Aasimar
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, aasimar are a fictional race of humanoid
creatures who are descended from celestials
, angels
and other creatures of good alignment. In the 4th Edition of the game, the equivalent race are referred to as devas.
Campaign Setting series of books, published April 1994. The aasimar first appeared in Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995), and as a player character race in Planewalker's Handbook (1996), and later Warriors of Heaven (1999).
In 2000, Wizards of the Coast
released the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons. The aasimar race appears in that edition's third core book, the Monster Manual
, first published October 2000. The Monster Manual describes the aasimar race as a pleasant and attractive people. It also states that most aasimars are "decidedly good-aligned", and their favored class is paladin
.
The aasimar race was expanded in the Forgotten Realms
series of books. Two books reference the aasimar race, Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
and Races of Faerûn
. The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, published June 2001, contained a synopsis of the information provided in the Monster Manual and includes some additional information to allow players to select aasimar as a race. Races of Faerûn, published March 2003, explored the aasimar race in greater detail any of the previous books, describing the fictional history, society, education, and religion of the race.
Dungeons & Dragons version 3.5 describes the aasimar in the Monster Manual. They are again described in the Planar Handbook
in 2004, and the Races of Destiny
supplement, published December 2004. Races of Destiny expanded on the fictional lives of aasimars, but their game mechanics did not change from the Forgotten Realms series.
In June 2008, Wizards of the Coast released Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition. The aasimar race was not mentioned in any of the core books for the edition, nor in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, published August 2008. However, it was stated that "In the aasimar's place, you'll meet a race of celestials who have plunged through the same transforming fires as the tiefling
s.". In the "Forgotten Realms Player's Guide", published September 2008, a section on Faerun races mentions a race called devas, and states that they were previously known as aasmiar. However, despite identifying them as such, devas are described not as being descended from a celestial lineage, but rather as the mortal incarnations of celestial beings. When the people of Mulhorand (who came to Faerun through portals to another world) were finally able to establish contact with the pantheon of their homeland, the gods desired to send their angelic host to watch over their displaced worshippers, but could not transport them across the cosmic span physically. Instead, they delivered their celestial essences to Faerun where they transmigrated into forms of flesh and blood.
The 4th edition Player's Handbook 2 (released in March 2009) includes devas as a playable race. As in the Forgotten Realms Player's Guide, it is explained that devas are celestial beings transmigrated into a mortal frame, and thus not a race of creatures in the normal sense. Contrary to previous portrayals of aasimar, devas cannot procreate. Upon death, they reincarnate somewhere else in the world.
creatures, are considered native outsiders
.
.
As with their racial origins, the physical appearance of devas deviates significantly from that of the aasimar of previous editions. A deva has mottled skin of varying coloration, typically blue, violet, or gray, with contrasting patches of light and dark tones.
s. Evil Aasimar are considered betrayers to their own ancestors and are hunted by their own race.
campaign setting
aasimar were most commonly found in the eastern lands of Unther and Mulhorand, where they were the descendants of the good deities
who once walked among the mortals. Since the Spellplague however and the devastation of both lands Aasimar have become wandering nomads bound to no land or god and spread widely over the face of Faerûn
, as well as other parts of Toril
. Those from outside of Faerûn are often drawn to it, perhaps by the ancestral lure of Unther and Mulhorand, and so many aasimar can be found in borderlands such as Durpar, Murghôm, Thesk, or Waterdeep
, though none of these places are considered traditional homelands.
campaign setting, aasimar are a race available to player character
s, though they are often viewed with contempt or fear by creatures not of good alignment.
, which is based on the premise that races from Dungeons and Dragons have been pulled through The Plane of Shadow
to Earth. Due to conceptual reality and their relatively humanoid appearance, Aasimar appear as beautiful humans to the uninitiated "Mundanes", or regular humans.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, aasimar are a fictional race of humanoid
Humanoid
A humanoid is something that has an appearance resembling a human being. The term first appeared in 1912 to refer to fossils which were morphologically similar to, but not identical with, those of the human skeleton. Although this usage was common in the sciences for much of the 20th century, it...
creatures who are descended from celestials
Celestial (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, celestials are a class of creatures and monsters known as outsiders who are of wholly good alignment....
