Elven Resistance to Sleep

[Psion]

Most of the time, a blow which would have killed an elven wizard would have killed a human wizard...

Oh?

Consider this. If you are playing a 10th level mage and you have ever uttered the phrase "I have 9 hp" (or any number less than 10), a elf with the same rolled or allocated stats would have been down.

 

[Land Outcast]

right, the elf would be down to -1 hp, not dead, to kill that elf (9hp more), the human wizard would have to say "I'm disabled"... (My interpretation of that is: dead -in a caster-)

and, down to it, at level ten we already know that those 9 hp the wizard has remaining are sheer luck (not so much at lower levels, when the damage range is smaller).

The thing is: wether the elf says "I'm down to -1" or the human says "I'm down to 9", we have there some really screwed chars, probably about to be butchered (the idea is not to get hit, not to survive hits... someone said that before, right?)

 

[Psion]

right, the elf would be down to -1 hp

Okay.... so when the human says I am at -1, the elf is dying.

You are engaging in the argument of the beard. No, being shaven is not the same as having a beard. 10 points (or "level" points, if you will) is sensible difference in hit points.

 

[Nyeshet]

I think it should be dropped in 4e, along with . . . elven resistance to ghoul paralysis. They rarely come up, and when they do, they are often forgotten til after the fact.

Do elves even *have* resistance to ghoul paralysis in 3.5e (or even 3e)? I had thought it died out with 2e . . . .

 

[Land Outcast]

argument of the beard

I just mean that those 10 hp don't make the difference most of the time at 10th level (they would do so at 1st level, but at 1st level the difference is of 1hp), as 20 don't make it at 20th.

 

[Vuron]

The -2 to con is significant problem for elven casters but it's hardly insurmountable

Assuming an Elite array the Elven Wizard will likely have a -1HP/level, a slightly worse Fort Save, a slightly better Reflex save, a slightly better AC, a slightly better chance to hit with ranged attacks (including ranged touch attacks), and access to a better ranged weapon (a longbow is better than a light crossbow in many ways).

Of course if the Elven Wizard is really concerned by his durability he can always adopt a battleform with polymorph

I'm not saying that Elves are a great race vs the human race as the bonus feat and skill points generally negate many of the skill bonuses over time but I'm not sure it's a bad race for casters.

 

[Mark CMG]

Favored class for Elves should be ranger, IMO. Other than that, I'm not convinced they need a rethink.

 

[Psion]

Do elves even *have* resistance to ghoul paralysis in 3.5e (or even 3e)? I had thought it died out with 2e . . . .

The SRD sayeth:

Those hit by a ghoul’s bite or claw attack must succeed on a DC 12 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds. Elves have immunity to this paralysis. The save DC is Charisma-based.

 

[Vuron]

Favored class for Elves should be ranger, IMO. Other than that, I'm not convinced they need a rethink.

I think Ranger and/or Sorcerer should be the favored class as both seem to fit the literature inspiration better than a bookish wizard.

Half-Elves should move to Bard (Spontaneous caster like many elven parents) as the favored class and Gnomes should get Wizard (Illusionist) as the favored class.

 

[howandwhy99]

Yep. Ghoul, not Ghast paralysis immunity. Hmm....

What about Spell Resistance 10+level for Enchantment and Illusion spells only? 1/2 Elves could take 5+level? I already give 1/2 elves a human-like option of either a bonus feat or the extra skill points at 1st level.


And of course the BIG question:
Beards Always? Dwarves
or
Beards Never? Elves