Editing Githzerai (section)

==Statblocks==
Whilst githzerai have never achieved the same popularity as the [[tiefling]]s (lucky bastards), they've at least done better for themselves than the [[bariaur]], having managed to appear in every edition since AD&D.

===Advanced Dungeons & Dragons===
Githzerai first appeared in the Planescape boxed set, specifically on page 12 of "A Player's Guide to the Planes", the player's section of the boxed set. They were reprinted in The Planewalker's Handbook, and also made an appearance in Player's Options: Skills & Powers.

::+1 Intelligence, +1 Dexterity, -1 Strength, -1 Wisdom (PO:S&P instead presents them as having no racial ability adjustments)
::Infravision 60 feet
::Alignment Restriction: Cannot be Lawful
::Class & Level Limits: [[Fighter]] (9), [[Wizard]] (12), [[Rogue|Thief]] (15), [[Gish|Fighter/Mage]] (9/12)
::Magic Resistance: Githzerai Fighters and Thieves have Magic Resistance 5% per level (maximum 95%); this power cannot be suppressed, and the first time a githzerai attempts to use an item, make a Magic Resistance check; if succeeded, then that item's magic will '''never''' function for that githzerai as a result. Githyanki wizards do not have magic resistance, and fighter/wizards must choose whether or not they have it.

===3rd Edition===
Githzerai first appeared in 3.0's [[Psionics Handbook]] as a strictly NPC race, then reappeared in the [[Manual of the Planes]] with the same stat block and a shiny new level adjustment and favored class, which was WotC's way of saying that if we wanted to play as one, [[you can certainly try|we could certainly try]]. They received a full PC stat block with automatic and bonus languages in 3.5's Monster Manual I, then reappeared in the [[Expanded Psionics Handbook]]. Finally, they were adapted into a monster class in [[Complete Psionic]]. 

For their 3.5e writeup, Githzerai were presented as having the following stats:
::+6 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom, -2 Intelligence
::Medium
::Base Land Speed 30 feet
::Darkvision 60 feet
::Naturally Psionic: Increase Psionic Power Points Pool by +2 Psi Points.
::Psi-Like Abilities: A githzerai can use the psi-like abilities of ''Inertial Armor'', ''Psionic Daze'', ''Catfall'' and ''Concussion'', all 3/day. At 11th level, they can also use ''Psionic Plane Shift'' 1/day. Manifester level is equal to 1/2 Hit Dice (minimum 1st) and save DCs are Charisma based.
::Power Resistance: Hit Dice +5
::[[Favored Class]]: [[Monk]]
::[[Level Adjustment]]: +2

===4th Edition===
4th edition actually gave Githzerai not one, but ''two'' statblocks; the first, an immediate stop-gap, appeared alongside the githyanki in the Monster Manual 1, where it looked like this:
::Ability Scores: +2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom
::Size: Medium
::Speed: 6 Squares
::Vision: Normal
::Skill Bonuses: +2 Acrobatics, +2 Athletics
::Danger Sense: +2 to Initiative checks.
::Racial Power - Iron Mind: Usable 1/encounter, when you would be hit by an attack, you can increase all of your defenses by +2 until the end of your next turn as an Immediate Interrupt.

Then, when the Player's Handbook 3 came along and [[psionics]] were formally introduced to D&D 4e, githzerai took pride of place as the traditional and iconic psionic race. Surprisingly, this second version of their statblock was all but identical to their original version, but with some tweaks that made the 'zerai even stronger than they had been.
::Ability Scores: +2 Dexterity or Intelligence, +2 Wisdom
::Size: Medium
::Speed: 6 Squares
::Vision: Normal
::Skill Bonuses: +2 Acrobatics, +2 Athletics
::Danger Sense: +2 to Initiative checks.
::Defended Mind: +2 racial bonus to saving throws against effects that daze, dominate or stun.
::Shifting Fortune: When you use your Second Wind, you can shift 3 squares as a free action.
::Racial Power - Iron Mind: Usable 1/encounter, when you would be hit by an attack, you can increase all of your defenses by +2 until the end of your next turn as an Immediate Interrupt.

The 4e PHB 3 also gave githzerai a racial paragon path in the form of the Rrathmal, based on the traditional leaders of the githzerai rrakkmas, or elite trouble-shooting bands dedicated to hunting illithids and other enemies of the githzerai people.

They have a dedicated article (and a preview of the PHB3 PC statblock) in [[Dragon Magazine]] #378, which is titled "Playing Githzerai". Two of the biggest lore tweaks about githzerai in the [[World Axis]] is that it establishes that there ''are'' communities of githzerai in the mortal world (which makes them a lot easier to incorporate into a non-planar campaign), and also that, whilst the githzerai tend to be leery of gods, there are some who worship the [[Primal Spirits]], either singularly or by incorporating them into their various [[psionics]]-based spiritual systems.

===5th Edition===
In 5th edition, githzerai resurfaced in the September 2017 issue of [[Unearthed Arcana]], with results that were... different to what'd come before, but technically also more of the same.  The accompanying video spends a tiny amount of time talking about the entire gith race compared to the labor of love that was the [[eladrin]], and included an admission that they're basically throwing together something uninspired because people keep asking them about it rather than out of any actual creative passion for the project.  You know, same reason the [[dragonborn]] sucks?  Hell, they couldn't even be bothered to write up a paragraph of racial fluff for them, instead putting a big ol' "See ''Monster Manual'' for details" right in the text.  

Anyway, like the dragonborn, they're not ''bad'', but they're (arguably) underpowered in comparison to most other PC options, including, weirdly, their much less PC-friendly cousins:
::+2 Wisdom, +1 Intelligence
::Medium
::Speed 30 feet
::Vision: Normal
::Monastic Training: When you are NOT using a shield AND are NOT wearing Medium or Heavy Armor, increase your AC by +1.
::Githzerai Psionics: Mage Hand at-will, Shield 1/day at 3rd level, Detect Thoughts 1/day at 5th level, all keying off of Wisdom.

Gith PCs were used in a teaser adventure previewing ''Mordekainen's Tome of Foes'', letting fans get an early look at the official version. Githzerai changed the most, swapping the Monastic Training feature for the new Mental Discipline feature, which gives them Advantage to saves against the Charm and Fear conditions. ''Mordekainen's Monsters of the Multiverse'' would give them a rewrite, providing the generic +2/+1 to two stats/+1 to three stats made standard by recent books and replacing their AC boost with both resistance to psychic damage and advantage to all saves against the Charmed or Frightened condition.