Why weren't aasimars included in the phb

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

_Satyesu_

May 16, 2015 18:26:22

but tieflings were?

#2

pukunui

May 16, 2015 18:48:49

Probably because tieflings were in the 4e PHB but aasimars have never been in any PHB.

#3

_Satyesu_

May 16, 2015 20:30:50

Okay, but tieflings and aasimars are as old as 3/3.5. Why  the bump-up to an infernal race but not a celestial one? :/

#4

Mechatarrasque

May 16, 2015 20:41:34

I think they wanted a straightforward conversion example for the DMG.

#5

Thaenok

May 16, 2015 20:46:01 		Well technically aasimars are in the core rulebooks. The DMG has them along with eladrin and anti paladins and death priests. I think they were put there for space consideration and to show the variations on the base races( and classes) a DM could do if he liked. Being as these are official suggestions by wotc they seem perfectly legal to me to use as character races in a campaign. So basically, you are good to go.
#6

MechaPilot

May 16, 2015 20:48:08

First, I'd like to address just the thread title, "Why weren't aasimars included in the PHB?"

 

I think the answer to this is so the DMG could illustrate a very easy modification of Tiefling into Aasimar as part of the section on modifying/creating races.

 

 

_Satyesu_ wrote:
#7

SirAntoine

May 16, 2015 20:50:02

I noticed it.  They should have put aasimar in, but what can you say? 

#8

pukunui

May 16, 2015 20:53:30

MechaPilot wrote:
(Reply to #3)

The_White_Sorcerer

_Satyesu_ wrote:
#10

CCS

May 16, 2015 21:49:42 		Pick any you think apply: Not a race that's been in any PHB before. Page count/limited space. So that they have material to use in getting you to buy a future book. Reasons. Something else.
#11

Nozareem

May 16, 2015 23:58:03

They should bring make Aasimars legal for "Rage of Demons" next season because of their opposite relation to demons as a answer of good because their also going to have Duergar which since 4th edtion are considered demon blooded Dwarfs with poison quill in their beards.  This also could bring in the Fey'ri as well.  So Aasimar I feel fit the setting next season.

#12

AaronOfBarbaria

May 17, 2015 1:49:04

I don't think Aasimar have ever been quite as popular with the playerbase as Tieflings have been - that could be a factor as to why one, but not both, made it into the PHB.

#13

Artifact

May 17, 2015 1:58:35

Aasimar first appeared in Planecape (for 2e), then in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, then later in Races of Destiny (both for 3e) then in PHB 2 (for 4e).  

 

On the other hand, Tieflings first appeared in Planescape (for 2e), then in the FRCS and Races of Destiny (both for 3e), and then in PHB 1 for 4e.  

 

Notice the distinction?  Tieflings appeared in PHB 1, Aasimar did not (PHB 2).  This seems to be the qualifier as to which races and classes made it into the 5e PHB:  Has the race or class previously appeared in a PHB 1?  I'd bet that's why we got Dragonborn as well.

 

That, and (as already noted) evil is sexier .

 

#14

LuisCarlos17f

May 17, 2015 3:25:07

And the original aasimars didn´t appear in PH2 4th ed but the devas.

 

For me the high elves with celadrin ancestors are the "celadrin", a planetouched race who appeared in a dragon magazine (#350). It could come back. 

 

There was a new PC, the hellbreed, from "Fiendix Codex II: Tyrants of the nine hells". Could it be a tielfling subrace? I doubt it. 

#15

Artifact

May 17, 2015 3:36:02

LuisCarlos17f wrote:
#16

Mephi1234

May 17, 2015 5:16:51

pukunui wrote:
#17

Mephi1234

May 17, 2015 5:36:12

Artifact wrote:
#18

Marandahir

May 17, 2015 7:39:17

For me, I use Aasimar similar to how 4e made Devas – as a race of half-celestial beings acting as agents of divine order in the world.

Instead of pairing them with Tieflings, I pair them against Genasi. Genasi are thus half-elemental beings acting as agents of primordial chaos in the world.

Tieflings instead become defilers in the process of becoming (Athasian-type) Dragons, while they're paired with Dragonborn, who are preservers becoming draconic through shamanic rites. Tiefling screams dragon to me as much as it screams devil or demon. This also allows me to catch back some of the Tiefling vs Dragonborn conflict in 4e's assumed setting (Bael Turath's wars with Arkhosia).

