Deva
Deva are a race descended from the servitors of gods, endlessly reincarnated into new forms with dim memories of their pasts. Introduced in 4th edition as a replacement for Aasimar. If they get 'corrupted', they turn into Rakshasa.
Play as a Deva if you want to:
- Pretend you're a Solar Exalted
- Be a lawful good prick
- Become a Rakshasa if you don't act like a lawful good prick
- Get the outrageously good Soul of the World Epic Destiny, which allows you to gain 2+ extra races and 1+ extra class.
Stats
- Bonuses to Int/Cha and Wis
- Bonuses to defense against blooded creatures
- Resists Radiant/Necrotic Energies (Increases with level); they're nearly impervious to divine classes and undead enemies.
- Racial Ability: Encounter, Memories of a Thousand Lifetimes, adds 1d6 to a roll. Contrast this with Elven Accuracy.
- Skill Bonuses: History/Religion
How to play a Deva
Because of their bonuses, Devas make good casters, psionics and most non-physical casters. They are conspicuously lacking in feat support for the martial classes, while they can have Radiant Power feat, basically an implement-based Power Attack which allows them to add-on Radiant damage. This means they can, at a minimum, layer on Radiant damage while using implements that change the damage type (for example, if they want to simultaneously exploit Radiant and Cold effects).
The Soul of the World Epic Destiny allows a deva to have had prior incarnations as mortals, reminiscent of the Moorcockian Eternal Champion. They can gain racial abilities and feats of two other races, gain another dose of +int and +wis, gain powers from another class (retraining included: hello Avenger with Power of Skill, Divine Bolts and Retributive Strike), and come back from the dead as a member of any race and class (only partially; gaining the racial encounter, plus a level 22 utility of that class).
But the best class for a Deva is bard. For the sole reason that if someone asks something along the likes of "Are we not men?" you IMMEDIATELY reply "We are Deva!". Make sure to bring a fitting hat.
Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Races | |
---|---|
Player's Handbook 1 | Dragonborn • Dwarf • Eladrin • Elf • Half-Elf • Halfling • Human • Tiefling |
Player's Handbook 2 | Deva • Gnome • Goliath • Half-Orc • Shifter |
Player's Handbook 3 | Githzerai • Minotaur • Shardmind • Wilden |
Monster Manual 1: | Bugbear • Doppelganger • Githyanki • Goblin • Hobgoblin • Kobold • Orc |
Monster Manual 2 | Bullywug • Duergar • Kenku |
Dragon Magazine | Gnoll • Shadar-kai |
Heroes of Shadow | Revenant • Shade • Vryloka |
Heroes of the Feywild | Hamadryad • Pixie • Satyr |
Eberron's Player's Guide | Changeling • Kalashtar • Warforged |
The Manual of the Planes | Bladeling |
Dark Sun Campaign Setting | Mul • Thri-kreen |
Forgotten Realms Player's Guide | Drow • Genasi |