1/2 elves lost their feyness

[Sadrik]

Going by the blurb about 1/2 orcs and them wanting to make them from a less "dark" background. I thought that 1/2 elves may simply be elves who lose their feyness. Similar to lord of the rings. I don't know if they are going to be a breed necessarily but more an elf who lost that intangible elf part. This would be cool, sort of like an ex-paladin.

 

[Zamkaizer]

Going by the blurb about 1/2 orcs and them wanting to make them from a less "dark" background. I thought that 1/2 elves may simply be elves who lose their feyness. Similar to lord of the rings. I don't know if they are going to be a breed necessarily but more an elf who lost that intangible elf part. This would be cool, sort of like an ex-paladin.

I do not think Half-Elves will work that way, as Elves are already essentially Eladrin who lost their 'fenyness' - i.e. their magical connection to the Feywild. Double-plus Elves doesn't seem the best use of design space.

 

[Anthtriel]

If Half-Elves are a seperate race, and especially with two other elven races around, they need their own niche. Apparently that niche will be diplomacy or something of the sort.

I'm fine with whatever they get, because I will happily kill them off and distribute their stuff, no matter what Wizards does with them. With gnomes killed off, Half-Elves don't have much competition for the spot of least popular, least needed and most hated race out there.

 

[Lord Fyre]

If Half-Elves are a seperate race, and especially with two other elven races around, they need their own niche. Apparently that niche will be diplomacy or something of the sort.

I'm fine with whatever they get, because I will happily kill them off and distribute their stuff, no matter what Wizards does with them.

Besides, "diplomacy or something of the sort" would be better suited for - and increase the relavence of - Humans.

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

Going by the blurb about 1/2 orcs and them wanting to make them from a less "dark" background. I thought that 1/2 elves may simply be elves who lose their feyness. Similar to lord of the rings. I don't know if they are going to be a breed necessarily but more an elf who lost that intangible elf part. This would be cool, sort of like an ex-paladin.

I actually think the reason they're axing half-orcs is because half-elves already do the "caught between two worlds" thing better, with all the potential angst and without the NECESSARILY dark backstory. That is to say, you can easily come up with a backstory for a half-elf that doesn't involve rape, which is a lot harder for half-orcs, considering how brutal and evil orcs are supposed to be.

 

[cr0m]

Anyone know where the "half-elves are social, good at Diplomacy" idea came from? Is it somewhere in fantasy literature? Because I'm drawing a blank here.

 

[Traken]

Why, oh why, would they keep half-elves in? It's a weak race mechanically and spiritually. For me, it's worse than a half-dragon, because half-dragons actually have some sort of claim to uniqueness. Half-elves just seem pouty. "Oh, I don't belong anywhere, so all I have is this nifty +2 to democracy."

*cough*

 

[Intrope]

Anyone know where the "half-elves are social, good at Diplomacy" idea came from? Is it somewhere in fantasy literature? Because I'm drawing a blank here.

Well, of all Elven communities in Middle Earth only Elrond's Rivendell was notably friendly to visitor, etc. Other than that, I can't think of any really good examples.

Why, oh why, would they keep half-elves in? It's a weak race mechanically and spiritually. For me, it's worse than a half-dragon, because half-dragons actually have some sort of claim to uniqueness. Half-elves just seem pouty. "Oh, I don't belong anywhere, so all I have is this nifty +2 to democracy."

*cough*

Let me tell you about my 12th level Half-Elven Politician
And I agree, I'd like for all the Half-races to go away--I really don't see the need any more (likewise for Half-orcs--let's just skip straight to the real thing!)

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Anyone know where the "half-elves are social, good at Diplomacy" idea came from? Is it somewhere in fantasy literature? Because I'm drawing a blank here.

They're "outsiders" (in the social sense) and have to develop better social skills to gain acceptance.

However, outside of DnD literature, I haven't seen this trope.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

Anyone know where the "half-elves are social, good at Diplomacy" idea came from? Is it somewhere in fantasy literature? Because I'm drawing a blank here.

I think a lot of it comes from Tanis in Dragonlance.