A minor rant: the Elf spectrum

[Odhanan]

I guess the fascination about elves PCs has a lot to do with wishful thinking and fantasies about oneself : "I want to be beautiful, inhuman, mysterious, dripping with magical power and awe-inspiring."

It can be twisted into other archetypal private fantasies (the good drow paladin for instance or "I'm misunderstood by everyone, my people are evil and want to beat me down, but I will end up free and respected for my own qualities as an individual", which sort of reflects the goth fandom in the "I'm unique, yet look like all my buddies because I want to be a 'proper' goth" irony, by the way), but that's the base idea.

We probably all do it to some extent. It just seems that the elf fits the wishful fantasies of the many.

 

[useridunavailable]

My mom knows who Elrond is

Yay, Hugo Weaving!

 

[HP Dreadnought]

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

Reeeeaaally?

Aside from the tired "Woe is me! I'm caught between two cultures and fully accepted by neither!" Exactly what story potential to half-elves bring to the table that any other race doesn't?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Yay, Hugo Weaving!

If my parents ever get divorced, I'm going to come home to find Agent Smith is my new step-father. /shudder

 

[The Little Raven]

It can be twisted into other archetypal private fantasies (the good drow paladin for instance or "I'm misunderstood by everyone, my people are evil and want to beat me down, but I will end up free and respected for my own qualities as an individual", which sort of reflects the goth fandom in the "I'm unique, yet look like all my buddies because I want to be a 'proper' goth" irony, by the way), but that's the base idea.

I think you're doing a disservice to the whole concept of a redeemable "evil" person by comparing it to what is actually just a fashion subculture. There's a vast difference between turning against your culture in order to defend what is right (drow paladin), and making a choice about fashion (goth).

 

[Aldarc]

I think you're doing a disservice to the whole concept of a redeemable "evil" person by comparing it to what is actually just a fashion subculture. There's a vast difference between turning against your culture in order to defend what is right (drow paladin), and making a choice about fashion (goth).

So you would not count Goths as a counterculture movement?

 

[The Little Raven]

So you would not count Goths as a counterculture movement?

Some small parts of it, yes. However, the majority is merely fashion. Once "counterculture" became marketable, it ceased to be a counterculture and simply became branding. I say this having come from that subculture, myself. Hence, the woe-is-me name I use: Mourn.

 

[AffableVagrant]

Yes, TY OP, I agree 100% The strange thing is, I don't know anyone who will actually admit to liking elves, let alone need several dozen sub-races to fulfill their intense elven addiction.

 

[dmccoy1693]

Reeeeaaally?

Aside from the tired "Woe is me! I'm caught between two cultures and fully accepted by neither!" Exactly what story potential to half-elves bring to the table that any other race doesn't?

Last half elf I played was raised by his elven mother. He never met his father nor spent any time in human culture. The mother died and gave my character the signit ring of his father. He sent out into cultures unknown looking for his father.

 

[Felon]

I guess the fascination about elves PCs has a lot to do with wishful thinking and fantasies about oneself : "I want to be beautiful, inhuman, mysterious, dripping with magical power and awe-inspiring."

Funny, I thought it was for people who wanted to be lithe, athletic, and wild.

Seriously, it should be pretty obvious that elves lend themselves to wish fulfillment. Dwarves and halflings, not so much. Don't know many folks who fantasize about being short and stocky, or little runts. Half-orcs do though; a lot of folks wish they big, strong lunks. Wonder why they don't get all the grief that elves get.