D&D General The Evolution of Tieflings in D&D: Interviews with Zeb Cook and Colin McComb

lowkey13 · Jul 9, 2019

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lowkey13 · Jul 9, 2019

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doctorbadwolf · Jul 10, 2019

lowkey13 said:
Well, I mean, sure. But just because something feels good, doesn't mean you should do it.

Because otherwise, I'd be all naked driving a scooter and eating a tub of raw cookie dough.

The very nature of civilization depends on keeping up some small level of appearances, man! It's why you don't order a drink with an umbrella.

But I like those drinks. They taste good, and frivolity is good for you! Embrace the frivolity!

Play at a half-Gnome tiefling Paladin/Hexblade with a magic singing rapier! Or two! They can harmonize!

ThePlanarDM · Jul 10, 2019

lowkey13 said:
Anyway, I should also say that @ThePlanarDM did some excellent work, especially in getting responses from the individuals involved.

It's always great to see someone putting in the legwork instead of just speculating!

Thanks, this took a lot of time and is not the type of article I'll be able to write often. I was struck by how helpful and responsive everyone I contacted was. I coldcall contacted Colin and Zeb on Twitter and Facebook, then sent them questions, and they gave so much of their time to help a random blogger. Plus the artists (and Anna, creator of Judge on The Chain of Acheron) were equally helpful.

Really gave me positive vibes about the DND community.

lowkey13 · Jul 10, 2019

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Ralif Redhammer · Jul 10, 2019

As a Goth of old, few things will get me grinding my teeth like the mention of Hot Topic. The fungal-like growth of Hot Topic in the 1990s directly impacted and lead to the closure of many independent clothing shops. It also contributed to increased homogenization of the goth scenes throughout the country. I could go on at length about its evils…

But, back to the subject at hand, now that I think about it, I can’t say I’ve seen that many other Tieflings in play. There’s one in my home group. But zero have come through my open table, and I think I’ve encountered no more than single digits worth at con AL games. Weird. I still dig them.

lowkey13 said:
Sure, I could say, "Tieflings, when you can't even be bothered to hide your love of Hot Topic," but that would be mean, right?

EthanSental · Jul 10, 2019

That 2e DeTerlizzi art has not grown well on me...thought it was a bad Jim Henson dark crystal influenced style back in 2e and even now I cringe most time I see any of it....and think man I’m glad they did it use him much past it. To each their own though

tiefling related - never was excited enough to play one and no one in our 30+ year group has either.

LuisCarlos17f · Jul 10, 2019

Isn't it curious? I would rather the aasimars. In my setting they are "ugly little duckling with a pretty face". I mean they are unpopular between the rest of humanoids because they suffer the syndrome of tall poppies.

I guess some "evil-like" PC races are popular because they are wearing Halloween costumes or clothings of urban tribes of "bad guys".

Kobold Avenger · Jul 10, 2019

I feel that the Aasimar and Tiefling dichotomy is an example of a "model minority" group vs a marginalized minority group. I may belong to a "model minority" group in North America, but I certainly find role-playing ones in the other category of minority groups more appealing.

Though I admit some of the appeal of Tieflings might be me liking bands like NIN, Rammstein, Ministry and Marilyn Manson back in the 90s, before getting into bands like Slayer, Pantera, Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir to the tastes I have now.

Aaron L · Jul 10, 2019

I really liked the original Tieflings, people with some distant fiendish ancestor that gave them random deformations and dark powers... it fits with a medieval magical mentality, that being born with a deformity is a sign of having a tainted ancestry. I even love the name; from Teufel, the German word for Devil (they're Devilings.) But I cannot stand how they wrecked them in 4E, into a race of uniform devilmen (Devilmans?) with red skin and tails and ram horns and a unified culture. It's way too blatant and tacky, and it defeats the purpose of the race; an entire race of "misunderstood outsiders" is pretty ridiculous. All I can think is that Tieflings were turned into "More Drow than Drow."