Holiday Present - The Elf PHB entry

[KarinsDad]

They don't need to. Their own racial Perception bonus is better.

Who said that the skill bonus is racial? Maybe it is (maybe anything acquired due to race is considered a racial bonus). But, the text we have so far doesn't actually state that yet. A general racial section of the book might state that. But at the moment, this is just an assumption that you are making (shy of hard data). It's probably a reasonable assumption, but we just do not know yet.

Not only that, but why would elves develop (i.e. evolve) an ability that helps non-elves? It seems a bit unusual.

Would anyone really be able to notice something like that from 30 or more feet away?

Semi-blind allies at 25 feet see the ears twitch. Sharp eyed allies at 30 feet do not.

My only point was that this type of explanation does not make sense. It is a bandaid to try to explain why an inexplicable ability exists.

And, it does not explain why an enemy cannot notice the same thing.


Group Awareness: Is it psionic? Does magic stop it? Does it occur when the elf is unconscious? Does it work through cover? Does it need line of effect, or does it work like a spread? Can the allies use it to find the elf if he is nearby and hidden? How about if he is invisible? When is a newly met creature considered an ally and can gain the benefit?

The problem with "aura-like" abilities is that they create game questions. It's fine if the rules handle most of these questions, but if they do not, it just opens up a Pandora's box of posts on the rules forum forever.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Now all we need is a sample Class writeup from the PHB, and we can all start playing Of course, we'd all be Elf Warlords, but who cares?

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

One thing to note about using squares versus feet - its simple way to make the game easily portable within the US and overseas - it eliminates most issues about feet-versus-meters.

 

[med stud]

I like it!

*The length and weight seem OK; there are perfectly healthy humans who are 6 ft tall and weigh in at 130 lbs. For another species, I can't see the problem here.

*Only positive ability scores. I don't care one way or another. This is mainly psychological, that players tend to not like low ability scores. As long as the game is balanced with these assumptions it doesn't matter if the ability scores are all -4 or all +4. It will be interesting to see humans. I would be happy if humans finally got a bonus to strength, considering that humans have always been the biggest of the D&D races (except half orcs).

*I like accuracy. Most of the time it could be considered "meh", but things like paladin smites and arrows of slaying make it more useful.

*It's hard to say anything about Wild Step since I don't know how shifting works yet.

*Group awareness might be a bit wonky. But I have heard that Perception works like a defense now so that it's enough if the DM knows if other PCs are close to the elf or not.

*I don't care about the estethics described. It looks good as is and if I want to change it it's the easiest thing in the world.

*I like how the elves are now described as playful and emotional. It rhymes well with both the elves in The Hobbit and how elves are described in the folk tales of my country. It also provides a nice explanation why members of a race of that age generally don't rack up levels as NPCs.

All in all, I like the write up in the sense that I want to create an elf PC now .

EDIT & PS: I don't mind the use of squares much. I have always had to convert from feet to meters anyway so converting from squares to meters won't be any difference. I also think that the only time you need to know exact distances is if you use a battlemat and in that case you might as well use squares.

 

[Green Knight]

Who said that the skill bonus is racial? Maybe it is (maybe anything acquired due to race is considered a racial bonus). But, the text we have so far doesn't actually state that yet. A general racial section of the book might state that. But at the moment, this is just an assumption that you are making (shy of hard data). It's probably a reasonable assumption, but we just do not know yet.

Skill Bonuses: +2 Nature, +2 Perception

All elves gain a +2 Perception.

Not only that, but why would elves develop (i.e. evolve) an ability that helps non-elves? It seems a bit unusual.

Just because it's a racial ability, it doesn't mean that it's genetic. Elves are proficient with bows, too. Is that genetic? It may be as simple as the elf making hand signals to his party.

Semi-blind allies at 25 feet see the ears twitch. Sharp eyed allies at 30 feet do not.

Now you're just splitting hairs. Do you really expect them to make the rule 10 times more complicated to account for characters with worse eyesight? Since when has D&D ever been an exact simulation of real-life?

And, it does not explain why an enemy cannot notice the same thing.

What are they supposed to notice? That the elf noticed them? If they're within 25 feet of the elf, then why in the world would they get a bonus to Perception checks to detect themselves? Nor should it help them against any of the elves allies who may be hidden from the enemy. You think the elf is gonna do anything to give away any hidden allies to an enemy?

Group Awareness: Is it psionic? Does magic stop it? Does it occur when the elf is unconscious? Does it work through cover? Does it need line of effect, or does it work like a spread? Can the allies use it to find the elf if he is nearby and hidden? How about if he is invisible? When is a newly met creature considered an ally and can gain the benefit?

We haven't seen the rest of the rules, so complaining about this is pretty silly.

It's fine if the rules handle most of these questions, but if they do not, it just opens up a Pandora's box of posts on the rules forum forever.

That's the thing, though. You don't know that they don't, yet here you are complaining about them. How about waiting for the rules to come out before you complain about rules which may or may not be badly explained?

 

[Fifth Element]

I loved it until I noticed they gave them GENETIC WEAPON PROFICIENCIES again.

I don't know why people assume they're genetic rather than cultural. The idea is that all little elves learn to use these weapons as they're growing up. Nothing genetic about it.

On the other hand, weapon proficiences as a whole are a sloppy system, though I'm not too stuffed about their inclusion. It's a reasonable work-around to what could be a very complex system.

 

[pawsplay]

I don't know why people assume they're genetic rather than cultural. The idea is that all little elves learn to use these weapons as they're growing up. Nothing genetic about it.

Especially when you consider they stay at home and live with their parents for 85+ years before they take up adventuring. At least in 3e.

 

[HeinorNY]

Yet they are archers? So what do they make all their bows and arrows out of? I guess bows could be bone, so they respect natural animals less than natural trees? But the arrows, I doubt there is enough dead-fall wood to keep a race of archers stocked?

Elven nature magic that creates wood out of nowhere.

Next concern please?

 

[pawsplay]

I don't really like the reduced lifespan. Realistically, a 1000 year lifespan translates to about 300 years anyway, since you can only go about that long before something most likely kills you, but the idea that there might be a 1000 year old Elf King is kind of appealing.

I guess there still could be; maybe 30th level characters can become quasi-immortal kings.

 

[Reynard]

One thing to note about using squares versus feet - its simple way to make the game easily portable within the US and overseas - it eliminates most issues about feet-versus-meters.

The biggest advantage I see is that it actually makes it easier to make locations and set-pieces "realistic" and provide some kind of flexibility in relationship to layout. Have a good old fashioned bar brawl in mind? Each square = 2 feet ish. Want a battle in a massive cavern? Each square is more like 10 feet. As long as everything is measured in squares, it'll work. Now, if they turn around and measure spell or weapon ranges in five-foot increments, frex, problems will develop.