Hexmage-EN
Legend
Demons and Devils are some of the most popular foes in D&D. These two factions seek to enact wicked plans in the Multiverse under the leadership of Archdevils and Demon Lords. The two groups of fiends butt heads in the endless Blood War, an altercation that also involves an obscure third group of fiends: the Yugoloths.
The Yugoloths were first known as the Daemons but, along with Demons and Devils, received a name change as a means to defend against bad press during the Satanic Panic of the 80's. Though the Demons and Devils eventually reclaimed their original names, the Daemons retained the Yugoloth identity. It was during this time that the Yugoloths also became known as mercenaries in the Blood War between Demons and Devils.
Little attention was paid towards Yugoloths in 3E, and 4E went so far as to fold them in with Demons (save for the Arcanaloths, which were given the name Raavasta). 5E made the Yugoloths distinct again, but also changed their lore to have been created by Night Hags at the request of Asmodeus only for them to have eventually become mercenaries for both sides of the Blood War.
The most recent 5E publication, Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, opens with a message from the most famous of the Yugoloths, the Arcanaloth known as Shemeska the Marauder. Several Yugoloths are also statted-up in the book, and their role in the Blood War is mentioned. However, the book also devotes much, much more space to detailing Demons and Devils than it does their hired mercenaries, and the Yugoloth leaders are omitted in favor of Archdevils and Demon Lords.
With all this in mind I ask if there's really much of a point to the Yugoloths, at least as they are presented. Why are the Neutral Evil fiends just mercenaries in a certain conflict for the more popular and well-known Demons and Devils? Even the now independent Succubi at least have a reason to interact with PCs independent of Demons and Devils, but Yugoloths have little identity beyond their role in the Blood War.
Personally I feel like the Sorrowsworn detailed in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes fit better as a Neutral Evil race of fiends. They are embodiments of pointless suffering, which, in my opinion, feels more appropriate to the alignment than a group that is just a third-wheel in the Blood War.
Thoughts?
The Yugoloths were first known as the Daemons but, along with Demons and Devils, received a name change as a means to defend against bad press during the Satanic Panic of the 80's. Though the Demons and Devils eventually reclaimed their original names, the Daemons retained the Yugoloth identity. It was during this time that the Yugoloths also became known as mercenaries in the Blood War between Demons and Devils.
Little attention was paid towards Yugoloths in 3E, and 4E went so far as to fold them in with Demons (save for the Arcanaloths, which were given the name Raavasta). 5E made the Yugoloths distinct again, but also changed their lore to have been created by Night Hags at the request of Asmodeus only for them to have eventually become mercenaries for both sides of the Blood War.
The most recent 5E publication, Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, opens with a message from the most famous of the Yugoloths, the Arcanaloth known as Shemeska the Marauder. Several Yugoloths are also statted-up in the book, and their role in the Blood War is mentioned. However, the book also devotes much, much more space to detailing Demons and Devils than it does their hired mercenaries, and the Yugoloth leaders are omitted in favor of Archdevils and Demon Lords.
With all this in mind I ask if there's really much of a point to the Yugoloths, at least as they are presented. Why are the Neutral Evil fiends just mercenaries in a certain conflict for the more popular and well-known Demons and Devils? Even the now independent Succubi at least have a reason to interact with PCs independent of Demons and Devils, but Yugoloths have little identity beyond their role in the Blood War.
Personally I feel like the Sorrowsworn detailed in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes fit better as a Neutral Evil race of fiends. They are embodiments of pointless suffering, which, in my opinion, feels more appropriate to the alignment than a group that is just a third-wheel in the Blood War.
Thoughts?