Dragonborn/Tiefling- which campaign setting?

[Rechan]

It sounds as if you banned gnomes because they didn't fit into your campaign setting. I can understand that, it is a flavor decision. I would also infer that you would have banned any other race if they didn't fit in and that it simply wasn't "gnome hate". You're not DnD racists.

And you can ban Tieflings and Dragonborn from yours.

The other resounding theme is that people are struggling to find ways to have Dragonborn and Teiflings fit into campaign settings like GH, FR, Eberron, etc.

Eberron and FR have tieflings all ready. It's not that hard of a stretch.

As for Dragonborn, it's not that hard; just slap "They're from Maztica" or "Kara-Tur" on their foreheads. Isn't FR advancing 10-100 years? Isn't there room for some sort of advancement in the 4e FRCS which will tell you where they came from?

 

[Klaus]

When you put the same fantastic element in every game, it becomes normal. Blase even.

I still remember when half-dragons were cool. :\

Well, elves, dwarves and orcs have become far more blasé than half-dragons or tieflings.

One thing to bear in mind is that the PHB1 will reflect the new implied setting, but when FR comes out, it will be tied to the PHBII, and Eberron to the PHBIII. So it's not mandatory that dragonborn and tieflings be heavily featured in all settings.

 

[Psion]

Well, elves, dwarves and orcs have become far more blasé than half-dragons or tieflings.

Which is why I am in no hurry to have them share the same fate.

 

[mhensley]

I prefer the Smaug/Flame kind of dragon, proud, isolated, strong - not the "bukakke over the whole Monster Manual" type.

Now, that's a good quote.

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

Hmm.. let's see. Scaly Lizard/Dragon-Men with a penchant for sea-faring and some Demon-touched people because of a new emphasis on the infernal in the generic background?

Sounds quite a bit like... *drum rolls*... Earthdawn!!!

Yep. My first reaction to dragonborn was...meh. Then I realized they might be the perfect fit for T'Skrang in my first 4E campaign. Now I just need something to use for Trolls and Windlings.

 

[Klaus]

Yeah, I guess I wonder why not just lizardfolk as the new race; they're certainly venerable? (Although don't I remember some 'Saurian' nonsense in FR at some point?) I mean, sure, Dungeons & *Dragons*, but I've never really understood all this dragon hysteria in 3e - kobolds are draconic, everything's a half-dragon or dragon disciple, sorcerers are from dragon blood, blee blee blee. I don't remember the rampant dragon fetishism in 1e/2e. Doesn't do anything for me. I prefer the Smaug/Flame kind of dragon, proud, isolated, strong - not the "bukakke over the whole Monster Manual" type.

Try this, from a campaign I'm writing:

Dragons are inherently magical. They don't cast spells, but they alter the entire world just by their mere presence. The whole area around a dragon's lair sees an increase in births of creatures with reptilian or draconic traits, or those with sorcerous abilities. This is precisely the reason why dragons tend to isolate themselves from most settled lands, and why sentient beings tend to move out of a dragon's territory, labeling it "dragon country". Of course, there are those mad enough to settle in dragon country on purpose, in hopes of being infused with some of the dragon's innate magic.

 

[Tzarevitch]

Um, I beg to differ about Dark Sun and Ravenloft. In Dark Sun, Dragonborn = Dray. Tieflings could be made to fit without too much difficulty but one could just as soon leave them out of DS completely and never feel the loss.

Tieflings DO fit in Ravenloft quite well. There are more than a few fiends wandering Ravenloft and the evil nature of the place itself could result in occasional tiefling births to mothers of other races. Dragonborn do not fit in Ravenloft well at all however.

Forgotten Realms and Eberron are a bit easier because of the wider variety of cultures. I am not at all sure where dragonborn would be originating in the Forgotten Realms but in Eberron they'd probably be coming from Argonessen as the obvious choice.

Tieflings are much easier in both settings both because they are much more human-looking and because of the common nature of planar incursions in both settings. Hell, Eberron has an entire region called the "Demon Wastes" and a not-quite-dead ancient civilization of fiends.

Note however that the playability of some of these races in various settings is another matter entirely. Elves, dwarves etc fundamentally look close to human. A freaky-looking lizard man on the other hand is not necessarily going to be well received in civilized areas regardless of his accomplishments.

Honestly, I can barely see why tieflings would be a core race, but why they'd choose dragonborn is absolutely beyond me. One might as well be playing a bullywug in my opinion.

Tzarevitch

 

[Klaus]

Um, I beg to differ. In Dark Sun, Dragonborn = Dray. Tieflings could be made to fit without too much difficulty but one could just as soon leave them out of DS completely and never feel the loss.

Tieflings DO fit in Ravenloft quite well. There are more than a few fiends wandering Ravenloft and the evil nature of the place itself could result in occasional tiefling births to mothers of other races. Dragonborn do not fit in Ravenloft well at all however.

Tzarevitch

With only one dragon known in the entire demiplane, I'd posit dragonborn as humans born waaaay too near to the lair of Azalin's shadow dragon. In fact, I'd make them evil and recently hatched from Ebb's cherished eggs (so Ebb gets a curse of her own: never to have a perfectly-formed spawn, only humanoid children). That curse might even be placed upon her by Azalin himself, to keep the dragon from ever amassing a force powerful enough to dethrone him.

 

[Derren]

While there is no information on this I think that dragonborn (and tieflings)in 4E will be a independent race which can breed true, so no tieflingor dragonborn would have a dragon or devil as grandfather, only other tieflings/dragonborn. That would make the most sense and is imo needed to establish those two races as core.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

or...they can not use them...


I highly doubt when they do Dark Sun 4e it will have tieflings or dragonborn.

When they did Dark Sun for 3rd edition in Dragon Magazine, they were for some reason possessed to stick paladins in.