Annoying Elves

[Greylock]

Currently playing an elf. He's free-spirited, silly, and takes his meditation seriously. He simply doesn't get human conventions like "money", or feudal ties. And he acknowledges quite often that this might have something to do with longevity/early death. Pretty stereotypical, from some points of view.

And I am having a ball running him, mostly. Most of the other players like him as well. I've tired of him at times, but the DM and the players can't imagine the game without him.

Stereotypes can be fun, as long as you don't tromp all over the other chars.

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

Elves are supposed to be Chaotic Good, aren't they? Even in 3rd Edition?
If so, shouldn't they be more congenial, pleasant, welcoming people than they are commonly portrayed as being, as thus often played as being?

 

[Funeris]

Do you mean like racial reaction modifiers as found in the 1e PH and UA? I think the Valus Campaign 3e setting has a similar chart.

Well, the Valus has a Racial Preference Chart. It gives the typical reactions between races but no modifiers. For example, Aradeeti (a Human ethnic group) Dislike Half-Orcs. So, if you're a half-orc...you'll know how you're going to be treated. And, if you're an Aradeeti, you know how to treat a half-orc.

But the chart really is only for NPCs. PCs are usually above the common masses...in manner and attitude (although a lot of people don't play that way). I could've sworn though that PCs are supposed to be a cut above (if you're playing a "Good"-aligned group).

Oh well, hope that helped, Voadam.

 

[fiddlerjones]

Elves <i>tend</i> toward chaotic good. No race is "supposed" to be any alignment. The point is that there are general, broad characteristics shared by most elves, but don't define the character by his race. Don't play "an elf," play "Legolas, elf archer of Mirkwood.*" People are saying not to penalize him for good roleplaying, but to me good roleplaying means having a deep character defined by more than his race.


*PLEASE don't <i>actually</i> play Legolas. Ever. Thank you.

 

[BroccoliRage]

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. Is this annoying? Should we kill the elf and take his money? How are elves played in your games?

thanks

Scott

Elves in my campaign arent that cool. even elves that associate with non elves are ostracized. humans hate them because theyve saved the elves from vecnas forces and have never received help from them. orcs hate them because for one thousand years they ruthlessly hunted them. and in my own opinion, elves are kinda gay. whats the appeal, other than the added racial adjustments, which are something ive completely done away with so people will play a character because they want to and not because of the strategic advantage.

however i wouldnt as a dm punish a player for role playing accordingly. as a player my character would become fed up and act accordingly.

 

[Sigg]

Seems to me it was Dragonlance that did more than anything else to turn elves into whiny, arrogant jerks in general in the gaming public's eye. I'd prefer to get back to the subtly condescending, benevolently tolerant, slightly otherworldly type of elves tolkien wrote about. Or my true preference would be the annoyingly cheerful, endlessly frivolous, eternally patient, mature kender type of fey elves I've been meaning to design into a setting someday. The one elf rogue/wizard I played in a campaign was slightly arrogant, but he loved humans and was actually in the service of his homeland as an ambassador (as well as spy) to a neighboring human realm.

 

[Aeson]

I use arrogant dwarf and prankster elves in one of my campaigns. I think judge-dredd gnome would be a nice addition. As well as gruff ale-drinking paladin.

I played a Paladin with a drinking problem. He also got depressed when he drank. I think it was some of the best roleplaying I ever did but it pissed off the others.

I say let the elf player have his day. I get tired of people playing other races as if they were human. They should be different because they are.

 

[Dark Jezter]

Elves <i>tend</i> toward chaotic good. No race is "supposed" to be any alignment. The point is that there are general, broad characteristics shared by most elves, but don't define the character by his race. Don't play "an elf," play "Legolas, elf archer of Mirkwood.*" People are saying not to penalize him for good roleplaying, but to me good roleplaying means having a deep character defined by more than his race.


*PLEASE don't <i>actually</i> play Legolas. Ever. Thank you.

Agreed. If the movie version of Legolas were to appear in a standard D&D campaign, he'd be accused of being a DM's Pet PC.

 

[Sarellion]

Some people seem to miss the opener´s second post where he admits that the other party members started insulting the elf before calling him incompetent and questioning his sexual preferences.

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

Posted by Sigg:

Or my true preference would be the annoyingly cheerful, endlessly frivolous, eternally patient, mature kender type of fey elves I've been meaning to design into a setting someday.

From Edena_of_Neith:

I think you hit the essence of High Elves as I conceive of them squarely on the head of the nail.
My Haldendreevan elves are like that currently, with a few extra details added in ...

Concerning D&D elves and half-elves, I think Elaine Cunningham has done a great job of fleshing them out with her novels Elfshadow, Silver Shadows, and Evermeet: Isle of Elves.
I also think Ed Greenwood and Steven Schend laid out the heart and soul of Faerunian elves in their books and supplements concerning Myth Drannor.
Faerunian elves are as lofty and noble as any of Tolkien's elves. They are an intense people in every sense of the world. They are passionate, driven, and full of angst. They are beautiful and terrible, mighty and tragic, joyous and sad. They are bigger than life, grander than grand, more deadly and violent than war, more fey and wild than faerie.
If you think I exaggerate, read the books and supplements written by Cunningham, Greenwood, Schend, Salvatore, and others. You won't be disappointed by the Faerunian elves.

Concerning the elves of Krynn, I would be the first person to say that Lauralanthalasa and Alhara Starbreeze were * not * whiners or elitists. They were heroines in a World of Darkness, a world utterly without hope.