After a lengthy conversation with my DM, I've found out that their aquatic citizens are all sirens, and have pitched the idea to them about how the stats/balance for the half race would be.
These are the stats they had for the Sirens they've been using.
Sirens Age: Sirens are considered ageless past reaching maturity at age 50 Ability Score Increase: +2 CHA +1 DEX Alignment: Sirens are usually on the neutral spectrum, but can be good or evil, depending on the individual Size: Medium to large, depending on age, as their tails grow as they age. Speed: Sirens are immobile on land, unless shapeshifted into humanoid form. In this case, their base walking speed is 30. In water, their base speed is 45 Darkvision: Due to being accustomed to the depths, a Siren has 60ft of darkvision Water Magic: A Siren inherently knows the "Control Water" spell Siren's call: A Siren has advantage on all CHA checks, and knows the "Charm Person" and "Minor Illusion" spells Languages: Aquan, Common and 2 more languages of your choice.
I've been looking at the book for a couple of hours, and I think I've got a decent start for a Half-Siren race, ready for critique.
This would be for the purpose of Human, Half-elf, or Elf half-sirens. -Remove one point from CHA bonus, add to DEX, and one additional point in any stat. Since Humans get 1 point to each stat, half elves get 2 free points, and Elves get Dex and a choice of Int, Wis, or Cha for their second bonus. -Size down to medium, since they don't have the tails. -Speed 30, with underwater speed cut to 30, since no tails. -No 'control water' spell. -Change "Advantage on all CHA checks" to "Proficiency in persuasion" and free 'Dancing Lights' cantrip. -Common, Aquan/Primordial (Depending on version/campaign), and 1 free, non-secret language, down from two.
Final product would end up something like this.
Half-Siren Age: -tbd- Ability Score Increases: +2 Dex, +1 Cha, +1 any Size: Medium Speed: 30ft, 30swim. Darkvision: 60ft Siren Blood: Dancing Lights, Minor Illusion, Charm Person (Once per long rest), Proficiency in Persuasion Languages: Aquan/Primordial, Common, and 1 non-secret language of your choice.
Any ideas welcome. Just want to make sure it's balanced before I list it in homebrew.
I reckon leave the size at medium even with a very long tail (imagine it is coiled up most of the time); large size for a PC race is a bit of a hassle.
Give the Siren an ability to change form using an action, only effect of the different forms is RP appearance and speeds: Aquatic form, walking 10 / swim 45; Humanoid form, walking 30 / swim 30.
Control Water is a powerful spell for free. Consider restricting it until a higher level and just once a day like the Drow magic, or swap for Shape Water cantrip.
Spells, specify they know the cantrip, and can cast Charm Person once per day with the trait. Add "Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells".
Then add the Amphibious trait to breathe water and Bob's your uncle.
I reckon leave the size at medium even with a very long tail (imagine it is coiled up most of the time); large size for a PC race is a bit of a hassle.
Give the Siren an ability to change form using an action, only effect of the different forms is RP appearance and speeds: Aquatic form, walking 10 / swim 45; Humanoid form, walking 30 / swim 30.
Control Water is a powerful spell for free. Consider restricting it until a higher level and just once a day like the Drow magic, or swap for Shape Water cantrip.
Spells, specify they know the cantrip, and can cast Charm Person once per day with the trait. Add "Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells".
Then add the Amphibious trait to breathe water and Bob's your uncle.
Yeah, medium is good. The standard size. Good point on the transformation. It can stay an at-will thing so no armor is ruined, or unwanted transformations from heavy rainfall or falling into water. That or a different siren aspect.
I'm not seeing a Shape Water spell in the 5e book. I see a Misty Step, but a free 30 foot teleport seems much different than water control. Forgot the Amphibious trait, thank you.
Half-Siren Age: -tbd- Ability Score Increases: +2 Dex, +1 Cha, +1 any Size: Medium Speed: 30ft, 30swim.
Darkvision: Thanks to your siren parentage, you have superior vision in the dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Siren Blood: You know the Dancing Lights and Minor Illusion cantrips. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Charm Person spell as a 1st-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these.
