Given that Arial shapeshifters have the option of choosing the 'water focus' for themselves (even though there are IC arguments against this), am I right in assuming that Felar are not given this choice because a Gnome-like HP on 4th tier water forms would be a bit too powerful in the hands of a character that can freely choose between every alignment?

I've often wondered about this.

We just didn't think it fit their motif.

You felt it would fit the motif of Arials nonetheless. Somewhat puzzling.

Arials avoid water because it ruins their ability to fly until their wings dry out. Felar have a hard-wired aversion to water in their little cat brains. So arials in a water form don't worry about their wings getting wet. Felar, no matter what the form are still afraid of water.

I suppose that is one way of looking at it.

We didn't have the idea of foci restricted by race when arial shifters came in, which is to say, when shifting period came in.

Felar were something we did down the line, and it's easier to restrict something new than to retrofit something existing.

Thanks for the clarification. Always did wonder about this.

In an RP sense, I always looked at it as there being a LOT different between the felar and arial races despite sharing hydrophobia.

Arial have a long history of being mages (or having mages among their race). They're relatively smart.

Conversely, felar have more of a history of distrusting magic and being half-assed mages (e.g., anti-paladin, spell-using ranger) at best. They're also a lot closer to their instincts / animal side as a race (see: feral growl, pack sense).

Given these things, arials turning into an animal very antithetical to its nature "feels" more right to me than a felar doing so.

Just a player's love for his Felar shifters that was speaking.

I think felars should be able to be air forms. I completely understand the water argument, and I agree with it. But cats like to jump, and they love heights...just ask mine at home. I think they should be able to pick the air foci.

Your thoughts Nep?

Min

I like felar shifters with the niche they have right now.

But that's just me.