Holiday Present - The Elf PHB entry

[WhimsyTheFae]

Or you could just use common sense and stop splitting every hair you come across, and virtually no rules questions come up. The only question of those that comes close to being legit it 'Does it work through cover?', and my initial reaction would be 'no'. It depends on what the write-up for 'aura powers' says.

Wow, thanks for clearing that up. Would you now be so kind as to give us a complete list of "legit" questions? I would hate to offend you with my curiosity...

Seriously, lighten up...please. I agree that some of those questions might have been silly (to me), but even I was intrigued by a couple.

 

[HeinorNY]

I can see clearly now the elf has come
I can see all obstacles in my way
Oh, I don' need a lucky rabbit's foot no,
A lucky elf ear will chase my cataracts away!

You don't need to see to make Perceptions checks
Humans have Perception, so do oozes, golems and undead
It's an abstract mechanic,
Can't be simpler than that.

 

[Rechan]

Given their boost in Wisdom, I'm thinking an Elven Paladin could actually kick arse, given that we know Wisdom effects your smite damage.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Well, they could make laminate bows out of a bunch of composite pieces. Or, as someone else has said, trusty bone and sinew composites.

We joked about having composite bows made of a mix of adamantine and mithril (the mithril being the slightly springier bit), once you got into the +10 or so Str bonus area.

Brad

 

[Piratecat]

I never cease to be amazed at at how the West has allowed its standard of female beauty to be dictated by fashion-industry men who don't even like to have sex with women.

Let's not sidetrack the thread, please.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I am now thinking I need to create an adventure to investigate why the lifespan of elves has shorted from 2000 years to 200 over the past couple of decades. Clearly this is not a natural occurance and something needs to be done to reverse this terrifying trend.

Actually I like the shorter life span, it makes a huge difference in the homebrew setting I have been working on for a while. The longer life span of the elves made it difficult to have certain world-shaking events of the past be forgotten without making it a really, really long time ago.

Overall I'm liking the elf write up, but I will join with others in some concern about the "aura" bonuses we have seen a few of and the possible complexity of keeping track of them all.

 

[Will]

I figure an elf interested in long life would go for one of those options to extend life:

Lich, for fun and profit!
20th level druid (in 3.5e, at least)
Bargain for a celestial template (or similar).

Really, lots of ways to be immortal if you are committed to it.

Personally, I like the idea that some elves pursue/refine their immortality, while most simply pass on.

 

[BadMojo]

On the "don't cut down living trees" front. This is just my own thoughts on the matter, but I'd think a valuable item (like a finely crafted bow) would be passed down through generations in a tribal society like the Wood Elves have (or at least did in Forgotten Realms).

This is made more convenient by shorter life spans and more passing down of the ancestral weapon. The PoL setting should also mean that fewer folks die of old age, and the Elves always seem to be squabbling with orcs, goblins, etc. anway.

Sort of related, I hope 4E incorporates a rule like the Ancestral Weapon feat that lets you improve an heirloom weapon instead of just tossing it out when you get that shiny new +1 sword.

 

[LEHaskell]

I am now thinking I need to create an adventure to investigate why the lifespan of elves has shorted from 2000 years to 200 over the past couple of decades. Clearly this is not a natural occurance and something needs to be done to reverse this terrifying trend.

Ennui.

 

[Rechan]

I personally like the aura. I don't know what people have an issue with - most parties aren't going to be spread out beyond 25 feet, especially in situations where they know they'll need to make a perception roll.

Besides, the fluff of such an ability makes sense to me. The elf hears something and goes "SHht. Everyone quiet. ... Do you hear that?" Or you know, raises his hand so everyone is quiet, letting them know to LISTEN HARD.

Also, in one of the playtests, it was mentioned that the Eladrin used a half-elf friend's diplomacy bonus. I'm willing to bet that Half-Elves give a +1 bonus to Diplomacy to anyone within 5 squares. Yeah?