D&D General How To Reconcile the Settings

[Son of the Serpent]

I dunno, if people are overly sensitive about it, I think that's more their problem than mine.

100% yes. Its their problem. They will simply not be asked to play. Best way to keep people from being a problem in your life? Ignore them. Thats what i do.

 

[Arnwolf666]

I can’t believe how long it has been since planescape was published. I use it so much. I most reference a few tables these days and do my own thing. I would kill to see this setting updated but with more advanced technology, at least on mechanus with the modron.

 

[cbwjm]

If I remember correctly. The way tieflings were originally presented their fiendish heritage was back so many generations that they didn’t even know what type of fiend it came from. I may be wrong on that. But I think most did not know what species of fiend they came from.

I recall the planewalker's handbook had a table with all kinds of different characteristics to create a tiefling with random looks and even special abilities. Depending on what you rolled, there might be some clues as to your lineage but otherwise, who knows where they came from. I think having a random table for appearances and the ability to replace the tiefling magic ability would go a long way to bringing back the classic 2e tiefling.

 

[Arnwolf666]

I recall the planewalker's handbook had a table with all kinds of different characteristics to create a tiefling with random looks and even special abilities. Depending on what you rolled, there might be some clues as to your lineage but otherwise, who knows where they came from. I think having a random table for appearances and the ability to replace the tiefling magic ability would go a long way to bringing back the classic 2e tiefling.

That is one of the table we still use in my home games.

 

[generic]

Planescape Tieflings really are the best kind of Tieflings, aren't they?

 

[PsyzhranV2]

I dunno, if people are overly sensitive about it, I think that's more their problem than mine.

100% yes. Its their problem. They will simply not be asked to play. Best way to keep people from being a problem in your life? Ignore them. Thats what i do.

Oh yes, because using orcs as a stand-in for the nebulous, faceless, subhuman hordes that are threatening to tear down the foundations of civilizations of the "good peoples" is oh so original. It's never them minding their own business while the "good peoples" with their industry and their manifest destiny can't leave well enough alone; nope, gotta get'em rapacious hordes! It's not like that stereotype wasn't born out of hateful assumptions about the real world, is it?

 

[Arnwolf666]

Planescape Tieflings really are the best kind of Tieflings, aren't they?

I love planescape so much how could I possible say no.

 

[generic]

I love planescape so much how could I possible say no.

They had so much more flavor, better fluff, and a better backstory.

 

[PsyzhranV2]

Planescape Tieflings really are the best kind of Tieflings, aren't they?

They're all well and good, but unfortunately the lack of a uniform appearance hurts their recongizability, and since the bean counters at WotC have latched onto them as part of their brand identity, out come the megahorns!

It's easy enough to handwave that they look differently at the table, and the distinctive appearance of 4e tieflings has engendered them to the younger demographic. But it's both a blessing and a curse.

 

[generic]

They're all well and good, but unfortunately the lack of a uniform appearance hurts their recongizability, and since the bean counters at WotC have latched onto them as part of their brand identity, out come the megahorns!

It's easy enough to handwave that they look differently at the table, and the distinctive appearance of 4e tieflings has engendered them to the younger demographic. But it's both a blessing and a curse.

Agreed. Alas, the giant horns have become so iconic.