Alluring Voice: You gain proficiency in Persuasion and have advantage on saving throws against being charmed.
Amphibious: You can breathe air and water.
Languages: Aquan/Primordial, Common, and 1 non-secret language of your choice.
After a lengthy conversation with my DM, I've found out that their aquatic citizens are all sirens, and have pitched the idea to them about how the stats/balance for the half race would be.
These are the stats they had for the Sirens they've been using.
Sirens
Age: Sirens are considered ageless past reaching maturity at age 50
Ability Score Increase: +2 CHA +1 DEX
Alignment: Sirens are usually on the neutral spectrum, but can be good or evil, depending on the individual
Size: Medium to large, depending on age, as their tails grow as they age.
Speed: Sirens are immobile on land, unless shapeshifted into humanoid form. In this case, their base walking speed is 30. In water, their base speed is 45
Darkvision: Due to being accustomed to the depths, a Siren has 60ft of darkvision
Water Magic: A Siren inherently knows the "Control Water" spell
Siren's call: A Siren has advantage on all CHA checks, and knows the "Charm Person" and "Minor Illusion" spells
Languages: Aquan, Common and 2 more languages of your choice.
I've been looking at the book for a couple of hours, and I think I've got a decent start for a Half-Siren race, ready for critique.
This would be for the purpose of Human, Half-elf, or Elf half-sirens.
-Remove one point from CHA bonus, add to DEX, and one additional point in any stat. Since Humans get 1 point to each stat, half elves get 2 free points, and Elves get Dex and a choice of Int, Wis, or Cha for their second bonus.
-Size down to medium, since they don't have the tails.
-Speed 30, with underwater speed cut to 30, since no tails.
-No 'control water' spell.
-Change "Advantage on all CHA checks" to "Proficiency in persuasion" and free 'Dancing Lights' cantrip.
-Common, Aquan/Primordial (Depending on version/campaign), and 1 free, non-secret language, down from two.
Final product would end up something like this.
Half-Siren
Age: -tbd-
Ability Score Increases: +2 Dex, +1 Cha, +1 any
Size: Medium Speed: 30ft, 30swim.
Darkvision: 60ft
Siren Blood: Dancing Lights, Minor Illusion, Charm Person (Once per long rest), Proficiency in Persuasion
Languages: Aquan/Primordial, Common, and 1 non-secret language of your choice.
Any ideas welcome. Just want to make sure it's balanced before I list it in homebrew.
I reckon leave the size at medium even with a very long tail (imagine it is coiled up most of the time); large size for a PC race is a bit of a hassle.
Give the Siren an ability to change form using an action, only effect of the different forms is RP appearance and speeds: Aquatic form, walking 10 / swim 45; Humanoid form, walking 30 / swim 30.
Control Water is a powerful spell for free. Consider restricting it until a higher level and just once a day like the Drow magic, or swap for Shape Water cantrip.
Spells, specify they know the cantrip, and can cast Charm Person once per day with the trait. Add "Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells".
Then add the Amphibious trait to breathe water and Bob's your uncle.
Good point on the transformation. It can stay an at-will thing so no armor is ruined, or unwanted transformations from heavy rainfall or falling into water. That or a different siren aspect.
Forgot the Amphibious trait, thank you.
Half-Siren
Age: -tbd-
Ability Score Increases: +2 Dex, +1 Cha, +1 any
Size: Medium
Speed: 30ft, 30swim.
Darkvision: Thanks to your siren parentage, you have superior vision in the dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Siren Blood: You know the Dancing Lights and Minor Illusion cantrips. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Charm Person spell as a 1st-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these.
Alluring Voice: You gain proficiency in Persuasion and have advantage on saving throws against being charmed.
Amphibious: You can breathe air and water.
Languages: Aquan/Primordial, Common, and 1 non-secret language of your choice.
Shape Water, it's a cantrip from Elemental Evil, which should be freely available on this site.
I reckon replace the lights. Shape Water is a pretty useless cantrip, but more thematic I think.