Eladrins...

[circadianwolf]

Heh. There seem to be two groups of people in this thread--those who consider nobility simply a title, and those who understand that for eladrin, nobility is a lot more than a title. Eladrin nobles, for those who haven't read the fluff, are significantly physically different from normal eladrin. They're immortal, for one, and (generally) embodiments of seasons, with appropriate powers; some of them don't even have much of a physical body anymore (unless they want to). In a way they're much closer to the original 2E & 3E eladrin, the chaotic good immortals (the types of which are now the titles of eladrin nobility).

 

[doctorhook]

Heh. There seem to be two groups of people in this thread--those who consider nobility simply a title, and those who understand that for eladrin, nobility is a lot more than a title. Eladrin nobles, for those who haven't read the fluff, are significantly physically different from normal eladrin. They're immortal, for one, and (generally) embodiments of seasons, with appropriate powers; some of them don't even have much of a physical body anymore (unless they want to). In a way they're much closer to the original 2E & 3E eladrin, the chaotic good immortals (the types of which are now the titles of eladrin nobility).

There's still a presumption that Noble Eladrin started out as regular Eladrin, though. Also, I think 4E's eladrin are much more interesting than previous editions.

 

[Otterscrubber]

Ya, this sounds more like a roleplay thing than a game mechanics thing. If your DM says you are a noble then you can play a noble along with all the fun and not so fun options that come with that.

If you are in the camp that eladrin nobles are mechanically different and want to play one then you should work with your DM to create a balanced race option for it, but I always think there should be trade offs. It can't be all gain and no give if you want to be *special*. In my campaign a true eladrin noble would be far too removed from the concerns of the normal world to ever be part of an adventuring group, unless you had an all fey group and the campaign was entirely set in the feywild. Even then I'd have to make some balancing factors. I wouldn't just take an eladrin and give them tons fo extra benefits like being immortal and such.

Or make Eladrin Noble either a Paragon Path or an Epic Destiny that has to be earned. That would also make a lot of sense and provide goals and RP material to work with to help the campaign.

 

[Solvarn]

The Optimizer in me...

Eladrin are probably my favorite race. That being said, I love the flavor of the fey and Eladrin themed paragon paths/epic destinies because they are very charisma/charm oriented. Great if you are that type, but bleh otherwise.

You could probably build a good path/epic destiny by substituting equally powerful options in these builds. This was a good thread though I'm inspired to go back and read up on the Feywild again.

 

[circadianwolf]

There's still a presumption that Noble Eladrin started out as regular Eladrin, though. Also, I think 4E's eladrin are much more interesting than previous editions.

Oh, I agree on both counts. I think eladrin nobility would have to be a paragon/epic option, as discussed by others. (There are already fey- and even seasonal-themed epic destinies.)

 

[mneme]

Given the distinction of "noble" eladrin (ie, they're kings and queens of their element, and have demigod-like power), you wouldn't want a player starting out with that status at first level. However, that doesn't mean you can't have a 1st level eladrin with a strong -connection- to a noble eladrin. The king of winter's daughter can easily be a 1st level character, who hasn't yet grown into her full power; so can the queen of autumn's nephew. As such, a noble background would mean a connection to a noble, rather than being properly noble yourself (at the start of play).

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Actually, I disagree... I think you could at 1st level start as a "noble" eladrin... just because your by-the-book noble eldrin is a paragon or epic level being, doesn't mean that they started that way.

For such long lived beings, I can very well see that they send their heirs out into the world to prove themselves and to make their own paths. They may never end up holding a title themselves... but if they do, you damn well know they will have become paragon/epic by then.

So, I see no problem in starting as a "noble eladrin" in heroic. Basically, you are a child of an eldrin noble, and you need to prove yourself before you are allowed your own place.

 

[DracoSuave]

Whether or not you do would actually depend on what 'noble eladrin' means in your campaign, is it hereditary, do people get born that way, and other such things.

That = depth.

Depth is good.