Tieflings And Their Heritages

[New Willinium]

So we all know the Tieflings right? The Unfortunate humans who are born with their demonic blood and heritage fully awakened. Treated as outcasts and disdained by most of the world Tieflings only really have a position of minimum respect in Cheliax and their colonies as "Special Servants".

Now in this game Tieflings are rather unique in that they have access to numerous heritages that give them special bonuses, and downsides, that allow them to special builds and character paths. What are these Heritages?

Beastbrood (Rakshasa-Spawn):Rakshasas, the "earthbound evils", are spirits of truly debased and abhorrent evil who take on humanoid-like form. Typically Lawful Evil and are immortal beings that reincarnate time and time again growing more corrupted each time.

Beastbrood regard themselves as deserving of appreciation and opulence. Through deceit and sheer willpower, they often achieve privileged stations in society.

Beastbrood have a +2 racial bonus to Dexterity and Charisma, a -2 penalty to Wisdom, a +2 racial bonus on Perception and Persuasion (Bluff) checks and can use the Blindness spell once per day. They also have DR 2/piercing.

Faultspawn (Asura-Spawn): Asura's are a race of outsiders whose origins can be traced back to a divine accident or misdeed. They live to sow mischief and strife among the mortals of the Material Plane and the gods of the Outer Sphere alike. They are creatures of the Great Beyond, found primarily in the domains of their masters on the plane of Hell. Typically Lawful Evil and it is contested amongst themselves just WHAT Divine Mistake caused their birth.

Lacking any sense of empathy or pity, faultspawn often abhor all ways of life but their own. They inflict severe emotional and physical pain on others, and never stop picking at the resulting psychological scars.

Faultspawn have a +2 racial bonus to Dexterity and Wisdom, a -2 penalty to Intelligence, a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (Arcana) and Knowledge (World) checks and can use the Hideous Laughter spell once per day. They also have a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects.

Foulspawn (Demodand-Spawn): Demodands are a fiendish race created by the thanatotic titans to be their loyal servants. Typically Chaotic Evil.

Crude and boorish, foulspawn take a particular delight in giving offence and scandalising polite society. They enjoy violating taboos even more than breaking laws, especially if it means degrading or repulsing an innocent.

Foulspawn have a +2 racial bonus to Constitution and Wisdom, a -2 penalty to Intelligence, a +2 racial bonus on Lore (Religion) and Persuasion (Intimidate) checks and can use the Cacophonous Call spell once per day. They also have a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against Clerics, Inquisitors and Paladins.

Grimspawn (Daemon-Spawn):Daemons are a young fiendish race whose existence is tied in with the existence of the mortals they prey upon. Their insidious evil is not influenced by notions of law and chaos, as daemons concern themselves only with the destruction of life itself.

Daemons seek this destruction as it allows them to feast on mortal souls, which is the focus of their existence. They are creatures of the apocalypse and seek the utter destruction of all things, to plunge the Great Beyond into absolute oblivion. The daemons make their home on the plane of Abaddon, thought to be one of the most hostile planes of the multiverse. Typically Neutral Evil.

Dreary and pessimistic, grimspawn are so enthralled by death, disease, and dilapidation that they often dedicate themselves to ending lives from behind the scenes as macabre saboteurs.

Grimspawn have a +2 racial bonus to Dexterity and Intelligence, a -2 penalty to Wisdom, a +2 racial bonus on Trickery and Persuasion (Bluff) checks and can use the Frigid Touch spell once per day. They also have acid resistance 5.

Hellspawn (Devil-Spawn): Devils are outsiders native to the plane of Hell. They obey a rigid hierarchy, base much of their dealings with others on strict contracts, and are always looking to gain an advantage. It is common for devils to provide mortals with great power in exchange for an eternity of torment and punishment at that devil's hands in the pits of Hell. Typically Lawful Evil.

While often rigid, stubborn, and highly focused on sticking to plans and schedules, hellspawn also have a rare talent for penetrating others' facades. They know a lie when they hear one, and can often determine what hidden vice or secret shame motivates another.

Hellspawn have a +2 racial bonus to Constitution and Wisdom, a -2 penalty to Charisma, a +2 racial bonus on Perception and Persuasion (Diplomacy) checks and can use the Scorching Ray spell once per day. They do not suffer a Charisma penalty if possess the Infernal Bloodline from either Sorcerer or Eldritch Scion class levels.

Hungerseed (Oni-Spawn): Oni are a race of evil outsiders. Unlike demons and devils, oni are native to the Material Plane, not the Outer Sphere. Oni clothe themselves in humanoid flesh, taking on the aspect of various mortal races, though all oni share the common traits of regeneration and shapeshifting. The most common type of oni is the ogre mage, but many others exist as well. They range all of the Evil Alignments.

Endowed with brawny muscles and thick bones, hungerseed always seem poised to explode into some larger, more powerful form, and have a voracious appetite for sensory pleasures and carnal delights.

Hungerseed have a +2 racial bonus to Strength and Wisdom, a -2 penalty to Charisma, a +2 racial bonus on Persuasion checks and can they can use the Invisibility spell once per day. They also have a +2 racial bonus to combat maneuver checks and combat maneuver defense.

Motherless (Qlippoth-Spawn): Demons were not the first inhabitants of the Abyss. In the earliest pre-history of the Great Beyond, before humanity rose from barbarism, before Asmodeus created Hell, before the gods even began to pay attention to the world of Golarion, the Abyss was populated by the primordial qlippoth. These beings were born from the essence of the Abyss itself—inhuman monstrosities of pure chaos and malice. HARD Chaotic Evil.

No woman survives the birth of a babe whose qlippoth ancestry has emerged. At best, qlippoth-spawn rip their mothers apart during labor. At worst, they tear themselves out even earlier.

