Annoying Elves

[JoeGKushner]

I can agree with that.

But those people who have maxed out ranks of diplomaacy, bluff, etc... and perhaps even taken some feats to boost those skills.

This individual though, sadly has not.

 

[I'm A Banana]

As far as helpful information, I'd lightheartedly embrace the stereotype. Elf wants to see me as a monkey? Fine. I'll use it to my advantage. He'll underestimate me, he'll contradict me, and he'll make mistakes. And then, when he needs me to bail him out, depending on my alignment, I either leave him for dead, get him into worse trouble, or simply say "Fine, but this monkey stuff needs to stop. We need each other, got it? Grow up, and learn to accept other's differences."

And if that fails, I'd arrange in private with the rest of the party to ditch him at the earliest opportunity, and sic the guards on him for stalking me if he continued to try and hang around.

He says I'm a monkey? Ook ook, you pointy-eared pansy.

You could also take it as good-natured, rather than insulting, and give as good as you get.

"Oooh, did the widdle elf call me a monkey? Whussamatter, did you stop farting gumdrops? Oh, and monkey wants a cookie, Keebler. Get to work. Chop chop."

 

[Oryan77]

A co-worker of mine that used to play in our group played an elf. He was new to D&D. About 8 sessions later he started speaking with a character voice. Only he sounded more like a squeaky Gnome or something. None of us do voices, and his voice just kept making us laugh. I couldn't tell him to stop because I was just glad he was trying to get into his character. It lasted 1 full session and he stopped because we kept laughing at him.

We wouldn't have been able to deal with it much longer, it would've got real annoying after awhile. So technically he was playing an annoying elf.

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

In some ways, it has nothing to do with game mechanics, or even Lord of the Rings why elves act so superior.

It has to do that thier race was mighty and powerful while humans and thier kin were eating berries, clubbing baby seals, and painting themselves blue.

That long of a lifespan, with an empire spanning tens of thousands of years, many elves LIVE longer than human kingdoms manage to exist.

So they get the superiority complex. Many elven races are content to let Father Time take care of an annoying human or human kingdom, rather than have elves die trying to do what time will take care of within the elve's lifetime without any muss.

It's not just the racial stereotype of elves, but a logical extension of a society where the citizens live so long, compared to other, newer races. It's the comparison of barbarians VS cultured Roman citizens. It doesn't matter that he's a Pictish King, he's a barbarian who wipes his hands on his shirt and eats with his bare hands.

A lot of people play elves as arrogant. So what? I play mine as conniving backstabbing meddlers who constantly seek to undermine human achievements.

 

[The_Gunslinger658]

Hi-

Some great responces to the Elf problem, one thing I forgot to mention was how the Elf started calling non-elves monkeys. We had left Caudron to go to the Lucky Monkey Inn to recover some Wands as tasked to us by the Church of St. Cuthbert. They worry to much I think about the place flooding, but then, who would be stupid enough to build a city in a vocano? Humans of course

Well as we aproached the inn, there were a number of baboons watching us and inhabiting the Inn. This is where the Elf got the idea of calling the non-elves monkeys. As he killed the creatures with unabandoned glee. The Baboons just reminded him of his non elven buddies that he could not resist insulting him.

Also, before that, the poor elf was always being insulted by his fellow party members about his sexual orientation, or his compentancy to cast spell's, sure this goofy elf might accidently cast fireball a little to close for comfort but it did save the day.

We saved some drow chick from the Striders guild, killed the Baboon werecreature and took his money.

We had fun!!!

Great game Joe!


Scott

 

[Voadam]

Hi-

Playing in Joe K's Shackeled City campaign and we have this one guy play an elf Wizard, he plays the elf as a real snob and know it all. Plus he compares all non elves to monkeys. [1]Is this annoying? [2]Should we kill the elf and take his money? How are elves played in your games?

thanks

Scott

1 Yes

2 Depends on your characters and general social compacts of your group.

3 Varies, some are xenophobic, some are quiet efficient archers, some are passionate chaotics, some are ethereal elder leaders.

 

[Imperialus]

Elven superiority? Don't make me laugh. Two words for that loser:

Constitution penalty

Next time you get in a fight, let a monster or two get past you to smack around the poor little androgynous elf. He'll beg the monkeys for assistance. If he doesn't, well, trail rations have to come from somewhere.

As a rule, we don't play elves.

Or a variation on the theme. Next time you are in a city hire a bunch of thugs to come and start a "fight" with you... Step back. Let them beat the snot out of the elf while you stand around making monkey noises and asking him if he needs help.

 

[Voadam]

It has to do that thier race was mighty and powerful while humans and thier kin were eating berries, clubbing baby seals, and painting themselves blue.

I like berries.

 

[Voadam]

Most stereotypes evolve out of the ability adjustments. Elf-int-smarter-arrogant (yes I know 3.5 elves get dex bonuses but it was not always that way)

In 3e and 3.5 they get a +2 to dex and -2 to con. In 1e and 2e it was +1 and -1.

Gray elves in 1e to 3.5 get the bonuses to int.

 

[jdrakeh]

It's also possible to find rude sorcerers with no social skills.

I don't dispute that, but I do dispute that it's possible to find rude sorcerers with no social skills who are also charming, admired, pillars of society. I guess what I'm getting at is that the definition of Charisma in the RAW precludes inviduals who are blatantly rude and offensive from having a high score in that ability, as the ability measures personal magnetism - and it's a pretty tough sell that being a brutish, rude, intentionally insulting, bigot is somehow highly attractive to the population at large (which is exactly the argument that several people have made).