A minor rant: the Elf spectrum

[Umbran]

Half-Elves are staples to keep the grognards content (though yeah, I don't know anyone who actually likes them either).

Mechanically, half-elves are not particularly inspiring. But then, honestly, races in general are mechanically uninspiring. In the long run, mechanically, 3e race is overwhelmed by everything else a character gets over time.

However, in terms of flavor and story-potential, half-elves are, imho, much superior to elves.

 

[BBQ]

Well, while I felt the elf subrace thing was a bit much at points, I think they're going to leave elves as elves, with eladrin cousins, drow cousins, and possibly aquatic elf cousins.

Also, be grateful that they're not going really "Greyhawk" out of the starting gate: wood elf, wild elf, grey elf, high elf, valley elf, grass elf, drow... believe me, that list gets loooooong.

 

[BBQ]

Also, I might add that I love half-elves. They're a fun race to play around with. My 1st 4e character is probably going to be a half-elf warlord.

 

[Mad Mac]

That sounds more like Elrond, actually.

I'll give you that. I'm pretty sure that only people who are really into Tolkien think of Elrond as anything but a background character, though. (Not really into it myself)

Tolkien has plenty of fans though, so maybe that's enough. There's no denying that Half-elves haven't had much prescence in D&D land for a long time though. I can't think of any important Half-Elf characters in the novel lines, (Not that I read them all, mind you) or Important NPCs in the setting books, or anything. Heck, they don't even have a lame looking iconic hanging around the core books! (Wait, Is Vadania a Half-Elf?) Half-Elves aren't a playable option in most modern CRPG's, either.

I'm not bagging on Half-elves really. I liked Tanis as much as anyone when I was younger and I won't begrudge anyone the chance to play one. I'm just sort of ruminating on the impression I have now that they've become less popular than they used to be, and not just inside of D&D.

 

[Mad Mac]

However, in terms of flavor and story-potential, half-elves are, imho, much superior to elves.

I think the more alien you make elves, the more attractive Half-Elves become. If Elves are just pointy-eared humans who live in trees, being a Half-elf isn't very relevant except perhaps as a pick-up line.

If Elves are powerful, nearly immortal beings beyound human understanding, (Or 3' little green men with magical cookie baking powers) being a Half-elf becomes a lot more interesting.

 

[Aldarc]

The eladrin as a core race still seems to be rather redundant and inappropriate where they desire to make a mythical separation between elves and eladrin. Having them both as core removes the mystification of the eladrin.

 

[StarFyre]

i think it's time...

That they expand the system:

instead of races, call them 'species'

Then, have race for the cultural types (drow, regular, planar, wood, wild, etc).

Sanjay

 

[Aristotle]

I've never been a fan of half races. It seems some mechanic could be put into place to easily allow mixed-race characters if they are wanted.

Subraces too. Just put a list of common subtypes in the DMG (i.e. Deep, Desert, Aquatic, Feral, and on and on) and provide some method to quickly apply them to any race.


While the class changes on the way sound great so far, the race choices currently promise to disappoint. Elves, half elves, and now another race that is being described as "elf-like"? Come on. Teiflings are cool, but no Aasimar?

Also, I think Orc as a core race would rock. It's about time some of the "ugly" races get core spots rather than just making new variants of over saturated pretty ones, imho.

 

[Irda Ranger]

If Elves are just pointy-eared humans who live in trees,

In 4e, they are a lot like like. But kinda' Fey.

If Elves are powerful, nearly immortal beings beyound human understanding,

In 4e, we call these guys Eladrin.


That's how I think it's going to work, anyway. The guy who just wants to live in the woods and be Dexy can be an elf. The guy who wants to be all mysterious and other-wordly plays an Eladrin.

I think it's a good system, with an easy to roleplay difference between the two races. I like how 4e is re-approaching monsters and PC races and really asking "OK, what makes this guy an elf, as opposed to anything else." Same for their treatment of demons and devils.

 

[fuindordm]

I like the elf/eladrin distinction too... but three flavors of elf is too much.

I can see the role-playing appeal of half-races, but does this option really need as much detail as a full race?