasimar is. They might assume they are just half elven (provided they don't have green skin or something like that), but it isn't the kind of thing that is going to be noticeable from a distance like being a Drow is. And even then, the reaction might be "What the hell are you?" Rather than "It's a monster, kill it!"
races with +1 ECL are by all means ok, the +2,+3 are debatable and +4 or higher are a bad joke for PC,for instance half celestials get Ressurection and Summon Planetar once per day as racials(at lvl1)
On the fence as always, as long as things are meshed well within the plot (maybe add a bit of aasimar or tiefling NPCs to add flavor). As long as it doesn't feel like name dropping, I'd be totally happy with a tiefling and aasimar.
I saw in another thread - can't find it now - that subraces are high on the to-do-list. So, it looks like a matter or 'when' compared to 'if'. I think that will, for the most part, be a good thing.
Sub-races are a strong possibility. We already had them in IWD2. I'd imagine they'd be relatively easy to code (compared to something like overhauling the GUI) and would be an incredible addition to the game.
@Silence - thanks. I knew they'd mentioned it specifically as something they just couldn't get into BG:EE in time but are considering. I think an Aasimar doesn't make sense for Bhaalspawn, but maybe there are fallen Aasimar or something. I always wanted to be a winged fallen celestial like the cleric in Mask of the Betrayer (coolie character) or a lizardman LOL.
Level [adjustments] weren't in place in the 2nd Edition AD&D rules. It's 3E stuff, which is the basis for IWD2. I have no idea, though, how they handled the higher powerlevel of "odd" races in 2E.
Drow were given a 20% experience point penalty in the Complete Book of Elves, since they were given so many other bonuses. Another way they've reined-in powerful races in the past were with level maximums, but since BG doesn't use those, demihumans are even more powerful than intended.
Comments
Actually, that does bring up another thing. Why not just create a Planetouched race, with those subraces then? Like the prime four elemental Genasi, and then Tiefling and Aasimar?
http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~leirbakk/rpg/adnd/races/adnd_races_planescaperaceslist.html
Actually, reading over that page some more. I DID find the thing I was thinking of when I referred to the experience penalty. It's a LEVEL restriction, it turns out. See on that page where it mentions that Tieflings and Aasimar (and others such as Genasi) cannot exceed a certain level in each class at a time.
As for Genasi themselves.. they basically are the same as Tieflings and Aasimar, with their otherworldly parentage, only instead of the Outer Planes it's the Inner Planes. Some are born through the union of an elemental and a mortal outright, or some have a grandparent or further-back ancestor. Some are even the result of a pregnant female spending too much time in the Elemental Planes and as a result the plane has 'affected' the offspring.
The most commonly known, of course, are the Prime Elementals (Fire, Earth, Air, Water), but there's also the ones for the Quasi/Para-Elemental Planes too:
http://users.erols.com/aburner/planescape/
It is a neat idea though...
As the drow problem, an aasimar would need a rewrite of the content, they don't have a direct impact on the main story at least (as the drows) but to simply put them for a power build upgrade would be too lame. The problem with AD&D is that non-human races normally tend to be a lot better than humans, unlike 3e, where special races have the level adjustment and humans have thousands of feats to balance them.
I must confess that i would love the aasimar option, also an tiefling option and a cambion option (if they're just the devils half-breed counterpart as i think), but what i want from baldur's gate is lore, roleplay and storylines, not overpowered characters, the old BG has enough mods that already do that.
If possible based on the copyrights assignment, an adaptation on bhaalspawn saga that make exotic races receptible on the game would be awersome. Otherwise, let the races as they are atm, cos the modders surelly gonna take care of this and they're not binded by any copyright assignment.
And honestly, I don't think that people are going to know what an Aasimar is. They might assume they are just half elven (provided they don't have green skin or something like that), but it isn't the kind of thing that is going to be noticeable from a distance like being a Drow is. And even then, the reaction might be "What the hell are you?" Rather than "It's a monster, kill it!"
more race options are always nice.
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/71086/#Comment_71086
Here are the original reddit posts:
http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/z1af7/we_are_overhaul_games_the_team_behind_baldurs/c60q4bn
http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/z1af7/we_are_overhaul_games_the_team_behind_baldurs/c60pncv
Sub-races are a strong possibility. We already had them in IWD2. I'd imagine they'd be relatively easy to code (compared to something like overhauling the GUI) and would be an incredible addition to the game.