Publication History
Asmodeus is named for the Judeo-Christian demon, Asmodai from the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit and for a fallen angel of the same name who appears in John Milton's "Paradise Lost."
Asmodeus first appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977). Asmodeus's realm was further detailed in Ed Greenwood's "The Nine Hells Part II" in Dragon #76 (1983). Asmodeus did not initially appear in 2nd edition, and in the Planescape line the lord of Nessus was unnamed and mostly a secret. Eventually, the Lord of the Ninth was revealed indeed as Asmodeus, in Guide to Hell (1999). In third edition, Asmodeus appeared along with the other lords of the Nine Hells in the Book of Vile Darkness (2002). Asmodeus was further detailed in the Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells (2006).
Asmodeus appears as one of the gods of evil in the 4th edition Dungeon Masters Guide (2008). His backstory for this edition is expanded in the supplements Manual of the Planes, The Plane Above: Secrets of the Astral Sea, and Demonomicon. In this edition his origins are explicitly defined as the leader of an angelic rebellion. His position as King of Hell and the father of Glasya is retained. His only ally amongst the other gods is Erathis, while Sehanine Moonbow, Avandra and Melora are openly his foes.
Setting-specific versions of Asmodeus are described in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide and the Eberron Campaign Guide. The Realms Asmodeus has only recently been made a full god (the core version has been a god for millennia), having consumed the divine essence of Azuth following the latter's fall into Baator after the death of Mystra. This Asmodeus used his newfound godhood to rip the Abyss and Baator from their positions on the Great Tree, hurling the former to the bottom of the Elemental Chaos and raising the latter to the Astral Sea (ending the Blood War in the process). The Eberron Asmodeus's godhood is questioned (as he would be the only true god of that setting who actually interacts with his followers), but he is still the undisputed master of the Nine Hells.
His appearance in Dungeons & Dragons was cited as evidence for Satanism in the game by Pat Pulling and Kathy Cawthon in their 1989 book The Devil's Web. The inclusion of Asmodeus and other Judeo-Christian devils in Dungeons and Dragons is discussed in the pages of Pegasus Magazine as well.
Asmodeus becomes an official part of the Judge's Guild City-state of the Invisible Overlord campaign for Dungeons & Dragons with the publication of The Azurerain Pirates.
Green Ronin Publishing produced a series of books known as The Book of Fiends that covered all sorts of devilish and demonic topics. Asmodeus, Dispater and Orcus are a few of the fiends to get an expanded write-up and more details for the D&D game.
Asmodeus also gets a detailed lair for the 3rd edition D&D rules in Asmodeus's Den of Deception part of the Devilish Dens book.
Asmodeus is also featured rather prominently in the Pathfinder series of game products that build off of the D&D 3rd edition rules and settings. He is given a new prince to server under him,Phosonith and an entire country to rule.
Read more about this topic: Asmodeus (Dungeons & Dragons)
Famous quotes containing the words publication and/or history:
“An action is the perfection and publication of thought. A right action seems to fill the eye, and to be related to all nature.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“[Men say:] “Don’t you know that we are your natural protectors?” But what is a woman afraid of on a lonely road after dark? The bears and wolves are all gone; there is nothing to be afraid of now but our natural protectors.”
—Frances A. Griffin, U.S. suffragist. As quoted in History of Woman Suffrage, vol. 4, ch. 19, by Susan B. Anthony and Ida Husted Harper (1902)