Question: Yuan-Ti--Is it just me, or...?

[AFGNCAAP]

Have a quick question about yuan-ti:

Is it just me, or did the original (i.e., as in previous editions) version of abomination yuan-ti essentially look like some sort of naga? IIRC, they basically were big snakes with human heads & lots of spellcasting abilities, & served as the priests/spellcasters for all yuan-ti. The current (3.X ed.) variety of abomination yuan-ti, IIRC, was more like a halfblood yuan-ti in previous editions.

Am I recalling this correctly or not?

 

[XCorvis]

Have a quick question about yuan-ti:

Is it just me, or did the original (i.e., as in previous editions) version of abomination yuan-ti essentially look like some sort of naga? IIRC, they basically were big snakes with human heads & lots of spellcasting abilities, & served as the priests/spellcasters for all yuan-ti. The current (3.X ed.) variety of abomination yuan-ti, IIRC, was more like a halfblood yuan-ti in previous editions.

Am I recalling this correctly or not?

In 3.0, yuan-ti abominations came in one of two forms: Giant human headed snake, or giant snake with human arms. Human headed yuan-ti have some spell-like powers. So you were half-right.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

Personally, I never understood why the "elite" of the Yuan-ti were termed "Abominations" and why the most human like (thus, IMO, "tainted") were termed "Pure Blood". Shouldn't it be the other way around? Or are these just the human terms given to the Yuan-Ti? (ie, does anyone know of any articles or other writings on the Yuan-ti that would clear up this matter?)

 

[Iron_Chef]

Personally, I never understood why the "elite" of the Yuan-ti were termed "Abominations" and why the most human like (thus, IMO, "tainted") were termed "Pure Blood". Shouldn't it be the other way around? Or are these just the human terms given to the Yuan-Ti? (ie, does anyone know of any articles or other writings on the Yuan-ti that would clear up this matter?)

There was an excellent yuan-ti article in Dragon's Urban Adventuring issue (#306? The cover had a thief with loaded crossbow in your face swiinging over the rooftops). Not sure if the article answers your specific questions, but it should prove useful in running adventures with them.