Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Paix 02-28-07, 09:19 AM	I wish to register my complaint concerning this supplement. The main thing that struck me while reading it, is the excessive anthropomorphisation of the fiends and the Lords of the Nine. Whatever the inspirations of Hell are, this is D&D and it really detracted from immersion seeing such a thorough standardisation of form. 1)The Assassin Devil, The Narzugon, the Steel Devil, all of them humans with different skin colour. Steel devil being a human in plate mail? 2)The Kalabon, a creature made of strands of the dead countess Hag, wears trousers and boots? 3) Legion Devil. No illustration? Maybe that was for the best since I imagine it to be like the Steel devil with an awkward arm. 4) Orthon, an oversized Steel devil with a different kind of plate mail? 5) Paeliryon, a debauched courtier of King Louis? 6) Pain Devil? A human in an apron and leather armor? Again, maybe for the best that no illustration was provided. What was wrong with the 2e hell's torturers? 7) Belial and Fierna. Leather accessories do not make one a cornerstone of lust. 8) Levistus: A wannabe swashbuckler? Surely beings existing since the beginning of time can come up with something better and of greater variety. This is not about the illustrations since they are based on the descriptions. Considering the quality of previous supplements like Fiends: Faces of Evil, Hellbound and many others, I found this supplement both lacking in depth and imagination. Very dissapointing.
Shemeska the Marauder 02-28-07, 10:34 AM	One loophole for the perceived humanity of the Baatezu is the fact that they're exclusively created from mortal souls, and the force of mortal belief probably influences the forms that the heirarchy of Baator has chosen to use over the eons. Contrast that with the inhumanity of the Tanar'ri who by virtue of their chaotic nature, plus their diversity in methods of formation, and also the 'loths who don't rely on mortal souls at all. It might be one way to approach and rationalize the issue.
Paix 02-28-07, 10:49 AM	The in-game lore can just as well be used to point to greater diversity. For instance, it has been stated and reiterated in this supllement as well, that they are creatures of belief with biology as an afterthought. That alone would imply greater diversity as mortals imagine evil assuming disturbing forms more often than pleasant shapes. In addition, Fiends: Faces of Evil also implied that the baatezu form is 'sculpted' in a way, to better the race. Even if use the creation from mortal souls line of thought, to justify the excessive anthropomorfisation, I can just as readily point out the variety of mortal life out there. Unless the mortal souls are exclusively human.
PunkRockBard 03-01-07, 09:26 PM	Yeah...i always interpreted the Devils as having the most "human" appearance..stately etc. Demons, beings of chaos, are more animalistic, flamyobant, varied. Yugoloths are cold, alien, and pragmatic looking.
sciborg2 03-02-07, 02:14 AM	I have to agree with the OP that a lot of FCII didn't agree with me, though I still think it was well done just not my cup of tea. I personally don't like all the politics of hell type stuff with asmo having a daughter, and a wife killed by levistus, etc. I like my Baator more alien, more akin to the Nine Hells of the Aztec (or was it Maya) with bells and owls... Also, it doesn't compare all to well with FC I imho.
zook1shoe666 03-03-07, 01:49 PM	i prefered the FC1 over the FC2. but the FC2 was done fairly well, for a WotC book ;)
General_Ridley 03-03-07, 02:53 PM	considering they are made exclusively from mortal souls, and are the stuff of law (and evil), they would probably conform to a small number of forms.