Have Grey Elves changed significantly in the recent past?

[MHarvey]

Hello, everybody!

As I mentioned on my first post in the Welcome forum, I am an "old" AD&D'er from way back, getting into the game again after quite a few years! I have a question that I hope y'all won't mind answering!

I am kind of concerned about whether I need to get the newest editions of all my AD&D books, or if the editions that I have are good enough for now, at least. To be more specific, I am creating an NPC who is a Grey Elf or Faerie. So far, I am using the information in the edition of the MM that I have.

However, I should point out that I have the 2nd edition of the Monster Manual. So I would like to know, are the descriptions of Grey Elves or Faeries any different in the latest edition of the MM, as compared with the edition that I have? And if so, could someone please tell me what are the differences?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Talk to y'all later!

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Very little change, as I recall. They still get the intelligence boost, constitution penalty and all the other elven traits. The only elves that have really substantively changed from edition to edition is the Drow.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

However, I should point out that I have the 2nd edition of the Monster Manual. So I would like to know, are the descriptions of Grey Elves or Faeries any different in the latest edition of the MM, as compared with the edition that I have? And if so, could someone please tell me what are the differences?

If you're talking about the third edition of D&D, then, to be honest, the game itself is significantly different now. It's essentially a different game. There are still people playing older editions, such as 2e and older, but you'll find more of them at places like Dragonsfoot.org than at EN World.

Let me see if I can dig up that old conversion booklet that came out when 3e was released...

 

[werk]

I don't really know what you're asking here MHarvey. What version of the game are you playing?

Advice: If you are starting to learn 3rd edition, discard previous edition knowledge and start from scratch. More than not, old rules and concepts will cause confusion. Round peg, square hole. You can make the round peg fit, but it'll be much the worse for wear.

...and if you are a troll...shoo!

 

[ColonelHardisson]

There was a conversion booklet on WotC's site that was released back when 3.o came out that showed the differences between 2e and 3e. I can't locate it, but I'd bet it's there somewhere. It'll give an idea of how different the editions are. It was a much more profound change than the difference between 1st edition and 2nd edition AD&D. And it's not AD&D anymore, just D&D.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

To answer the second question MHArvey, you should get the new books. The changeover from 2nd edition to 3rd is much greater than that from 1st to 2nd. The changes are too many to enumerate here, but you should at least get the Player's Handbook. Once you've digested the major changes, you can then make use of the online SRD resources, but until you've read the PHB, they might not make a whole lot of sense to you.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

OK, according to the 3.5 Monster Manual, the grey elf has +2 Intelligence and -2 on Strength in addition to the +2 Dexterity and -2 Constitution of the high elf, which is the "stock" elf. In addition, elves have these traits: base land speed 30 feet; immunity to sleep spells and effects; +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells or effects; low-light vision; automatically proficient with the longsword, rapier, longbow, composite longbow, shortbow, and composite shortbow; +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks; an elf who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it; automatic languages: Common, Elven; bonus languages: Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Sylvan; Favored Class: Wizard.

 

[Voadam]

Elves have changed in that their life span is no longer in the thousands of years but in the hundreds. Infravision is now low light vision (seeing twice as far as humans by light spells, torches, lanterns, etc.). Gray elves are mostly the same though, smarter, arrogant aloof elves.

www.d20srd.org will have the 3e mechanics. For your own campaign it is compeltly valid to use the old edition descriptions for races and whatnot. Keep drow CE and orcs LE. That is all world specific info and does not matter which description you choose to use as DM.

The third edition MM has more complete mechanics for monsters, but less descriptions than 2e had for most every monster. 3e has better art though. It can also be found free in the wotc website on their D&D page in their art gallery archive under MM3.5

 

[MHarvey]

Sorry! My mistake! I know I said that I had the 2nd edition. I meant to say the 3rd edition. I have the 3rd edition of the MM!

Having said that, are you, Werk, familiar with the 3rd edition? And if so, how would you say Grey Elves have changed between the time of the 3rd edition and the present?

I don't really know what you're asking here MHarvey. What version of the game are you playing?

Advice: If you are starting to learn 3rd edition, discard previous edition knowledge and start from scratch. More than not, old rules and concepts will cause confusion. Round peg, square hole. You can make the round peg fit, but it'll be much the worse for wear.

...and if you are a troll...shoo!

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Sorry! My mistake! I know I said that I had the 2nd edition. I meant to say the 3rd edition. I have the 3rd edition of the MM!

Having said that, are you, Werk, familiar with the 3rd edition? And if so, how would you say Grey Elves have changed between the time of the 3rd edition and the present?

What I listed above comes from the 3.5 edition of the Monster Manual. That's as recent an edition as there is. It was released in 2003. Do you have the 3.0 version, released in 2000, or the 3.5 edition? There wouldn't be much difference at all between the grey elves of 3.0 and 3.5.