Excerpts: Angels

[jensun]

I agree with TwinBahamut's critique-relating question. How did angels (d)evolve to devils?

They rebelled.

I can just as easily see angels of an evil good falling and becoming something quite different (devils) as I can see it happening to angels of good gods.

The issue isn't acting in an evil way, its diverging from the divine plan.

Personally I dislike the "mercenary" side of the new angels but it isnt a difficult thing to change.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

They rebelled.

Gods created Angels

Spoiler

(not)

. The rebelled. They evolved. And they have a plan.

I am not sure I like the mercenary side of the Angels. I wonder if the Exarchs will be actual monsters and will be closer to the "traditional" Angels? Or will they (I think hong wrote that) Demigods and thus probably have no stats.

A possible twist of the Angels might be that they are mercenaries, but only work for gods, since only the gods can pay them with something an Angel needs, or at least they can pay best. The Devils might have found something different and are not dependent on the gods - probably they figured out that souls are fine for their purpose.

Angels as mercenaries makes sense, in some thing - there might be a need for some kind of mercenaries in the Astral Sea, and what other "iconic" monster can fill that job?

 

[Andor]

Can I get a divine visitation from an Angel of Snuggles? Please?

 

[Vaeron]

What I also don't get is that Angels are resistant to "radiant damage" - that's the kind of damage Paladins do, right? If so, isn't there some connection between radiant and good?

I think they totally missed the boat here.

Angels are radiant beings. Therefore they are resistant to radiant damage in the same way fire elementals are resistant to fire damage. Conversely, undead take additional damage from radiant attacks.

I don't see the disconnect?

 

[small pumpkin man]

These remind me vaguely of Diablo 2.

Tyreal was the most awesome Angel ever, these are good, but they aren't that good.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Even though those are new angels, they still could have used Devas, Planetars and Solars, and still made them "any alignment". It doesn't take much to picture an evil Solar either.

 

[jensun]

I am not sure I like the mercenary side of the Angels. I wonder if the Exarchs will be actual monsters and will be closer to the "traditional" Angels? Or will they (I think hong wrote that) Demigods and thus probably have no stats.

Given the epic tier seems to include the option of fighting gods and demon lords I think the exarchs will have stats.

 

[AZRogue]

I like the changes, mostly. The mercenary thing I'm "bleh" about, but I don't think it matters since my players won't care since it doesn't effect them directly. I like the damage the angel can do, which is nice, and I like that it will probably be a creature I use against my PCs, which would be a first. Oh, and I'm glad they didn't add legs. Legs on angels has always screamed pure wrongness to me. I like the way they look, in the art, far more than I like the backstory, but the backstory they gave is adequate.

 

[jensun]

Even though those are new angels, they still could have used Devas, Planetars and Solars, and still made them "any alignment". It doesn't take much to picture an evil Solar either.

Not hard at all.

I recall a very old module (the Rod of Serallion) from back in 1e which had just that.

 

[drjones]

I likes it, the entry really got me popping with encounter ideas. you pissed off the Grand Poobah of the local cult? Does he hire some standard assassins? No he starts filling out the paperwork to submit his request for divine redress against those who have crossed him, in triplicate.
And once the PCs finally track down the Poobah what messed with them and put him to the sword they find a neatly organized dossier with copies of all divine correspondence and detailed information on each of them, their families, darkest secrets etc. things even they did not know opening the door to the next adventure..