How many elves are too many elves?

[Yaarel]

I want an elf race that I like.

If there is only one elf, and it is the one I like. Great.

If there is a 100 elves and I only like one of them, fine.

If there is a 1000 elves and I like all of them less, then I need a 1001.

 

[Yaarel]

I want an elf race that I like.

If there is only one elf, and it is the one I like. Great.

If there is a 100 elves and I only like one of them, fine.

If there is a 1000 elves, and I am less than enthusiastic about them, then I need a 1001.

 

[cbwjm]

We need elves!

What would we hunt?

What do you mean what will we hunt? We'll hunt what we've always hunted. Gnomes.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

The overabundance of elves is only a result of the developers not wanting to create racist "human subraces" based on various IRL human cultures and races. Which is probably for the best.

This is what I was going to say, if it had not already been said. So we need an elven variant for every real world human cultural and regional variation, both current and extinct. Of course, this is also why I do not like Drow as a player race because of the obvious comparison some people make with the superficialness of skin color. Is there even a dark-skinned elf race anywhere in D&D that is not evil and not Drow?

 

[pogre]

What do you mean what will we hunt? We'll hunt what we've always hunted. Gnomes.

Well, yes, on Wednesdays - but, what about the rest of the week?!

 

[Draegn]

View attachment 94766

Like these examples?

 

[Hriston]

This is why there are so many elves.



Throughout the histories of various groups of elves they have come under the influence of certain divine powers who have shaped their forms and cultures.

 

[cbwjm]

This is why there are so many elves.

View attachment 94767

Throughout the histories of various groups of elves they have come under the influence of certain divine powers who have shaped their forms and cultures.

What is that from, I don't recognise the names, is it Greyhawk?

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

What is that from, I don't recognise the names, is it Greyhawk?

Tolkien.

 

[Hriston]

What is that from, I don't recognise the names, is it Greyhawk?

Tolkien.

Yes, it's from the Silmarillion. I'm not sure if this chart was created by Christopher Tolkien or his father, but my point is the way Tolkien presented his elves as having split into many groups influenced how they are presented in D&D.

edit to add: That being said, I think High Elf and Wood Elf covers it pretty well. And I guess they had to include Drow because D&D.