D&D General trying to make an alien-themed race but they keep turning into elves, help.

[Mind of tempest]

I don't know where or how this "aliens are space elves" thing got started. It must be a new thing, like cell phones and the YouTubes.

View attachment 253768

when space elves became a thing as well as people making lots of similar things who are just elves but look different.

I comprehend the line but is this a joke that all become elves in time?

 

[Guest 7034872]

I comprehend the line but is this a joke that all become elves in time?

Yep, and purely jocular. I don't actually think it's true.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Yep, and purely jocular. I don't actually think it's true.

the fact I know what jocular even means surprises me.

 

[Mind of tempest]

I provided short hand, but you can read it here

The Goliath Race for Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) Fifth Edition (5e) - D&D Beyond

At the highest mountain peaks — far above the slopes where trees grow and where the air is thin and the frigid winds howl — dwell the reclusive goliaths. Few folk can claim to have seen a goliath, and fewer still can claim friendship with them. Goliaths wander a bleak realm of...

www.dndbeyond.com

I think you are misinterpreting me, what I want is a dissection of how the story functions of a race works in an example so I can get a good idea of what I am trying to build.
ideally in bullet points

 

[Cruentus]

Edit. Nevermind. After doing some more digging, my suggestion doesn't really help.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The Sleestack from the TV show & movie Land of the Lost had a mystical bent, and a crystal-based technology.

There‘s lots of animals out there you could use as a basis for a race that wouldn’t scream “elf” in a fur suit. Avoid things like foxes, owls, horses, cats- anything considered “cool” and ”graceful” in some way. Turtles/tortoises- with their long lifespans- would be a natural, but there’s already some baggage there in certain editions of the game…and pop culture. Pachyderms would work, but they raise the “brute” issue. Grey (and other) parrots run into the Kenku problem..but you could simply rewrite the Kenku to suit your purposes.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Elfinization is NOT inevitable!

 

[Yaarel]

when space elves became a thing

Sorry. Resistance was futile.

Spock as a drow.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Try swapping attributes and cultures around, see what you get. You might wind up with tree loving dwarves, city gnomes, reclusive elves and warlike halflings.

Try changing the flavor of mysticism your race prefers. Instead of traditional D&D magic, have them focus on ki/Psionics. The Githzerai would be a good race to use as a point of inspiration & guidance. Instead of bolt-slinging mages, they produce cloud-stepping martial artists,,,

 

[Mind of tempest]

The Sleestack from the TV show & movie Land of the Lost had a mystical bent, and a crystal-based technology.

There‘s lots of animals out there you could use as a basis for a race that wouldn’t scream “elf” in a fur suit. Avoid things like foxes, owls, horses, cats- anything considered “cool” and ”graceful” in some way. Turtles/tortoises- with their long lifespans- would be a natural, but there’s already some baggage there in certain editions of the game…and pop culture. Pachyderms would work, but they raise the “brute” issue. Grey (and other) parrots run into the Kenku problem..but you could simply rewrite the Kenku to suit your purposes.

fair but I wish to avoid the area of anthropomorphic animals as I consider the designs unambitious, plus if I say wanted a tortoise or elephant we already have them.

Try swapping attributes and cultures around, see what you get. You might wind up with tree loving dwarves, city gnomes, reclusive elves and warlike halflings.

Try changing the flavor of mysticism your race prefers. Instead of traditional D&D magic, have them focus on ki/Psionics. The Githzerai would be a good race to use as a point of inspiration & guidance. Instead of bolt-slinging mages, they produce cloud-stepping martial artists,,,

I have been considering that but that ends up how do I avoid making offended by the monk stuff?

Edit. Nevermind. After doing some more digging, my suggestion doesn't really help.

I was reading about some of the mystical folk and they do feel elfy.