Elven Favored Class?

[swordsmasher]

Okay, why is the favored class for elves the Wizard? Wouldn't Ranger or even Bard be more appropriate? What does yous guys think?

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Personally, I think it should be sorceror.

It just depends on how tree-happy your elves are. Some people like the notion of "high elves", the kind that apparently do all their architecture with white marble. But whatever floats your boat.

 

[Gez]

Here are the favored classes IMC:

Grey Elves: Elementalist (wu jen with a retooled spell list)
► IMC, they are mariners, loving nothing more than the freedom one has on the open seas. Not the aloof-snob-midly racist mountainers archetype described in the MM. I liked a magic favored class for them, but wanted it to be more in-tune with a chaotic good race, and the wu jen is just that -- a chaotic wizard in better tune with nature.

High Elves: Hexblade
► Those, on the other hand, are definitely aloof and upnose-looking. They love to fight, and to fight dirty. They develop magical powers too, but only secondarily. They are bastard at heart, use their curses as oppression tools. A chaotic evil culture, although of all, the most likely to produce lawful members.

Wood Elves: Scout
► Wild and unpredictable, the chaotic neutral wood elves can be friendly and hospitable, or hostile and aggressive. One never knows, upon entering their forest, if they'll be welcomed to partake in their bawdy celebrations or hunted to death just for trespassing. It is usually possible, in the case of a wild hunt, to negociate with them, but that usually involves besting their master of the hunt in unarmed combat.

 

[Turanil]

I would say that (in D&D 3.5) elves' favored class should be Bard, and gnomes' favored class should be Illusionist.

 

[Gez]

And I would agree with you. The standard D&D elves love art, magic, and swordplay, and this is the exact definition of the bard class. Plus bardic knowledge would please those who like the idea of elves remembering lots of stuff from their long life.

And honestly, I can more easily see a singing and dancing elf than a singing and dancing gnome. To me, gnome arts would be more pictural -- painting, sculpting, etc.

 

[Crothian]

I think Wizard works great for elves. All the races have a variety of interest. Elves could have favored class Druids as well and it could make sense. Lots of classes make sense for them. Besidses favored classes is a basically unused and ignoired ability I don't worry about it.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

Elves have been regarded as "innately magical" or "magical beings" throughout D&D's history. I think that sorcerer should be the favored class in campaigns that use such.

 

[Gez]

Actually, if you look at all description of elves and magic in the PHB, wizard makes more sense than sorcerer. It's said that elves love to study magic, that they see it as an artform, that they're attracted to it like moth to a flame, and so on. Not that they have any innate gift for it, just a very strong interest.

The innately magical schtick is for gnomes.

 

[Ryltar]

Just ditch favored classes entirely. They serve no apparent reason besides punishing those players who don't want to play the clichéd race/class combinations, IMO. Simply stating that "the majority of elves are wizards" should suffice.

And yes, I think wizard is more fitting than sorcerer, at least for high elves. Wood/Wild elves do gravitate towards ranger-y/fighter-types, I'd say.

 

[Psion]

The problem isn't the favored class... it's the race abilities that fail to support it.

Elves just make better clerics as written.