Motherless have a +2 racial bonus to Strength and Wisdom, a -2 penalty to Intelligence, a +2 racial bonus on Mobility and Lore (Nature) checks and can they can use the Blur spell once per day. They also have secondary Bite attack that deals 1d6 piercing damage.

Pitborn (Demon-Spawn): Demons are malign and destructive creatures native to the Outer Sphere known as the Abyss. They are ferocious, irredeemably evil creatures, and will attack and kill anything for the sheer fun of it, including other demons. Chaotic Evil.

Pitborn delight in destruction, especially while unleashing their havoc on what others consider valuable or precious. Perhaps because of this volatility, others tend to simply defer to pitborn, an act that often grants them the dominance they crave.

Pitborn have a +2 racial bonus to Strength and Charisma, a -2 penalty to Intelligence, a +2 racial bonus on Trickery and Perception checks and can they can use the Stone Call spell once per day. They also have a +2 racial bonus on all rolls to confirm critical hits.

Shackleborn (Kyton-Spawn):Kytons, known among themselves as velstracs, are a race of cruel, amoral beings from the Plane of Shadow obsessed with sadomasochism and self-perfection. They thrive on the fear and pain of mortals, which they inflict with both supernatural dread and physical torture.

Though often mistaken for devils by mortals, kytons hold themselves above the tyrants of Hell; they do not seek to corrupt or enslave mortals, but instead to "help" them attain a higher state of being, reshaping the flesh and soul with a fanatic's zeal. Lawful Evil Alignment.

Shackleborn are fascinated by mutilation and torture. Though they prefer to practice their cruel arts on others, they accept that sometimes the wheel must turn and greet they own moments of anguish and confinement with an odd serenity.

Shackleborn have a +2 racial bonus to Constitution and Charisma, a -2 penalty to Wisdom, a +2 racial bonus on Mobility and Persuasion (Intimidate) checks and can they can use the Web spell once per day. They also have a +1 natural armour bonus to AC.

Spitespawn (Div-Spawn): Divs are a race of fiends native to Abaddon that exist only to cause harm and destruction. Closely related to daemons and the other fiends of the Outer Sphere, many planar scholars believe them to be descended from the spirits of the first evil genies. These creatures vary in power, yet all have similar traits that link them, such as telepathy, summoning powers, energy immunities and resistances. They generally speak Abyssal, Celestial and Infernal and are of the Chaotic Evil alignment.

An innate sense of jealousy and pure malice drives spitespawn to spread misery and despair. Unable to experience joy themselves, they devote their lives to promoting gloom, all the while hiding their hatefulness that lurks at their core.

Spitespawn have a +2 racial bonus to Dexterity and Charisma, a -2 penalty to Intelligence, a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (World) and Persuasion (Diplomacy) checks and can they can use the Sound Burst spell once per day. They also add +1 to the DC of any saving throws against enchantment spells they have cast.

Uncertain
Although many tieflings follow the general model of the tiefling, many more do not. Those of different lineages may evince dramatically different manifestations of thier heritage, both in appearance and in ability.

Tieflings of uncertain heritage have a +2 racial bonus to Dexterity and Intelligence, a-2 penalty to Charisma and a +2 racial bonus on Stealth and Persuasion (Bluff) checks and can use the Resist Energy Light spell once per day. They do not suffer a Charisma penalty if possess the Abyssal or Infernal Bloodline from either Sorcerer or Eldritch Scion class levels.


So as you can see Tiefling Heritages have to be picked and chosen carefully for while they all provide powerful buffs to attributes, a spell, and an additional bonus they also come with a steep negative attribute negative that can only be negated by Sorcerous or Eldritch Scion classes.


Now since I typcially play a Eldritch Scion that's not much of an issue to me but for what it is worth I typically go with the Hellspawn heritage myself. Scorching Rays is a GREAT spell for any character to have and RP wise it makes for the simplest backstory to roll with. Others that I think are decent? Pit Born for their critical roll bonus and Grimspawn for the Free Frigid Touch spell. Though I imagine that it doesn't scale per day as a regular spell pick making it less then great.


Now what about the rest of y'all? What is your favorite Tiefling Heritage and why? Do you like it for it's story/backstory reasons? Do you like it's bonuses or it's spell? And what Heritages would you mix with Sorcerous backgrounds for optimality or fun?

[Shadenuat]

Posting first before InEffect hijacks the thread.

[lordgizka]

You are like a Youtube video verbatim in forum post form. Wasting your true calling there...

[InEffect]

Motherless. That's about it. For everything else you can find a better race.

[New Willinium]

İlk olarak InEffect tarafından gönderildi:

Motherless. That's about it. For everything else you can find a better race.

Really? Motherless looks like the least appealing in my eyes. Negative 2 towards Intellect for your Baron/Face of the party? Hell no.

[InEffect]

Well... 1 extra trip per round is pretty nice. And it translates to 1 more weapon attack per round. For everyone.

[Shadenuat]

Do you get it if you're Wild Shaped?

[InEffect]

Don't think so. I know DD bite doesn't go to wild shapes. Pretty sure this one doesn't either.

[Shadenuat]

Dat sucks.

[InEffect]

Who cares, though? Trip vivi does more attacks per round than a dragon.

[Shadenuat]

Wanna play druid/monk. Kinda afraid not finding Amulet of Agile Fists tho and going STR doesn't feel durable.

[Immortal Reaver]

Motherless (Qlippoth-Spawn) or Hellspawn (Devil-Spawn)
Also I play them only as Paladins

[kirrix]

Anyone know where my prehensile tail went? That was one of my favorite racial traits for tieflings in the tabletop.