How can wizard really be an elf's favored class?

[Umbran]

Sometimes the favored class should match racial abilities, sometimes it shouldn't. Having favored class match racial abilities means that the race is very good at that one thing, but not terribly good at anything else. Having them mismatch slightly (as with gnomes) makes a race better rounded, IMHO.

 

[der_kluge]

/long shot - because the concept of favored class is an antiquated stereotype, and should be dropped like a lead balloon.

Of equal absurdity is the idea that a majority of halflings are rogues. If that were true, crime would be higher in halfling villages than anywhere else.

 

[Gez]

Elves are a chaotic race and the formalized study of magical methods and formulae, and the nature of preparing spells at a certain time of day every day, along with the traditional master/apprentice system just reeks of "lawful" tendancy.

True. That's why, if you have Oriental Adventures, I advise you to give wu-jen rather than wizard for elven arcane spellcasters. The wu-jen feel is much better suited to chaotic and mysterious elves: Wu-Jen must be chaotic (or can't be lawful, don't remember), have a number of strange taboos they choose, and in return gets a slight number of spells (one per taboo) that they can cast better than normally, making their magic more imprevisible. Their spell-list, centered on elemental magic, has a more natural feel, somewhere between the druid and the wizard.

 

[Angcuru]

*ahem*

While I am a huge fan of Elves, I disagree that they should automatically have plusses to wisdom, intelligence, or anything of the like. Wisdom comes with age and experience, intelligence as well, and beauty has nothing to do with charisma, which is the personal ability to interact with others.

As they get older, they get wiser, more intelligent, more charismatic. The young'uns aren't gonna be Galadriel-style wise. SO stop the arguing, dammit.

Favored classes are dumb. So there.

 

[Dark Jezter]

Well they should, logically. But all those things would add power and thus ECL to the elves, and nobody wants that.

Elves are long-lived, true, but I think that their insular and xenophobic nature would hinder their intelligence and wisdom growth.

As for elves being beautiful (and therefore charismatic by the D&D definition), not according to the PHB they aren't. In fact, many humans might find elves downright freakish-looking due to their large, slanted eyes, narrow facial features, and long pointy ears. My hats off to Todd Lockwood for choosing to make Mialee and Soveiless look strange and alien rather than perfect specimens of human beauty standards.

Getting out of the shadow of Tolkienmania is the the best thing that ever happened to D&D elves.

 

[Ysgarran]

Elf fanboys claiming that elves should have more than 10 intelligence because of their long lifespans in 5... 4... 3... 2...

Lets hear it for the preemptive rant. Gotta get in the first punch ya know.

Ysgarran.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Elves are a problem for me in so many ways. That's why they aren't a playable race in my game. Of course, their natural alignment in my world is NE, and they have all sorts of nasty habits, like blood drinking, slaving, rapine, pillage, plunder...you get the picture.

Now, that's a elf it'd be fun to fight!

 

[Pants]

Of equal absurdity is the idea that a majority of halflings are rogues. If that were true, crime would be higher in halfling villages than anywhere else.

And look who's sticking with the antiquated idea that all Rogues are Thieves.

 

[ssampier]

If one looks at the elven description and many of the "outside" texts on elves, sorcerer (or possibly Bard) makes more sense for elves.

Elves are a chaotic race and the formalized study of magical methods and formulae, and the nature of preparing spells at a certain time of day every day, along with the traditional master/apprentice system just reeks of "lawful" tendancy.

The most thoughtful post I've seen all day. I agree the elven preferred class should be sorcerer rather than wizard. The favored class honestly does not mean much. It affects the ability to freely multi-class and that's about it.

I don't understand the rambant elf bashing. Elves belong just as much as dwarves, humans, halfings, or gnomes. FYI, I love playing elves in D&D. Unlike other people I much preferred the hobbit--rather than elf--heroes in LotR (except Legolas).

Also, remember the "average" elf is just as much of a peasant-commoner as humans are. They may have a culture of knowledge and learning, but that mean a darn thing when you're tending stock or repairing fences, etc.

 

[Ed Cha]

I think the elf's favored class should be rangers, but I agree, if I had to choose between wizard and sorcerer, too, it would have to be the latter.

Humans (or human-appearing alien races) are the only true wizards, in my opinion. Though high elves do have a cold, stern "lawful" quality about them.

Anyhow, I think the wizard as the favored class for the elf might be a throwback from the old days. This kind of thing should be updated for 3.5, but sometimes you just don't want to make any changes.