Flavour matters

[Zurai]

I do not like Tieflings as a core race (PC1: "yep, daddy was a bearded devil and what is with you?" PC2"No, my parents were fine. Granny was a succubus." PC3 "Really, what was her name? Because my Mommy was a succubus too" PC4 -mumbling- "And I play a Dwarf, Son of Dwarfs... that is boring...DM, let me change my race, want to play a Tiefling. My Characters' Daddy will be a PIT FIEND").

Those are half-fiends, not tieflings. Tieflings are many generations removed from the tainted blood.

 

[KarinsDad]

Those are half-fiends, not tieflings. Tieflings are many generations removed from the tainted blood.

So, if they are 95+% human, why are they needed in the PHB again? Why do they have special powers? Why isn't there ones only two or a few generations removed? Do tieflings mate with other tieflings, or with humans, or with both? Do all tieflings have the same powers (indicating the same tainted blood) or could there be demon-tieflings and devil-tieflings and other outsider type tieflings with different abilities? Do they all have horns? How many generations of breeding with Humans does it take for them to not be a Tiefling anymore?

Unlike Half-Elves where the concept is of one human parent and one elven parent, and a simple explanation of a half-elf + elf = elf children or half-elf + human = human children, this Tiefling stuff opens up a whole bunch of can o' worms.

 

[Wormwood]

Those are half-fiends, not tieflings. Tieflings are many generations removed from the tainted blood.

I am both hoping and expecting that Tieflings will be different in 4e.

qv. Eladrin

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

So, if they are 95+% human, why are they needed in the PHB again?

Because of that 5%.

EDIT: I played in a campaign in which there were no elves (only half-elves, who went quickly insane) or other "demihuman" race.

Instead, there were air, water, fire, and earth genasi (the last being largely like dwarves), as well as renamed aasimar and tieflings.

They were largely mechanically equivalent to humans, for the most part, but had access to racial feats (my water genasi wizard, for instance, had a swim speed and could breathe water just as well as air).

It was pretty awesome.

If my DM could do this and make it rather cool, I trust the WotC can probably do the same thing.

 

[KarinsDad]

Because of that 5%.

I said "needed". Given an assumption that 5% is enough of a stain, the entire world could be stained in 10 generations. Why play a human then?

The entire concept of "racial stain" is just so campaign specific that it really does not belong as a core element.

Just cause it's cool for some people doesn't mean that it's DND flavor.

I don't want to play a Planescape knockoff and from the boards here, many other people don't want to do that either.

 

[Scribble]

So, if they are 95+% human, why are they needed in the PHB again? Why do they have special powers? Why isn't there ones only two or a few generations removed? Do tieflings mate with other tieflings, or with humans, or with both? Do all tieflings have the same powers (indicating the same tainted blood) or could there be demon-tieflings and devil-tieflings and other outsider type tieflings with different abilities? Do they all have horns? How many generations of breeding with Humans does it take for them to not be a Tiefling anymore?

Unlike Half-Elves where the concept is of one human parent and one elven parent, and a simple explanation of a half-elf + elf = elf children or half-elf + human = human children, this Tiefling stuff opens up a whole bunch of can o' worms.

Why is it a can of worms??? To me the all that stuff indicates more room to add your own storyline.

 

[Zurai]

Why do they have special powers?

Because they are descended from Outsiders.

Why isn't there ones only two or a few generations removed?

Because those would be half-fiends.

Do tieflings mate with other tieflings, or with humans, or with both?

All of the above.

Do all tieflings have the same powers (indicating the same tainted blood) or could there be demon-tieflings and devil-tieflings and other outsider type tieflings with different abilities?

In 3E they were all the same except for physical appearance. In 4E I'd be willing to bet we get choices.

Do they all have horns?

No.

How many generations of breeding with Humans does it take for them to not be a Tiefling anymore?

Tiefling isn't automatic. It's like redheads - you can have a family tree that goes back centuries on both sides with no redheads and still have a kid that's a redhead. Half-fiend, on the other hand, IS automatic.



Note that all these answers come from 3E fluff. They're almost certain to change to some degree in 4E.

 

[Rechan]

I don't recall anyone complaining about the Sorcerer being several generations removed from a Dragon. There was no "OH no my PCs will be acting like their dads are Dragons", and no "So they're 5% Dragons, why are they in the PHB again?"

 

[The Little Raven]

Why play a human then?

1. Because human makes sense for the character.

2. Human racial traits are more what I want than tiefling ones.

You seem to be acting like it's going to return the 2e days of every race getting something cool except humans, and humans (despite being the most populous race in every official setting) suddenly being underrepresented by PCs.

I don't want to play a Planescape knockoff and from the boards here, many other people don't want to do that either.

I don't want to play one either, which is why I'm glad they axed the totally lame Great Wheel and all that stupid baatezu/tanaari crap.

 

[Raven Crowking]

You seem to be acting like it's going to return the 2e days of every race getting something cool except humans, and humans (despite being the most populous race in every official setting) suddenly being underrepresented by PCs.

I wasn't aware that this had gone away......?