D&D (2024) Half Race Appreciation Society: Half Elf most popular race choice in BG3

[Yaarel]

I think you are getting closer at this point, but the ability to 'adapt' on level in such a manner, isnt something I would incorporate.

That is player preference for the character concept, or the DM concept for the community.

For example, a player might have the character gain the Darkvision 120, and leave it at that for the rest of the life. Or take the Telepathy and be done.

Also, swapping only when leveling or feating encourages a commitment.

The Elf descends from mercurial shapeshifters. That there are moments of profound shapeshifting during the life of an Elf, is innate.

 

[Micah Sweet]

That is player preference for the character concept, or the DM concept for the community.

For example, a player might have the character gain the Darkvision 120, and leave it at that for the rest of the life. Or take the Telepathy and be done.

Also, swapping only when leveling or feating encourages a commitment.

The Elf descends from mercurial shapeshifters. That there are moments of profound shapeshifting during the life of an Elf, is innate.

I thought Mordenkainen's (where that Elf origin lives) was Canceled along with Voldo's.

 

[Scribe]

I thought Mordenkainen's (where that Elf origin lives) was Canceled along with Voldo's.

It was, as it answered too many questions.

Which is OK because it let's @Yaarel homebrew his own lore and rules as he's done here, while my Elves all lost the ability to alter their being after they migrated or were banished from the Feywild.

Only the Eladrin form and Trance remain of that ability.
 

 

[Yaarel]

I thought Mordenkainen's (where that Elf origin lives) was Canceled along with Voldo's.

Not sure what to make of the origin story. Heh, it rubbed me the wrong way because how it portrayed Corellon came across as if transgender persons are bad parents. Maybe we will see the origin story again in Planescape. The figures involved in the story are Corellon, Lolth, and Gruumsh − prominent in Greyhawk and Forgotten Realms. I expect the story to show up again.

Mordenkainen Presents when discussing Eladrin, Shadar-kai, and Sea Elf, still keeps up the thematic descriptions of physical mutability and plane hopping. So these species concepts remain pertinent for the Elf.

 

[Yaarel]

Asking the character optimizers ...

If there is a level-4 feat that grants "Fly 15 (Hover)", would you take it?

 

[Remathilis]

I thought Mordenkainen's (where that Elf origin lives) was Canceled along with Voldo's.

Per the Origins UA (playtest 1)
Created by the god Corellon, the first elves could change their physical forms at will. The elves lost this ability when Corellon exiled them from Arvandor for plotting with another elven deity named Lolth, who tried and failed to usurp Corellon’s dominion. When Lolth was cast down into the Abyss, most elves renounced her treachery and earned Corellon’s forgiveness, but that which Corellon had taken from the elves was lost forever.
No longer able to shape-shift at will, the elves retreated to the Feywild, where their sorrow was deepened by that plane’s influence. Over time, wanderlust and curiosity led many of them to explore other planes of existence, including various worlds in the Material Plane.
Elves have the mystical ability to take on characteristics of the environments with which they are bonded—drow to the Underdark, high elves to fey crossings in the Material Plane, and wood elves to forests. These connections grant elves access to certain kinds of magic.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Per the Origins UA (playtest 1)
Created by the god Corellon, the first elves could change their physical forms at will. The elves lost this ability when Corellon exiled them from Arvandor for plotting with another elven deity named Lolth, who tried and failed to usurp Corellon’s dominion. When Lolth was cast down into the Abyss, most elves renounced her treachery and earned Corellon’s forgiveness, but that which Corellon had taken from the elves was lost forever.
No longer able to shape-shift at will, the elves retreated to the Feywild, where their sorrow was deepened by that plane’s influence. Over time, wanderlust and curiosity led many of them to explore other planes of existence, including various worlds in the Material Plane.
Elves have the mystical ability to take on characteristics of the environments with which they are bonded—drow to the Underdark, high elves to fey crossings in the Material Plane, and wood elves to forests. These connections grant elves access to certain kinds of magic.

Fair enough. That's one explanation of Elves alright.

 

[Scribe]

Created by the god Corellon, the first elves could change their physical forms at will. The elves lost this ability when Corellon exiled them from Arvandor for plotting with another elven deity named Lolth, who tried and failed to usurp Corellon’s dominion

This must have come up before, as thats pretty much exactly how I do it.

 

[Micah Sweet]

This must have come up before, as thats pretty much exactly how I do it.

So the entire heritage went over to Lolth? That's very odd to me.

 

[Scribe]

So the entire heritage went over to Lolth? That's very odd to me.

No, I had it more as a everyone has to go, fall from heaven kind of thing for the species. Not all went over with Lolth, some settled in the oceans, the forests, and become the Sea/Wood/etc Elves.

A fracture of the species.