D&D (2024) All about Ardlings

[Kobold Avenger]

1D&D has three celestial legacies- Exalted, Heavenly and Idyllic for their new Ardling race. I would use these three legacies for the Aasimar instead. The Idyllic legacy should be for the those Aasimar who are the descendants of the Guardinals (In PF1, there's the Idyllkin Aasimar). The Heavenly legacy should be for those who are the descendants of the Archons (who are from the Seven Heavens ). And lastly, the Exalted legacy should be for those who are the descendants of the Angels.

The problem with the Aasimar in 5e is that they are too angel-centric. Which is strange because angels aren't the only kind of Celestial in 5e.

I think they're only starting to consider other Celestials because Planescape is on the way.

I think somewhere in 2e, the metallic/alchemy-themed Rilmani of the Outlands have also been considered as possible ancestors of some Aasimar. If they return in 5e they'd probably be of the Celestial creature type.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

1D&D has three celestial legacies- Exalted, Heavenly and Idyllic for their new Ardling race. I would use these three legacies for the Aasimar instead. The Idyllic legacy should be for the those Aasimar who are the descendants of the Guardinals (In PF1, there's the Idyllkin Aasimar). The Heavenly legacy should be for those who are the descendants of the Archons (who are from the Seven Heavens ). And lastly, the Exalted legacy should be for those who are the descendants of the Angels.

The problem with the Aasimar in 5e is that they are too angel-centric. Which is strange because angels aren't the only kind of Celestial in 5e.

Would this count as something more?

Along those lines, I might suggest splitting the Celestial language into Exalted, Heavenly and Idyllic, similar to WotC needing to drop the pretense with Primordial. (The only creature in the Monster Manual that speaks "Primordial" is the Night Hag, which suggests that even the company's designers don't think of it as a single language.)

 

[Malmuria]

Along those lines, I might suggest splitting the Celestial language into Exalted, Heavenly and Idyllic, similar to WotC needing to drop the pretense with Primordial. (The only creature in the Monster Manual that speaks "Primordial" is the Night Hag, which suggests that even the company's designers don't think of it as a single language.)

Elementals all speak types of primordial

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Elementals all speak types of primordial

"Types" of Primordial is a huge cop-out.

Either Primordial is a language, or it's an umbrella term for four different ones. Given that one monster speaks "Primordial," I don't think the designers really believe it's a single language.

What does "four dialects" of Primordial mean? Is it a dialect in the same way that Indians and Australians speak English, but with different accents and vocabularies? No one would say either group is not speaking English (obviously, there are hundreds of languages spoken in India; I'm just talking about Indian English).

And what benefit, except to a handful of PCs, is there in salamanders and dao theoretically speaking the same language?

 

[Yaarel]

"Types" of Primordial is a huge cop-out.

Either Primordial is a language, or it's an umbrella term for four different ones. Given that one monster speaks "Primordial," I don't think the designers really believe it's a single language.

What does "four dialects" of Primordial mean? Is it a dialect in the same way that Indians and Australians speak English, but with different accents and vocabularies? No one would say either group is not speaking English (obviously, there are hundreds of languages spoken in India; I'm just talking about Indian English).

Primordial can be a single language.

Each element can have its own recognizable "dialect", but be mutually intelligible.

And what benefit, except to a handful of PCs, is there in salamanders and dao theoretically speaking the same language?

Perhaps selecting a specific dialect of Primordial comes with an ancestry or background that exhibits affinity with a specific element.

 

[Yaarel]

I am less fond of the term "Idyllic", relating to NG, the Elysian plane, and ardlings.

How about "Paradisal" (or Paradisiac, Paradisaic, etcetera) relating to Paradise?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Primordial can be a single language.

Each element can have its own recognizable "dialect", but be mutually intelligible.

What makes it a dialect? An accent? A few distinct vocabulary words?

If Primordial is truly a language, why isn't anyone speaking it?

 

[Yaarel]

What makes it a dialect? An accent? A few distinct vocabulary words?

Yes. An accent (pronunciation) as well as occasionally divergent vocabulary. Also slight differences in grammar.

If Primordial is truly a language, why isn't anyone speaking it?

People should be speaking Primordial with elementals.

I propose Primordial is also the language of the True Neutral astral dominion, the Outlands.

Perhaps Primordial is even the trade language of Sigil.

The Outlands and the Elemental Chaos can be identical. Thus Sigil is actually in the Elemental Chaos.

 

[Parmandur]

So, sitting on this all a bit longer, I think thst I really like the Egyptian mythos vibe this option brings. The Aasamir, in addition to having an even sillier name, are frankly somewhat bland. Playing a Paladin who looks like Horua, a Cleric who looks like Isis, a Figher who looks like Ganesh? That's got style.

Also, weird realization: the new hybrid rules mean that the core rules would encourage any PC, of any Rave whatsoever, to be an anthropomorphic animal version. Dog headed Orcs, Rabbit headed Gnomes, Frog headed Halflings, etc...

 

[Corinnguard]

So, sitting on this all a bit longer, I think thst I really like the Egyptian mythos vibe this option brings. The Aasamir, in addition to having an even sillier name, are frankly somewhat bland. Playing a Paladin who looks like Horua, a Cleric who looks like Isis, a Figher who looks like Ganesh? That's got style.

Also, weird realization: the new hybrid rules mean that the core rules would encourage any PC, of any Rave whatsoever, to be an anthropomorphic animal version. Dog headed Orcs, Rabbit headed Gnomes, Frog headed Halflings, etc...

This is only one place on the entire continent of Faerun that is like Egypt, Mulhorand. So does this mean the Ardlings hail from there? It would make sense if they did. Then they could get a proper Mulhorandi name instead of what they have now as a placeholder.

I do agree with you on the Aasimar being bland in 5e. PF1 did a much better job of presenting them. But you could get a Paladin who looks like Horus by having an Aarakocra Paladin, and a Fighter who looks Ganesh by having a Loxodon Fighter.