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Page 4 of the recently released Pathfinder Player’s Companion: Blood of Fiends has a sidebar discussing tieflings arising from races other than human. It says “They gain any of the bonuses or penalties related to that size, but gain no racial bonuses except those of the tiefling; beyond size, their humanoid ancestry is purely cosmetic.”
From a balance standpoint, this is reasonable. But, with the trait system, I think we can do better then that. So I offer …
Dwarf-Blood: Dwarf tieflings are virtually unknown and, outside of the Duergar, are usually smothered at birth. Should one survive, the tiefling would be short and heavily built, much like their dwarven parent. Hair (and beard if male) would be of an unnatural color.
Elf-Blood: Despite their strong connection to nature, elves have a strong lecherous streak that can lead them into liaisons that would have been better avoided. Elf blooded tieflings tend to be tall, with the same long ears, almond shaped eyes, and large pupils that elves commonly have.
Gnome-Blood: The chaotic and experimental nature of gnomes leads some to ill-considered matings. Fortunately, while they must endure suspicion, gnomish tieflings are not generally rejected out of hand by their communities. Disturbingly, gnomish tieflings tend to have white hair.
Half-Elf: Use “Elf-Blooded” above.
Half-Orc/Orc-Blooded: Vile and destructive creatures, Orc readily offer themselves for dark mating rituals in a mad pursuit personal power. With their magical powers and mental gifts, Orc-Tieflings often find a place of honor in Orc tribes.
Halfling-Blood: Halflings rarely mate with fiends voluntarily, As Halflings are frequently slaves, the sometimes find themselves forced to do so. Hafling Tieflings often find some sympathy, but rarely acceptance from normal haflings.
Human-Blood: Human blooded tieflings really are the default for the race. They should take their traits from other sources.
Let me know what you think. :D
Very nice! I like.
Looks cool to me, great idea!
Looks cool to me, great idea!
The biggest difficulty is determining what racial abilities are fairly balanced to be used as traits.
I am still inclined to make a human trait (so that human ethnic groups can get their languages - not possible by RAW.)
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Tiefling Racial Traits - Updated
Page 4 of the recently released Pathfinder Player’s Companion: Blood of Fiends has a sidebar discussing tieflings arising from races other than human. It says “They gain any of the bonuses or penalties related to that size, but gain no racial bonuses except those of the tiefling; beyond size, their humanoid ancestry is purely cosmetic.” From a balance standpoint, this is reasonable.
But, with the trait system, I think we can do better than that.
Of course, like all traits, these are optional.
Dwarf-Blood: Dwarf tieflings are virtually unknown and, outside of the Duergar, are usually smothered at birth. Should one survive, the tiefling would be short and heavily built, much like their dwarven parent. Hair (and beard if male) would be of an unnatural color.
Elf-Blood: Despite their strong connection to nature, elves have a strong lecherous streak that can lead them into liaisons that would have been better avoided. Elf blooded tieflings tend to be tall, with the same long ears, almond shaped eyes, and large pupils that elves commonly have.
Gnome-Blood: The chaotic and experimental nature of gnomes leads some to ill-considered matings. Disturbingly, in addition to the normal marks of their fiendish blood, gnomish tieflings tend to have pale skin and white hair.
Half-Elf: Use “Elf-Blood” above.
Half-Orc: Use “Orc-Blood” below.
Halfling-Blood: Halflings rarely mate with fiends voluntarily, As Halflings are frequently slaves, the sometimes find themselves forced to do so. Hafling Tieflings They appear as normal haflings, except as marked by the fiendish heritage.
Human-Blood: Human tieflings really far and away the most commonly encountered, and like Humans in general, they are the most varied. One constant however, is that they are mistrusted and persecuted by “normal” humans.
Orc-Blood: Vile and destructive creatures, Orc readily offer themselves for dark mating rituals in a mad pursuit personal power. With their magical powers and mental gifts, Orc-Tieflings often find a place of honor in Orc tribes.
Very cool!
Very well done and creative too!
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Dwarf-Blood: Dwarf tieflings are virtually unknown and, outside of the Duergar, are usually smothered at birth. Should one survive, the tiefling would be short and heavily built, much like their dwarven parent. Hair (and beard if male) would be of an unnatural color.
do they still have their speed uneffected by armor?
do they still have their speed uneffected by armor?Dwarf-Blood: Dwarf tieflings are virtually unknown and, outside of the Duergar, are usually smothered at birth. Should one survive, the tiefling would be short and heavily built, much like their dwarven parent. Hair (and beard if male) would be of an unnatural color.
Requirement: Tiefling
Benefits: A dwarven tiefling’s build enhances the characters stability. The tiefling gains a +2 trait bonus to their CMD when on solid ground. Dwarf Tieflings receive Dwarven as an additional starting language.
Special: Determine Height and Weight as a dwarf, but do not reduce the characters speed. Determine Age as a Half-Elf.
Alas, no.
Giving the Dwarf Tiefling an ability of that magintude would be unbalancing.At it was, the trait was created by taking Paizo at their word - “They gain any of the bonuses or penalties related to that size, but gain no racial bonuses except those of the tiefling; beyond size, their humanoid ancestry is purely cosmetic.”
So a Gnome or Halfling tiefling, they gain/suffer the modifiers for Small, but no other actual Gnome or Hafling Racial abilities.
Well it turns out, that "Slow Speed," per the Advanced Race Guide Playtest is actually a racial ability/penalty - And is separate from "Small." So Dwarf, Gnome, and Halfing Tieflings retain the Normal Speed of a Medium Tiefling.
So, Dwarf Tieflings, like all Tieflings have their movement rate modified by armor.
What happens if a Tiefling mates with an Aasimar?
What happens if a Tiefling mates with an Aasimar?
Excellent Question, and one well beyond what I was attempting to do here.
I'm more curious what sort of trait(s, I could totally possibly see such a tiefling ancestry requiring two traits) one would use for a Giant-Blooded Tiefling that retains the size of its ancestor. Remember that Giants are Humanoids too now.
Actually there are a LOT of possible "humanoids" that I did not consider. I only looked at the Core Races (Orc became necessary because fo the Half-Orc).
Lord Fyre I would like to see you do this for the Aasimar as well, so that i could play an Aasimar Gnome Cavalier, or an Aasimar Halfling Ninja.
You do realize that with some "reflavoring" that these traits work perfectly well for any "Half" race (Aasimar, Changeling, Ifrit, Oread, etc.)