, angels
Angel (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, angels are a type of celestial of any good alignment and hail from any of the Upper Planes. Angels are also known as aasimon...
and other creatures of good alignment. In the 4th Edition of the game, the equivalent race are referred to as devas.
Publication history
The aasimar race was introduced in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition in the PlanescapePlanescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
Campaign Setting series of books, published April 1994. The aasimar first appeared in Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995), and as a player character race in Planewalker's Handbook (1996), and later Warriors of Heaven (1999).
In 2000, Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
released the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons. The aasimar race appears in that edition's third core book, the Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
, first published October 2000. The Monster Manual describes the aasimar race as a pleasant and attractive people. It also states that most aasimars are "decidedly good-aligned", and their favored class is paladin
Paladin (Dungeons & Dragons)
The paladin is one of the standard playable character classes in most editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The paladin is a holy knight, crusading in the name of good and order, and is a divine spellcaster...
.
The aasimar race was expanded in the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
series of books. Two books reference the aasimar race, Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting is a role-playing game sourcebook first published in 1987, detailing the Forgotten Realms setting, containing information on characters, locations, and history as well as setting-specific rules for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
and Races of Faerûn
Races of Faerûn
Races of Faerûn is an optional supplemental sourcebook for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons.-Contents:...
. The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, published June 2001, contained a synopsis of the information provided in the Monster Manual and includes some additional information to allow players to select aasimar as a race. Races of Faerûn, published March 2003, explored the aasimar race in greater detail any of the previous books, describing the fictional history, society, education, and religion of the race.
Dungeons & Dragons version 3.5 describes the aasimar in the Monster Manual. They are again described in the Planar Handbook
Planar Handbook
Planar Handbook is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.-Contents:...
in 2004, and the Races of Destiny
Races of Destiny
Races of Destiny is a supplement for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Contents:This book deals with races that live primarily in urban settings, specifically humans, half-orcs, and a new race called the Illumian, whose most notable features are the sigils that constantly...
supplement, published December 2004. Races of Destiny expanded on the fictional lives of aasimars, but their game mechanics did not change from the Forgotten Realms series.
In June 2008, Wizards of the Coast released Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition. The aasimar race was not mentioned in any of the core books for the edition, nor in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, published August 2008. However, it was stated that "In the aasimar's place, you'll meet a race of celestials who have plunged through the same transforming fires as the tiefling
Tiefling
Tieflings are a fictional race in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy tabletop role-playing game.Tieflings were originally introduced as humans with demonic ancestry. A Tiefling is a being whose lineage can be traced back to some degree or another to that of a fiend or demon within the Dungeons &...
s.". In the "Forgotten Realms Player's Guide", published September 2008, a section on Faerun races mentions a race called devas, and states that they were previously known as aasmiar. However, despite identifying them as such, devas are described not as being descended from a celestial lineage, but rather as the mortal incarnations of celestial beings. When the people of Mulhorand (who came to Faerun through portals to another world) were finally able to establish contact with the pantheon of their homeland, the gods desired to send their angelic host to watch over their displaced worshippers, but could not transport them across the cosmic span physically. Instead, they delivered their celestial essences to Faerun where they transmigrated into forms of flesh and blood.
The 4th edition Player's Handbook 2 (released in March 2009) includes devas as a playable race. As in the Forgotten Realms Player's Guide, it is explained that devas are celestial beings transmigrated into a mortal frame, and thus not a race of creatures in the normal sense. Contrary to previous portrayals of aasimar, devas cannot procreate. Upon death, they reincarnate somewhere else in the world.
