D&D 5E Elves, Elves, Elves, Elves, ... Elves, Elves, Elves, Elves, ...

[Yaarel]

It was 100% inevitable that the many different kinds of Elf within the D&D tradition would eventually become available in 5e too.

From the very beginning, the 5e Elf race should have been HIGHLY customizable, picking and choosing the favorite ability score improvements and the favorite traits.

+2 Any, +1 one other.



Already in 5e we now have:

Avariel Elf (UA)
Drow Elf (PH)
Eladrin Elf (DG)
Eladrin Elf (UA)
Grugach Elf (UA)
High Elf (PH)
Joraga Elf (PS)
Mul Daya Elf (PS)
Sea Elf (UA)
Shadar Kai Elf (UA)
Tajuru Elf
Wood Elf (PH)

Already there twelve different kinds of Elf.



Not only that, but these Elves, their earlier incarnations in previous editions of D&D, as well as other important Elf traditions make every ability score improvement possible.

There are kinds of Elf in D&D whose 5e equivalent is +2 Charisma, +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, +2 Constitution, +2 Dexterity, +2 Strength.

Make the Elf race HIGHLY customizable. Let the player build whatever kind of Elf the player wants.

 

[Yaarel]

(Reserved)

 

[Sunseeker]

Dungeons and Elves?

 

[Draegn]

My games have Light, Grey and Dark the differences being religion (Tolkien) based.

 

[Tony Vargas]

I hear a new Talislanta came out recently...

 

[Guest 6801328]

I'm mostly just puzzled what possible future of this thread you had in mind when you "reserved" the first reply.

 

[Yaarel]

I'm mostly just puzzled what possible future of this thread you had in mind when you "reserved" the first reply.

I want to get a sense of what a customizable Elf race might look like.

It might list out all the possible Elf traits from D&D 1e, 2e, 3e, 4e, and 5e. Organize them into major and minor traits.

Then a narrative description of each ‘Elf culture’ (Drow, High, Tulani, Grey, etcetera) recommends which abilities and traits are typical for a particular culture. But the player can choose whichever the player wants, whether the character is typical or atypical.

 

[Nadan]

Elves are eevees

 

[Raith5]

I hear a new Talislanta came out recently...

C'mon we all know it had some elves

 

[Wulffolk]

This is why Racial bonuses to Abilities are a bad idea. People feel the need to have a Subrace for every possible combination of Ability bonuses somebody could want. It also influences players to pick a Race/Subrace specifically for it's mechanical benefits.

I think a better solution would be to offer a list of Racial Feats instead straight up Ability bonuses. For example, since Elves ar more graceful than Humans they could have a Feat that gives them Advantage on Acrobatics rolls. Of course, an Elf would get more than just that, but that is better than giving them a large bonus to the most powerful Ability a character can have.

I think all of the major Races could benefit from such an approach.