Angels and petrification

[Cheiromancer]

Why are angels and archons immune to petrification?

I mean, they are commonly depicted in art, and that includes sculpture. Wouldn't it be neat if a "statue" of an angel were actually a petrified angel?

I assume there must be some mythological or flavor related reason for this immunity, but I can't think of any. I would rather that they be immune to poison, as fiends are. I like the idea that fiends are fallen angels, so any way to make them mechanically more similar is a plus.

What are folk's thoughts on stone angels?

 

[Aus_Snow]

Why are angels and archons immune to petrification?

I mean, they are commonly depicted in art, and that includes sculpture. Wouldn't it be neat if a "statue" of an angel were actually a petrified angel?

I assume there must be some mythological or flavor related reason for this immunity, but I can't think of any. I would rather that they be immune to poison, as fiends are. I like the idea that fiends are fallen angels, so any way to make them mechanically more similar is a plus.

What are folk's thoughts on stone angels?

Aren't only a few kinds of official D&D fiend former angels, and most not? Feh, either way.

I love the aesthetic effect, even though it's horribly overused. . . well ok, abused.

Actually, the same thoughts (about petrification and poison) struck me a while back when looking through their stat blocks (and descriptions). To be honest, I wouldn't be too surprised if there's no mythological or flavour related reason whatsoever, by the way. Still, it'd be good to find out for sure.

 

[the Jester]

Prolly just goes back to 1e deva stats.

 

[Mithran]

It doesn't seem like a particularly bad immunity for celestials but I don't know of any mythological reason for it, either.

 

[Cheiromancer]

Prolly just goes back to 1e deva stats.

Which raises the question, "why were 1e devas immune to petrification?"

 

[the Jester]

Which raises the question, "why were 1e devas immune to petrification?"

No idea...

 

[Crosshair]

My guess is to portray godliness and superiority. I've never heard of an angel turning to stone from a medusa. On the other hand all but the most knowledgable humans are "art". Same thing with poison. Althought mythology never did pit Medusa and an angel together....

Maybe it's a reward for having morals.

 

[Mithran]

Morals that prevent him from getting stoned? Could be. Really that's the best explanation I can think of as well.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Maybe it's a reward for having morals.

So... being vulnerable to poison is also a reward, in some way? Oh yay.

 

[the Jester]

So... being vulnerable to poison is also a reward, in some way? Oh yay.

Well, maybe if you consider alcohol and drugs as poison...