Genasi and szuldar

[Tandria]

Hello hello!

I've been doing lots of research on genasi lately, and came across the 4e term "szuldar". Essentially:

Regardless of their elemental manifestation, each genasi’s body was etched with strange lines of energy that glowed in a color associated with the element that the genasi was currently manifesting. These lines, called szuldar in Primordial, appeared in a pattern that was passed along family lines, sometimes extending into small communities as well.
...
Many genasi, especially adventurers, displayed these lines with pride, often wearing clothing that left a fair amount of skin exposed.

- Forgotten Realms wiki on szuldar

I've seen szuldar mentioned a couple of times IC, but the genasi in 4e seem to be a little more elementally charged, let's say, than the ones in 3.5e, which are typically more on the human side of the genasi spectrum.

The helpfiles in FK seem to lean more toward the 3.5e definition of a genasi. I've seen some IC genasi which seem to be more of the 4th ed, which I'm not judging or disparaging in any way.

I guess my questions here are:
- should all genasi in FK possess szuldar?
- is it up to the individual RPer whether they want their genasi to slant more toward 3.5e or 4e?
- are genasi more of a "fluid" race type in FK than they are in D&D? (I'm aware that FK differentiates itself from canon significantly, so this would make sense to me)
- can players decide which aspects of genasi they like from various editions and use those? (for instance, szuldar from 4e, but more human qualities from 2.5e)

So far, it seems like individuals can decide what they want, but I wouldn't mind seeing a little discussion surrounding it! I have no problem either way, I'd just like a little clarification, before delving into an RP and writing a character description that might leave IC questions that can't really be answered IC.

[Hrosskell]

I like the idea of being able to use the trait. I don't think genasi ever got the functional bang for buck that aasimar and tiefling got, so a little lee-way in how they can be portrayed or RP'd definitely seems to spice things up.

[Casamir]

Genasi are such a beautiful and wondrous race, although I use the term 'race' loosely. There is such a diversity in elements and ancestors, no two should ever really look alike. Third edition has that over fourth edition in not turning them all into genie-descended look-alikes. Any human with some form of 1/8th elemental blood counts as a genasi. There is no real singular canonical type of genasi. There are some types however which are more populous in Faerun than others - Efreet and Djinn descendants in Calimshan would be a common/numerous example.

I would like to see the neon racing stripes from Tron (I mean Szuldar) implemented though in some form of elemental bloodline feats, similar to those set out for aasimar and tiefs.

[Rhangalas]

Eh, I think they should have szuldar. Those are essentially the power-lines that they use to manifest their element(s). I think the main focus for genasi should be giving them their racial abilities, a choice in appearance does not cover the cost in my opinion.

For added effect, you could add a feat tree for genasi so they can have the choice of learning to manifest multiple elements or with the right requisites, be an elemental tempest.

[Tandria]

Eh, I think they should have szuldar. Those are essentially the power-lines that they use to manifest their element(s). I think the main focus for genasi should be giving them their racial abilities, a choice in appearance does not cover the cost in my opinion.

For added effect, you could add a feat tree for genasi so they can have the choice of learning to manifest multiple elements or with the right requisites, be an elemental tempest.

I realise your point, but my discussion was meant to be from an RP perspective, not a code perspective. It would be great if some racial traits for genasi were coded in as feats. Might be a good one for the suggestions sub-forum.

EDIT: It seems there already is a suggestion for it. Check out this thread. Some recent posts made, too.

[Harroghty]

In general, a well-thought out application for special RP is a good way to get anything started. Special RP which confers no coded benefits or privilege (and jibes with the setting) is usually an easy "yes" from the Applications team, especially if it is submitted with a lot of background and cited sources. Would that we had more applications like that.