(Reply to #9)

_Satyesu_

The_White_Sorcerer wrote:
#20

Mephi1234

May 17, 2015 10:48:13

_Satyesu_ wrote:
(Reply to #20)

Azzy1974

Mephi1234 wrote:
#22

pukunui

May 17, 2015 15:56:03

Mephi1234 wrote:
#23

Mechatarrasque

May 17, 2015 16:00:48

For devas, I would rather go with something like "after a long rest, you can chose a second background.  You get the proficiencies of that background for the day."

#24

Artifact

May 17, 2015 16:03:35

Mechatarrasque wrote:
#25

Mephi1234

May 17, 2015 18:45:25

pukunui wrote:
#26

lawrencehoy

May 17, 2015 18:56:49

Mechatarrasque wrote:
#27

RCanine

May 17, 2015 19:34:22

AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
#28

pukunui

May 17, 2015 19:47:03

Mephi1234 wrote:
#29

Orethalion

May 17, 2015 19:56:35

_Satyesu_ wrote:
#30

MechaPilot

May 17, 2015 19:57:36

Orethalion wrote:
#31

Orethalion

May 17, 2015 19:59:37

MechaPilot wrote:
#32

Thaenok

May 17, 2015 20:06:26 		I used to love tieflings. Played one for awhile and he was a neutral evil , fighter /mage. I went too far though and delved into aspects of evil you really shouldn't mess with and it disturbed me. Ever since I don't play either extreme and stick with neutral aligned characters. I would like to try a good character but the world as it is really makes me jaded as if good even exists anymore but that's more a philosophical debate than a game one. I think I like the naturalist behavior of the elemental races over blind moral compasses so I think I will go with any genasi.
#33

MechaPilot

May 17, 2015 20:13:26

Orethalion wrote:
#34

Orethalion

May 17, 2015 20:15:13

MechaPilot wrote:
#35

rampant

May 17, 2015 20:30:37

Considering how poor a job they did with the teiflings I'm kind of glad they held off on the Aasimar.

#36

MechaPilot

May 17, 2015 20:31:17

Thaenok wrote:
#37

MechaPilot

May 17, 2015 20:35:51

Orethalion wrote:
#38

Thaenok

May 17, 2015 20:54:45 		@MechaPilot. Yeah along those lines. Shame about what she did to the dog though. I love dogs. But I was like a lot of players who think evil is cool when they really just want to fight and take treasure for no reason in the game. Turned out it wasn't. As a role player I had to myself into a cold and calculating state of mind. Easily said and not easily accomplished. Hanibal Lector ( spelled right?) Came to mind but add that a fiendish bent as he was descended from yugoloths and I had to be darker still. I will not go into detail but I will just say I didn't feel like myself for awhile and getting that much into that kind of character will affect the psyche and not in a good way. As the raven said "Nevermore".
#39

MechaPilot

May 17, 2015 21:06:14

Thaenok wrote:
#40

Thaenok

May 17, 2015 21:22:11 		@ MechaPilot. On a lighter note I could handle being fun crazy. Honestly I kind of envy terrets syndrome. Not the painful nervous twitches or the seizures but the freedom of spouting whatever the hell you want even if it doesn't make sense. I will share a tidbit with whoever reads this to. It is a monumental stress releiver to say something like " P**p Sh**!!" With some oomph behind it( self censored by the way). Other non related words like tar jester would work to I guess. Its all about letting go and feeling that sense of "this isn't right to say but it sure feels good anyway". I might be weird but yes I do this in private and no I'm not crazy(to my knowledge). But there are good forms of crazy. Anyway I'm rambling now and that's crazy so......
#41

MechaPilot

May 17, 2015 21:31:10

Thaenok wrote:
#42

Orethalion

May 17, 2015 21:46:19

MechaPilot wrote:
#43

Thaenok

May 17, 2015 21:52:36 		@MechaPilot. That made me chuckle pretty good I must say. Besides science is revealing that the universe is made of particles which may in fact have a mind of their own so who is to say that statue wasn't commenting on its own boobs. Or at the very least the boob part.
#44

Nozareem

May 18, 2015 4:42:08

From the other posts on this thread I feel that to make the Aasimar pop per say WOTC needs to revamp how they look and other than resistance to radiant damage give them one special power like searing burst, teleport, blinding Gaze, healing touch.  This would give them what they need to start making them fun to play.