Description
Although their celestial ancestor may be many generations removed, their presence still lingers. Aasimar are predisposed to Good alignments, but they are by no means always good.Environment
Aasimar, as planetouchedPlanetouched
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the planetouched are mortal creatures whose ancestors were extraplanar creatures such as celestials, fiends, or elementals.Planetouched are considered native outsiders.-Publication history:...
creatures, are considered native outsiders
Outsider (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, an outsider is a type of creature, or "creature type". Outsiders are at least partially composed of the essence of a plane other than the Prime Material Plane....
.
Typical physical characteristics
Aasimar are humans with some sign of their godly ancestors, such as golden eyes, silver hair, feathers, and are typically free of human flaw and the like, as per the (Dungeons and Dragons sourcebook) Races of FaerûnFaerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
.
As with their racial origins, the physical appearance of devas deviates significantly from that of the aasimar of previous editions. A deva has mottled skin of varying coloration, typically blue, violet, or gray, with contrasting patches of light and dark tones.
Alignment
Aasimar are predisposed to good alignments, but other alignments, including evil, exist. The infernal counterparts of aasimars are called tieflingTiefling
Tieflings are a fictional race in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy tabletop role-playing game.Tieflings were originally introduced as humans with demonic ancestry. A Tiefling is a being whose lineage can be traced back to some degree or another to that of a fiend or demon within the Dungeons &...
s. Evil Aasimar are considered betrayers to their own ancestors and are hunted by their own race.
Forgotten Realms
In the Forgotten RealmsForgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
aasimar were most commonly found in the eastern lands of Unther and Mulhorand, where they were the descendants of the good deities
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
who once walked among the mortals. Since the Spellplague however and the devastation of both lands Aasimar have become wandering nomads bound to no land or god and spread widely over the face of Faerûn
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
, as well as other parts of Toril
Toril
Toril, meaning bullpen in Spanish, can refer to:* Toril - a District in Metro Davao in The Philippines* Toril - a Barangay in Island Garden City of Samal, Metro Davao, The Philippines* Toril y Masegoso, a town in the province of Teruel, Aragón, Spain...
. Those from outside of Faerûn are often drawn to it, perhaps by the ancestral lure of Unther and Mulhorand, and so many aasimar can be found in borderlands such as Durpar, Murghôm, Thesk, or Waterdeep
Waterdeep (city)
Waterdeep is a fictional city-state that forms part of a popular Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game campaign setting called the Forgotten Realms. It is a port city that is located along the western coast of the Faerûn sub-continent...
, though none of these places are considered traditional homelands.
Planescape
In the PlanescapePlanescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting, aasimar are a race available to player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s, though they are often viewed with contempt or fear by creatures not of good alignment.
Urban Arcana
Aasimar are a common race in Urban ArcanaUrban Arcana
Urban Arcana is a campaign setting for the d20 Modern roleplaying game that builds on a small campaign model included in the original rulebook. It adds much in the way of magic and monsters to the game, and contains rules for things such as playing Shadowkind characters.In the world of Urban...
, which is based on the premise that races from Dungeons and Dragons have been pulled through The Plane of Shadow
The Plane of Shadow
The Plane of Shadow is a fictional plane of existence in the Dungeons & Dragons role playing game, under the standard planar cosmology.-Publication history:In first edition AD&D, the Plane of Shadow was the largest Demi-Plane of the Ethereal Plane....
to Earth. Due to conceptual reality and their relatively humanoid appearance, Aasimar appear as beautiful humans to the uninitiated "Mundanes", or regular humans.
External links
- Aasimar – d20D20 SystemThe d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
System Reference DocumentSystem Reference DocumentThe System Reference Document, or SRD, is a set of reference role playing game mechanics licensed under the Open Game License by Wizards of the Coast and based upon their Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. The SRD forms the basis of WotC's various d20 System role-playing games, including the...
entry - Monstrous Database Previous edition Aasimar statistics