Are we tired of elves yet?

[kirinke]

Heh, I've generally always played elves. But now I've discovered Aasimars. Now there is a nice race to play. ^(^

 

[malien]

This was posted in the thread about dwarves, but I think it's suitable for this thread too.

Number of products that come up when you do searches for different races at RPGNow:

Gnomes: 15
Halflings: 19
Dwarves: 58
Elves: 219

While these numbers are a bit... uhh... out there, I think there's probably a decent reason for it. I mean, personally, I can count on my hand the number of characters in 2nd ed AD&D (when I started playing) that weren't human or elven. And, since 3rd came out, I'm all about the humans. (And, occasionally, a tiefling. Just to get my Planescape groove on.)

I've never played a gnome. Or a halfing. For that matter, I've done a few half-elves, no half-orcs, a drow or three, and this one time, a silver dragon. (Go Council of Wyrms.) My gaming group all follows a similar trend.

Why? Well, not to speak for the whole world, but I think there are just more people interested in some races than others. Obviously, this is the deal with Elves. So, naturally, you make more books about the topics people like. Even though there are people that like other races, you want to give the most people you can what they want, and make the cash.

But, really, aside from a bunch of fluff, I don't see how much crunch a single race /needs/, beyond like one entire book devoted to them. Unless they're a whole new spin designed for a campaign setting.

Tired of elves? Nah. Tired of unnecessary crunch? Maybe.

 

[Pants]

Nah, not tired of them yet. I am tired of the 'elves are perfect' and the continuing rise of subraces (of all kinds, especially those effing Wood Elves), but not elves in general. I like them and I even built my first 3.0 campaign around the idea that elves were militaristic and evil, which was pretty much inspired by one player's idea for a half-elf ranger. The players hated them and ended up waging war against them and finally destroying their kingdom.

Probably not the best campaign ever, but it was a lot of fun and I think that there is still a lot that can be done with Elves (as evidenced by Eberron).

I enjoy them, although I much prefer humans and dwarves.

 

[Raven Crowking]

I dunno, in the LotR novels the elves seemed pretty darn perfect to me. In fact, I usually skip the Lothlorien chapter because I get tired of hearing about how fair and wonderful and wise the elves are.

I haven't read the Silmarillion. I've tried, but I always end up getting bored and never finishing it. So maybe they're different in that book.

Just a couple of observations about Tolkein's elves.

1) They are responsible for teaching Sauron how to forge Rings of Power in the first place. And, when Saruman started thinking about the Rings of Power, who do you think he went to for advice?

2) It is pointed out that even Sauron did not begin evil. Sauron's great desire was to order the world as he saw fit (as opposed to the plans of the Valar and Anwe). The elves had the same desire, although to a lesser extent. It is the reason that Feanor created the Silmarils. It is also the reason that the Three Elven Rings were forged. They were intended to preserve the world as it was, rather than allow the world to exist as time changed it. In Lothlorien, time flows differently than in the world outside, as Aragorn tells Sam (who is surprised by the moon's phase upon leaving). Likewise, Rivendell is protected from change by the power of Elrond's Ring.

3) Most often, the elves have fled West rather than face evil -- so much so that Elrond fears that the Westward road from Rivendell will be guarded most of all.

The elves are beautiful, powerful, long-lived, and wise. Still, they are not wise enough to aid the human lands directly in their battle with the Enemy (despite what Peter Jackson changed), nor are they wise enough to endure the passage of time without trying to stem/control it. Glorfindel has power, perhaps, to withstand the Nine, but he does not lead a contingent to the aid of Gondor. There is war throughout Middle Earth, but surely nothing threatens Rivendell that Elrond cannot keep back with his Ring (much as Galadrial protects Lothlorien), yet Glorfindel in the end chooses to "wait and see." "Wait and see" is the death knell of the elves. They are unable to commit to this world. In the end, they are forced to leave it or diminish, wheras the younger, more committed races grow stronger.

The elves are wonderful. They seem very nice. Even so, they are for the most part more glamour than substance.

RC

 

[Bauglir]

1) They are responsible for teaching Sauron how to forge Rings of Power in the first place. And, when Saruman started thinking about the Rings of Power, who do you think he went to for advice?

Ringcraft was taught to the elves by Annatar ("Lord of Gifts"). Guess who Annatar really was.

 

[Li Shenron]

I never had more troubles with elves than I had with dwarves or halflings, they are all a very traditional part of D&D, each with its own cliche' problems.

 

[Jolly Giant]

Elves are okay, though I agree there seems to be more elf-only material than for example dwarf, halfling or gnome-only material. Can't blame the elves for that, though! I guess all the game designers out there just need to hurry up with material for the other races. The "Races of" series should do something to help the others catch up!

 

[Raven Crowking]

Ringcraft was taught to the elves by Annatar ("Lord of Gifts"). Guess who Annatar really was.

Yup. Sorry. My bad.

The rest of it stands, though.

RC

 

[Laurel]

I like elves, both playing and killing them. I also would agree with those saying there is an ever growing unbalanced tilt to elf prestige classes and sub-races.