Candlekeep Forum
Candlekeep Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Active Polls | Members | Private Messages | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Forgotten Realms Products
 D&D Core Products
 UA 12-7-15: Tieflings Infernal vs Abyssal
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

moonbeast
Senior Scribe

USA
522 Posts

Posted - 08 Dec 2015 :  07:08:44  Show Profile Send moonbeast a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
So I just spotted the newly released Unearthed Arcana from WOTC's website. Granted, these are not considered "standard rules" but rather are released as optional variant rules (which according to them might end up becoming official rules in future supplements).

This UA actually caught my attention… as I always wondered why Tieflings had to be limited to an "infernal" (progeny of Asmodeus) origin. Of course, it was explained as a game lore thing, so I'm not arguing, but simply wondering.

But since there are tons of Abyssals/Demons that would take human-form and interbreed with humans…. it always made sense that an Abyssal counterpart of Tieflings would be rampant in the Prime Material. Take for example the ancient existence of the Succubi and Incubi. And then you have the infamous Graz'zt, who has likely spawned legions of human-demon-spawn upon the Prime Material for centuries. Graz'zt alone could be the grandfather or great-great grandfather of thousands of Abyssal Tieflings alone. How many human women has he seduced over the centuries? Probably lost count.

I'm not sure how these Abyssal Tieflings would fit canonically into Realms canon (most likely not) In any case, I think that splitting up Tieflings into Infernal + Abyssal variants is a great idea. It's certainly a good optional rule for DMs that use their own home-brew setting.

The PDF link is here:

https://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/07_UA_That_Old_Black_Magic.pdf

WotC Article is here:

http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/old-black-magic

xaeyruudh
Master of Realmslore

USA
1853 Posts

Posted - 08 Dec 2015 :  11:19:23  Show Profile  Visit xaeyruudh's Homepage Send xaeyruudh a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by moonbeast

I always wondered why Tieflings had to be limited to an "infernal" (progeny of Asmodeus) origin.


This only came about in 4e. In 2e and 3e, "tiefling" covered all lower-planar ancestries, including baatezu, tanar'ri, yugoloths, demodands, and whatever else.

I'd like to see a return to that. Alternatively, tieflings can remain the descendants of devils/baatezu, and we get new creature names+descriptions for descendants of other LE outsiders, and all the NE and CE outsiders. It's ridiculous to think that only devils have these offspring, or that Asmodeus determines the physical features of a demon's offspring.

Edited by - xaeyruudh on 08 Dec 2015 11:19:54
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Candlekeep Forum © 1999-2024 Candlekeep.com Go To Top Of Page
Snitz Forums 2000