D&D General elf definition semantic shenanigans

[Minigiant]

Science fiction isn't immune to this, a lot of analysis has been spent on how humans, near humans, and aliens are handled in sci-fi like Star Trek or Star Wars. Especially on how sci-fi reflects concepts of culture, biology and essentialism. More to the point, there isn't a Sci-fi RPG as big as D&D for which to catch that sort of flack with.

It's the near-humans.

Humans with true aliens rarely have this issue. The LGMs can calculate things as fast as computers and faster with them. The Green ones are good at Sociology and Biologiy. The Gray ones are good at Physics. They are all 3 foot fall with big heads and weak little arms.

Even modified humans don't fall into this problem as much as the they are clearly modified and he modification are usually explained.

But with near humans and aliens who become more and more human...

 

[Tonguez]

Science fiction isn't immune to this, a lot of analysis has been spent on how humans, near humans, and aliens are handled in sci-fi like Star Trek or Star Wars. Especially on how sci-fi reflects concepts of culture, biology and essentialism. More to the point, there isn't a Sci-fi RPG as big as D&D for which to catch that sort of flack with.

Let alone questions about how Vulcans with their green blood and weird dna are able to successfully crossbreed with humans

 

[Micah Sweet]

Science fiction isn't immune to this, a lot of analysis has been spent on how humans, near humans, and aliens are handled in sci-fi like Star Trek or Star Wars. Especially on how sci-fi reflects concepts of culture, biology and essentialism. More to the point, there isn't a Sci-fi RPG as big as D&D for which to catch that sort of flack with.

No, but there are certainly sci-fi properties as big or bigger than D&D. Where are the torch and pitchfork-laden crowds demanding Ewoks be just as strong as Wookies?

 

[Micah Sweet]

Let alone questions about how Vulcans with their green blood and weird dna are able to successfully crossbreed with humans

They have expressed in more than one source the difficulty involved there. Never assumed any fact in Star Trek hasn't been exhaustively examined!

 

[Yaarel]

but i'm not talking about an elf 'having the dexterity gene' making them dexterous, i'm talking about an elf being fundamentally adapted to being dexterous, it's irrelevant if an individual does or does not have the 'dexterity gene', if they do it just makes them even more dexterous as they're getting increased dexterity from both being an elf and having that specific gene, a greyhound is still going to be more predisposed to be faster than a pitbull who would likewise be predisposed to be stronger, pretty much regardless of if either has the fast or strong gene.

What makes an Elf an Elf, is its ability to magically express and promote Human ideals.

Biology is irrelevant. Elves are shapeshifters. Elves can adopt whatever biology they want.

 

[Minigiant]

No, but there are certainly sci-fi properties as big or bigger than D&D. Where are the torch and pitchfork-laden crowds demanding Ewoks be just as strong as Wookies?

There are none because the aliens stay mostly as alien as they are when introduced..

 

[Micah Sweet]

There are none because the aliens stay mostly as alien as they are when introduced..

Really? Klingons and Vulcans are just as alien now as they were when introduced fifty years ago? After decades of examination of their culture and psychology?

 

[Corinnguard]

What makes an Elf an Elf, is its ability to magically express and promote Human ideals.

Biology is irrelevant. Elves are shapeshifters. Elves can adopt whatever biology they want.

The different kind of elves in D&D are the result of them living in a given area for centuries. They adapt to their environment.

 

[Yaarel]

The different kind of elves in D&D are the result of them living in a given area for centuries. They adapt to their environment.

The primordial Astral Elves chose Human forms for a fateful purpose. The kinds of Elves who materialized into the Material Plane even adopted Human bodies of flesh and blood. Able they are to bear Human children with Humans. These children additionally inherit the elven magical essence.

Even the Elves who enter other planes of existence and other hostile landscapes, skyscapes, waterscapes, and firescapes, still bring their Human forms and Human ideals to there. In a sense, their magical essence continues the ideals of Human exploration and adaptation.

Despite the fact the Elf is utterly alien, an inhuman immaterial thought made out of the magic of space-time and fate. It chose to be Human. It chose to value Human ideals. This choice allows Humans to genuinely relate to them.

 

[Tonguez]

The different kind of elves in D&D are the result of them living in a given area for centuries. They adapt to their environment.

they adapt to the ambient magic of their environment