Cambions are the offspring of a fiend and a humanoid. Could be any fiend and any humanoid (though usually those are human), but they have to be the actual parents. Other unions don't produce cambions - not even two cambions reproducing, if that's even possible.
Tieflings are humanoids from human bloodlines infused with the essence of Asmodeus. Their parentage is immaterial, what makes them tieflings is something that happened long before they were conceived.
In a nutshell: 1) if mommy or daddy (but not both) was a fiend, and only if one of them was a fiend, it's always a cambion; 2) if it has an infernally tainted bloodline, it's a tiefling - unless mommy or daddy was a fiend, in which case see 1.
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Ok, I believe I mostly get what you're laying out for me. Generally speaking, a cambion is a half-fiend (half Devil or half Demon). A Tiefling has either a bloodline link to fiends or a curse or exposure to infernal energies or other like circumstances.
Follow-up question: Does any of that preclude Abishai descent for either a Cambion or Tiefling? They don't necessarily have an "archdevil" among them, but they could still directly leave their influence (or just mate) on a bloodline, yes?
It's really very character and campaign specific. I DM a game which is heading into a variant of the Tyranny of Dragons series, and one of the PCs is playing the feral variant Tiefling. Dropping clues that his origins may be tied to Tiamat and her servitors would be the sort of twist that Player would appreciate.
Alternatively, I had considered tying him into one of the many other Devils who would rather see Tiamat stay in Hell. Finding themselves grudgingly accepting the help of Infernal forces may be an even more interesting twist.
Indeed, it's cool in your campaign, but I think most DMs would not consider Tiamat and her ilk "fiends" for example.
Yeah, Tiamat herself is a very confusing entity, and her place in the cosmology is even moreso. Demon, Devil, Deity? Depends. Chaotic? Yup. Lawful? Sometimes. Prisoner? Could be. Lord of Avernus? Maybe.
I feel like I've got a head full of earlier editions getting in my way to understanding what the difference is between Cambions and Tieflings.
Is it simply that Cambions are full-on Half Fiends (devil or demon) whereas a Tiefling is descended from a fiend-tainted bloodline?
Or is there some Devil vs. Demon difference here?
Thanks for the clarity!
Tieflings can be Half-Fiends - but they don't have to be. They can just as easily have two human parents (See: Tiefling Parents in Origins section of XGtE).
Simplest way of thinking about it. All Cambions are Half-Fiends. Not all Half-Fiends are Cambions.
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Cambions are the offspring of a fiend and a humanoid. Could be any fiend and any humanoid (though usually those are human), but they have to be the actual parents. Other unions don't produce cambions - not even two cambions reproducing, if that's even possible.
Tieflings are humanoids from human bloodlines infused with the essence of Asmodeus. Their parentage is immaterial, what makes them tieflings is something that happened long before they were conceived.
In a nutshell: 1) if mommy or daddy (but not both) was a fiend, and only if one of them was a fiend, it's always a cambion; 2) if it has an infernally tainted bloodline, it's a tiefling - unless mommy or daddy was a fiend, in which case see 1.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
A humanoid/fiend pairing can produce both cambions or tieflings. The difference is really how much fiendish power the kid inherits.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Ok, I believe I mostly get what you're laying out for me. Generally speaking, a cambion is a half-fiend (half Devil or half Demon). A Tiefling has either a bloodline link to fiends or a curse or exposure to infernal energies or other like circumstances.
Follow-up question: Does any of that preclude Abishai descent for either a Cambion or Tiefling? They don't necessarily have an "archdevil" among them, but they could still directly leave their influence (or just mate) on a bloodline, yes?
Abashai are just as valid a choice as any other type of fiend.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
It's really very character and campaign specific. I DM a game which is heading into a variant of the Tyranny of Dragons series, and one of the PCs is playing the feral variant Tiefling. Dropping clues that his origins may be tied to Tiamat and her servitors would be the sort of twist that Player would appreciate.
Alternatively, I had considered tying him into one of the many other Devils who would rather see Tiamat stay in Hell. Finding themselves grudgingly accepting the help of Infernal forces may be an even more interesting twist.
Yeah, Tiamat herself is a very confusing entity, and her place in the cosmology is even moreso.
Demon, Devil, Deity?
Depends.
Chaotic?
Yup.
Lawful?
Sometimes.
Prisoner?
Could be.
Lord of Avernus?
Maybe.