Long-lived races would rule the world.

[WayneLigon]

And don't forget, that elves are not humans and are not driven by their pursuit of power.

That's pretty much my position on most of the long-lived races; most of them (none of them that I can think of) are really motivated by the humans desire to grow and expand, and take everyone and everything else along for the ride.

Simply having a long life might blunt those desires, since there's no longer the pressure to provide for those who come after, no desire to build a legacy for your children in your own lifetime; after all, you'll be around for a long time after your kids are born. However, I think it goes deeper than that. I think elves and dwarves are less inclined psychologically to push back the borders of their world like humans are. A human will look at a plot of land and see what it can become. An elf will look at the same plot of land and love what it is. A human will use a tool and think 'there is a way to do this work faster, with less effort'. A dwarf will use a tool and continue to use it as long as it gets the work done. The work will still be there tomorrow and the next day and the next century; no need to do it all now.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I go with the thought that the longer the life span the slower the need to hurry.

 

[Liolel]

It about mindset. If you live 100 years, you might work on learning things much quicker then an elf who with a 300+ year lifespan would be inclined to take things slower and live the journy not only the destination. Also when you live as long as an elf, are you going to want to risk dying in some dark cave at 110 years of age.

The real thing to precive though is that no race, not humans not elves not dwarfs, will be living thier lifes in constant conflict unless they seek it out. A very small precantage of the population has pc classes if you look in the dmg. Now I'm pretty sure that elves have a slower birth rate then humans although it might have only been mentioned in second edition or I might be thinking of a book. But that means they are going to have smaller populations so even less pc classes. Not even all those characters with pc classes are going to go seek out danger to gain experince. Some stick to defending their town from weak threats, while others get a taste of danger and decide its not for them.

Basicly long lived races don't rule the world, unless you specifically have a large portion of them seek to gain power as fast as they can. Those that do gain 20th level still have difficulty taking over the world, as humans probally outnumber elves by 2:1 or more likely 3:1 or maybe 4:1.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Here is how I see the elves anyway:

Up until their "maturity" elves have enjoyed their simpler life, "prancing about their flowered meadows" sheltered somewhat by their parents and elders. Skills are taught to them by older, more patient folk who do not see a need to rush into teaching all there is in a matter of a few decades. One small aspect is expected to be mastered before the next can be learned.

When elves reach a certain stage of his or her life, (usually around that 110 year mark or so) they are considered old enough that their parents and elders feel they can no longer tell them what they can and cannot do. Some gain a curiosity of things beyond their own life and community. At this point these elves, who are usually a little more restless then most, go out and explore the larger world. The majority of elves, who do not feel this restlessness, or perhaps fear the world beyond their own, remain within their larger community of elves and continue to learn their skills and crafts with the extreme patience of those who have little to fear of losing time. The restless ones sometimes join up with humans and get caught up in the frenzied pace of human life. This experience is unlike anything they have ever had before and it becomes almost like a drug - they crave it and partake of it often. These are the adventuring years. (I see this as the equivalent of the ages 18-25 in humans. They are still young, still learning, not yet wise, but they are considered to be grown up)

Eventually most elves tire of even this as there is only so much thrill and danger one can experience before even it becomes old. Some feel a desire for the community of elves, some feel a desire to have a family of their own, and some come to fear that they are risking their long life though this hurried pace and decide to retreat from things before the odds catch up with them. When this happens, they return home to pick up a simpler more reflective life. It is a difficult adjustment surely, and they often seek out the wisdom of others who have done the same. Those exceptionally rare elves who find they just cannot get over their addiction to the fast paced life and thrills of adventuring usually seek out larger and more deadly foes and at some point met an untimely death.

 

[mroberon1972]

I have a good reason for you:

Tradition.

Elves live to be 500+ years old. Due to that, nothing will ever change in the PC's lifetime. Period.

Why? Have you ever seen how hard it is for anything to change when the older generation does not want it to? The historical statment of 'honor your elders' is based on the idea of a councel of elders. They determin what will happen in many cases. I debait over the 'human threat' might take over a hundred years. Do you know how much of america was taken over in 100 years, even with opposition?

The elves, if thier traditional portrail is of any value, are slow to make community decisions. They can act instantly is attacked, but if they have to make a community decision, they debate it for years.

Think of it this way: They see themselves as the top of the foodchain. WHat do they really have to worry about? It does not matter this may not be the truth, THEY see it as truth, and it colors all thier decisions.

Course, there is not reason not to have elves rule the world. In fact, go a bit farther: The elves and the dwarves are now in a state of bloody war, with the humans enslaved. Gnomes have joined the dwarves, the halflings now support the elves, and the orcs are a fading memory...

It's not why have they not ruled the world, it's what would happen if they did.

That's why they call it fantasy!

 

[Psion]

The level advancement rules in the Players Handbook are intended for only the 4 or so PCs currently in the campaign. They shouldn't be used for every NPC in the world.

This is numion hitting the nail on the head.

 

[Trickstergod]

Color me curious.

How many PC's have you had that reached level 5-10-15-20 in the span of all of one year, at the age of, say, 18, 20, 21 or something like that, hmm?

I'm certain a few people could pipe in that they've had characters go from level 1 to Epic in the span of one in-game year. Which is just craziness in my opinion, but it goes to show that PC advancement breaks the rules. You might wonder why elves can, at 110 years advance as swiftly as a human, despite needing 110 years of growing up to reach that point, but then, how many 18 year old level 20 humans would you ever really have in a campaign?

Only PC's tend to do that. It's not just elven PC's breaking out of the mold of how high level they should be, it's humans, too. By all rights, a 50 year old grizzled veteran could, if going by PC advancement rates, be crazy-high in his level, just the same as a 400 year old elf could be crazy-high in his level. But rarely are either; the generic 50 year old grizzled veteran is, in my mind, generally all of 2nd to 5th level, whereas the 400 year old elf will generally range from 8th to 11th level, probably with more than a few of those in Aristocrat or Expert. As those numbers show, I do tend to make elves a bit higher in level, but nowhere near epic proportions, usually.

PC's, elven, human or otherwise, generally break the conventional wisdom of how high level they should be based on age. A 175 year old generic elf in my games would likely be little higher than 4th level, fighter type or not, and a 30 year old human would probably be much the same (if not lower). When it comes to high level NPC's, they tend to have at least 4-10 years (or the equivalent for their race) on the PC's. Most of the higher level NPC's I've introduced them to thus far, that I've made, have ranged from their 30's to 70's (or again, their racial equivalents).

 

[Gez]

Elves would rule the world if they didn't spend 80% of their time reveling with nymphs and satyrs or making soapy poetry.

And if they didn't had a penalty to Constitution, as well.