I'd like to pose a question. I have recently finished my new air genasi blood hunter but a single thing has caught my eye: the trait called unending breath. I got to thinking about the implications and uses of this and I thought, could it be used to help with stealth checks? as if you don't breath, you don't move as much and so you are harder to spot. Would this be up to the dm to put in to place too?
I'd like to pose a question. I have recently finished my new air genasi blood hunter but a single thing has caught my eye: the trait called unending breath. I got to thinking about the implications and uses of this and I thought, could it be used to help with stealth checks? as if you don't breath, you don't move as much and so you are harder to spot. Would this be up to the dm to put in to place too?
This would be up to the DM to invent something but to be honest "Stealth" already means you factor all variables of the environment, training, etc for keeping yourself quiet and unseen. Keeping breath shallow and holding breath serves little difference in terms of movement unless the person you're hiding from is very close and you're in a very quiet environment. Otherwise, normal stealth check pretty much covers all your bases. I see no reason to implement anything further. The trait is powerful as it is - you can't be put to sleep by choke hold, can walk through poison clouds, remain underwater indefinitely and so on. Gaining some advantage or bonus to stealth for something that in real life makes very little difference seems a bit odd to me. But then I'm not your DM so talk to them about it and if they agree with you they can come up with something.
I agree, that’s a powerful feature by itself. Although it’s also limited because you can’t talk or cast spells while you’re holding your breath.
True but there are ways around these. Of the 274 official spells in D&D, 8 can be cast without needing verbal components. Subtle Metamagic of a Sorcerer can also let you cast any spell without verbal or somatic components. Telepathy via abilities, items or spells can bypass the no-talking. So, there are ways. But still, yes it does limit you and it rightfully should but even with such limitation it's a very useful racial trait but not one I would, personally, think gives aid to stealth. If you want stealth as a Genasi go Earth Genasi, their racial trait is once per day Pass Without Trace which is a +10 bonus to stealth.
Thanks for both of you for responding. I’d have to ask my dm but I now realise that it wouldn’t give advantages in all scenarios but in certain scenarios I could see it taking off a disadvantage from being in a quiet environment or near an enemy as you’ve stated. Also my character is an air genasi because I’m a blood hunter with the rite of the storm and it kinda makes sense.
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I'd like to pose a question. I have recently finished my new air genasi blood hunter but a single thing has caught my eye: the trait called unending breath. I got to thinking about the implications and uses of this and I thought, could it be used to help with stealth checks? as if you don't breath, you don't move as much and so you are harder to spot. Would this be up to the dm to put in to place too?
This would be up to the DM to invent something but to be honest "Stealth" already means you factor all variables of the environment, training, etc for keeping yourself quiet and unseen. Keeping breath shallow and holding breath serves little difference in terms of movement unless the person you're hiding from is very close and you're in a very quiet environment. Otherwise, normal stealth check pretty much covers all your bases. I see no reason to implement anything further. The trait is powerful as it is - you can't be put to sleep by choke hold, can walk through poison clouds, remain underwater indefinitely and so on. Gaining some advantage or bonus to stealth for something that in real life makes very little difference seems a bit odd to me. But then I'm not your DM so talk to them about it and if they agree with you they can come up with something.
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I agree, that’s a powerful feature by itself. Although it’s also limited because you can’t talk or cast spells while you’re holding your breath.
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True but there are ways around these. Of the 274 official spells in D&D, 8 can be cast without needing verbal components. Subtle Metamagic of a Sorcerer can also let you cast any spell without verbal or somatic components. Telepathy via abilities, items or spells can bypass the no-talking. So, there are ways. But still, yes it does limit you and it rightfully should but even with such limitation it's a very useful racial trait but not one I would, personally, think gives aid to stealth. If you want stealth as a Genasi go Earth Genasi, their racial trait is once per day Pass Without Trace which is a +10 bonus to stealth.
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Spells | Magic Items | Feats
Need help with Homebrew? Check out this FAQ/Guide thread by IamSposta
See My Youtube Videos for Tips & Tricks using D&D Beyond
Thanks for both of you for responding. I’d have to ask my dm but I now realise that it wouldn’t give advantages in all scenarios but in certain scenarios I could see it taking off a disadvantage from being in a quiet environment or near an enemy as you’ve stated. Also my character is an air genasi because I’m a blood hunter with the rite of the storm and it kinda makes sense.